Application Process
The Multifamily Section accepts applications for gap financing for developments with more than four (4) units. There is no maximum number of units for a project. All projects should begin by completing an Intake or an Inquiry form (described below). From there, the staff will contact the applicant to provide the next steps.
Experienced rental housing developers with multifamily rental housing projects that 1) comply with the development and applicant requirements listed below and 2) meet one or more of the County and DHCA preferred criteria to increase or preserve affordable rental housing can apply to the multifamily section for potential funding. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. DHCA encourages all applicants to discuss their project proposals with DHCA staff for eligibility and feasibility before submission of the inquiry form.
Documents can also be found here.
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HIF and Federal Funding
- Inquiry Form—This form identifies future projects without the necessity of specific development parameters. The purpose of this form is to document potential future needs for DHCA’s tracking of future funding requirements.
- Intake Form—This form provides detailed information on the projected development, including projected costs, affordability, and timeline. This information is necessary for DHCA to evaluate the potential benefits to the County and future resource priorities.
- Meeting with Staff—Once the intake form is received, the multifamily staff will contact developers to meet with the Manager of the Multifamily section and the Chief of Housing to discuss the proposal. The meeting will allow the development team to elaborate on the information on the intake form and enable staff to ask any outstanding questions to assist with assessing the Project.
- Staff review–
- Project applications are processed in the year that they require funding. DHCA will consider the amount of appropriate financing, existing requests from various developments, and the list of priority considerations.
- Moving from discussion to underwriting, DHCA will request further information as needed to assist their review.
- Quarterly Updates—Staff seeks updates on projects as plans evolve on (at least) quarterly. The updates provide DHCA with more realistic funding needs and unit counts as the project’s financing stack and plans evolve.
- General Support—Frequently, developments require an initial support letter from DHCA to document its general support of the project. This letter will provide general support for the County’s future investment in the development or redevelopment. Due to the nature of County funding, applicants must recognize that the County may cancel this notice of funding availability or reject proposals at any time before an award. Unless the project is funded by 9% LITHC funding, this general support letter will not provide a specific amount of County funding.
- Additional Steps by Development—Following a general support letter, the Developer must finalize their development plan, including, but not limited to, land use approvals, entitlements, and financing.
- Final Application Submission –
- Final project details are submitted to the Multifamily team and are underwritten as other development/financing team members analyze them. Upon agreement of the final project, a final application is submitted to DHCA in a manner consistent with the structure and agreements of the other development team members.
- Upon receipt of the final agreed-upon application, a Project is presented for review by the DHCA Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) (DHCA’s version of a loan committee).
- SAC Review and Recommendation—The SAC reviews the Project and assists staff in ensuring it is consistent with Department goals. The SAC recommends a Project to the Director for approval as submitted or with modifications. Additionally, the SAC might recommend returning the Project for additional information or not recommending it for approval.
- DHCA Director Approval – The DHCA Director reviews the SAC recommendation and determines whether to accept, modify, request additional information, or reject the SAC’s recommendation.
- Final Approval by DHCA—The DHCA approval is evidenced by a conditional commitment letter (Letter of Commitment) detailing the terms and conditions of DHCA's willingness to participate in a Project.
Nonprofit Preservation and AHOF Funding
1. NPF – Submitting Applications to the Housing Opportunities Commission:
- -Developers can find a checklist for submissions for NPF applications and an intake form on the HOC website https://www.hocmc.org/extra/1217
- Applications and questions should be submitted to the Nonprofit Preservation direct inbox – [email protected].
- Developers can find the Term Sheet, FAQ, and information about the application process at the NHTCDF webpage.
- Developers interested in additional information should contact NHTCDF by calling 202-333-8921, ext. 153, or by emailing [email protected] with the subject line “AHOF Loan Inquiry.”
The initial funding for AHOF has been distributed. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as initial loans are repaid and the fund is replenished.
Post Application Submission
1. Receipt of Recommendation—For both the NPF and APAH programs, once the application is reviewed by DHCA’s partner underwriter, DHCA will receive an application package recommending approval or denial of a loan.
2. DHCA Director Approval—The DHCA Director reviews the partner underwriter's recommendation and determines whether to accept, modify, request additional information, or reject it.
3. Final Approval by DHCA—The DHCA approval is evidenced by a conditional commitment letter detailing the terms and conditions of DHCA's willingness to participate in a Project.