NEBRASKA AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM
2014Application Guidelines
Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund Program
HOME Investment Partnerships Program
Community Development Block Grant Program
Application Guidelines
for
Annual Cycle,
CDBG Owner Occupied Rehab Cycle,
and CHDO Cycle
for
Homebuyer Programs
Non-Profit Operating Assistance
Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Programs
Rental Projects
CHDO Set-aside projects
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
A program of the
Community and Rural Development Division
2014 NAHP Annual Application Cycle Application Guidelines
Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 1-1April 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1Introduction to the Nebraska Affordable Housing Program
The 2014 Housing Application due dates
How to use the Nebraska Affordable Housing Program 2014 Application Guidelines
Chapter 2Pre-Application Process, Forms, Instructions
Pre-Application Form & instructions
Chapter 3Selection Process and Criteria
Scoring Criteria – Homebuyer, Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation, and Rental
Scoring Criteria – Non-Profit Operating Assistance
Scoring Criteria – CHDO
Chapter 4Homebuyer Program Application Forms Instructions
Eligible applicants, activities, costs, and properties
Grant amounts, threshold requirements, application outline
Application, application requirements, and instructions
Chapter 5Non-Profit Operating Assistance Application FormsInstructions
Eligible applicants, activities and costs
Grant amounts, threshold requirements, application outline
Application, application requirements, and instructions
Chapter 6Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Application Forms & Instructions
Eligible applicants, activities, costs, and properties
Grant amounts, threshold requirements, application outline
Application, application requirements, and instructions
Chapter 7CDBG Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Application Forms Instructions
Eligible applicants, activities, costs, and properties
Grant amounts, threshold requirements, application outline
Application, application requirements, and instructions
Chapter 8Rental Application Forms Instructions
Eligible applicants, activities, costs, and properties
Grant amounts, threshold requirements, application outline
Application form, application requirements and instructions
Chapter 9CHDO Application Forms Instructions
Eligible applicants, activities, costs, and properties
Grant amounts, threshold requirements, application outline
Application form, application requirements and instructions
Department of Economic Development
Community and Rural Development Division
301 Centennial Mall South
PO Box 94666
Lincoln, NE 68509-4666
(402) 471-3111 or (800) 426-6505
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nebraska Affordable Housing Program
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s (DED or the Department) Nebraska Affordable Housing Program (NAHP) is intended to: 1) address housing conditions related to community economic development needs; 2) expand equal housing opportunities; 3) create public/private partnerships to address housing needs holistically (linking housing with supportive services to promote economic self-sufficiency and family preservation); and to 4) promote and advance the goals of the Nebraska’s 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development.
NAHP is funded by the following sources:
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program;
- HUD’s HOME Investment Partnership Program; and
- Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF).
DED’s role in NAHP projects is as an investor and a partner. As an investor,DED is seeking quality applications in order to select projects that will provide the best investments of State and federal resources to promote affordable housing. As a partner,DED is interested in providing input as early as possible in project design and also in working closely with the awarded applicantsin order to address any obstacles encountered during project development and implementation.
In order to apply for DED funds it is important for applicants to review the 1) State of Nebraska Proposed 2014 Annual Action Plan (AAP) and the 2) 2014Annual Cycle, CDBG OOR Cycle, and CHDO Cycle Application Guidelines. The AAP is available on the Department’s website at:
The Application Guidelines are also available on the Department’s website at:
There are three separate application cycles. These cycles include the 2014 Annual Cycle, the 2014 CDBG Owner Occupied Rehab (OOR) Cycle, and the 2014 CHDO Cycle. A summary of timelines for each Cycle is noted below.
Annual Cycle Timeline
Date / Action / Location / Responsible PartiesJanuary 2014 / Application Guidelines are posted / / DED
1/27/2014 / Application Workshop / Fremont Chamber of Commerce
605 N. Broad St.
Fremont, NE
10:00 am-12:00 pm (CST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/28/2014 / Application Workshop / West Central Community College
371 College Dr., Room 115/116
Sidney, NE
3:00pm-5:00pm (MST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/29/2014 / Application Workshop / Opportunity Center
1501 Plum Creek Parkway, Room 204
Lexington, NE
1:00 pm-3:00 pm (CST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/30/2014 / Application Workshop / State Office Building
Dept. of Economic Development,
4th Floor
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE
9:00 am-11:00 am (CST) and Webinar / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
3/7/2014 / Pre-Application for Annual Cycle Apps received,by email ONLY, by 5:00PM CST. / E-Mail: Anissa Rasmussen
() / Applicant
4/30/2014 / Full Application must be postmarked by, or delivered to the Nebraska State Office Bldg, 4th Floor, with signed receipt from DED staff by 5:00PM CST. / Lincoln DED Office / Applicant
July2014 / Contract Negotiations / TBD / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
August2014 / Award Letters distributed / TBD / DED
CDBG OOR Cycle Timeline
Date / Action / Location / Responsible PartiesJanuary 2014 / Application Guidelines are posted / / DED
1/27/2014 / Application Workshop / Fremont Chamber of Commerce
605 N. Broad St.
Fremont, NE
10:00 am-12:00 pm (CST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/28/2014 / Application Workshop / West Central Community College
371 College Dr., Room 115/116
Sidney, NE
3:00pm-5:00pm (MST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/29/2014 / Application Workshop / Opportunity Center
1501 Plum Creek Parkway
Lexington, NE
Room 204
1:00 pm-3:00 pm (CST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/30/2014 / Application Workshop / State Office Building
Dept. of Economic Development,
4th Floor
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE
9:00 am-11:00 am (CST) and Webinar / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
5/30/2014 / Pre-Application for Annual Cycle Apps received by email ONLY, by 5:00PM CST. / E-Mail: Anissa Rasmussen
() / Applicant
7/18/2014 / Full Application must be postmarked by, or delivered to the Nebraska State Office Bldg, 4th Floor, with signed receipt from DED staff by 5:00PM CST. / Lincoln DED Office / Applicant
September 2014 / Award Letters distributed / TBD / DED
October 2014 / Contract Negotiations / TBD / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
CHDO Cycle Timeline
Date / Action / Location / Responsible PartiesJan. 2014 / Application Guidelines are posted / / DED
1/27/2014 / Application Workshop / Fremont Chamber of Commerce
605 N. Broad St.
Fremont, NE
10:00 am-12:00 pm (CST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/28/2014 / Application Workshop / West Central Community College
371 College Dr., Room 115/116
Sidney, NE
3:00pm-5:00pm (MST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/29/2014 / Application Workshop / Opportunity Center
1501 Plum Creek Parkway
Lexington, NE
Room 204
1:00 pm-3:00 pm (CST) / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
1/30/2014 / Application Workshop / State Office Building
Dept. of Economic Development,4th FL
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE
9:00 am-11:00 am (CST) and Webinar / DED, Applicant, and Application Preparer
8/15/2014 / Intention Form for CHDO Cycle
received by email ONLY, by 5:00 PM CST / E-Mail: Anissa Rasmussen
() / Applicant
8/29/2014 / Invitation to Submit Pre-Application for CHDO Cycle via email from Bob Doty, Housing Program Manager / DED
9/30/2014 / Pre-Application for CHDO Cycle Apps received by email ONLY, by 5:00 PM CST / E-Mail: Anissa Rasmussen
() / Applicant
10/31/2014 / Full Application must be postmarked by, or delivered to the Nebraska State Office Bldg, 4th FL with signed receipt from DED staff by 5:00 PM CT. / Lincoln DED Office / Applicant
Nov. 2014 / Award Letters distributed / TBD / DED
Nov./Dec. 2014 / Contract Negotiations / TBD / DED, Applicant, and Preparer
No applicant may submit more than one application for the same activities within any project (i.e. owner occupied rehab, purchase, rehab, resale, rental, etc.), but must designate within their application which Congressional District (and Sub-District if applicable) the project will primarily be located in.
Applications are prepared at the Applicant’s expense.
Annual Cycle Scoring Process Summary
At the conclusion of the Annual Cycle, the Department will review and score all full applications received,by the required due date.
The Annual Cycle application process includes first recommending for award the highest scoring project in each of two Congressional Districts (District 1 and District 3). See also Congressional District maps below.
After the highest scoring project in each Congressional District has been designated, the remaining funds will be available statewide to applicants, regardless of Congressional District, through the Annual Cycle application process.
These applications will be scored and ranked statewide, with the highest scoring projects being recommended in the order that they are ranked, but also with considerations for ensuring that no less than 25% of the NAHTF allocation is provided to District 1 and no less than 25% of the NAHTF allocation is provided to District 3.
Once the NAHTF-required minimum is provided within District 1 and District 3, the remainder of funds will be allocated primarily within District 3. In order to increase the geographic distribution of projects throughout the state, Congressional District 3 will include 4 individual sub-districts. These sub-districts will include the West, Central, Northeast, and Southeast respectively (See Exhibit 4 below for a sub-district map). The top scoring application within each sub-district will also be recommended in the order in which the applications are ranked statewide and based on the availability of funds within the Annual Cycle.
Any projects that are located in District 2, but outside the city limits of Omaha, would also be recommended in the order that they are ranked statewide, and would also receive funds from the remaining allocation as noted above.
For purposes of determining proper Congressional District allocation, at the time of application submittal each applicant must designate which Congressional District their project will primarily be located in, but each applicant will not be restricted to only working within a single Congressional District. No applicant may have more than one application for the same activities within any project (i.e. owner occupied rehab, purchase, rehab, resale, rental, etc.). For statewide or regional programs, at the time of application submittal it will also be necessary for the applicant to select which Congressional District their project will primarily be located in, but each applicant will not be restricted to only working within a single Congressional District.
NAHTF funds will be awarded to eligible applicants within the Annual Cycle. DED reserves the right to fund or not fund applications based on the status of other federal and state funding sources involved in the project and any conditional reservations of funds, regardless of ranking.
Nebraska U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Districts
The state of Nebraska has 3 Congressional Districts identified above. According to the NAHTF Statute and regulatory requirements, no less than 25% of the NAHTF funds allocated annually must be provided to each of the 3 Congressional Districts. For 2014, the Department proposes to distribute no less than $1,937,500 in NAHTF funds within each Congressional District.
Congressional District 1
The Department proposes to distribute no less than $1,937,500 in NAHTF funds within Congressional District 1. Applicants applying for projects within District 1 will apply through the Annual Cycle to access NAHTF funds; through the CDBG OOR Cycle to access CDBG funds; or through the CHDO Cycle to access HOME funds for the CHDO Set-aside.
Congressional District 2
The Department proposes to distribute no less than $1,937,500 in NAHTF funds within Congressional District 2. Applicants applying for projects within District 2, but are within the city limits of Omaha, will apply through the City of Omaha’s application process. Applicants applying for projects outside the city limits of Omaha will apply through the Annual Cycle to access NAHTF funds; through the CDBG OOR Cycle to access CDBG funds; or through the CHDO Cycle to access HOME funds for the CHDO Set-aside.
Congressional District 3
The Department proposes to distribute no less than $1,937,500 in NAHTF funds within Congressional District 3. In order to increase the geographic distribution, Congressional District 3 has been sub-divided into 4 individual sub-districts. These sub-districts will include the West, Central, Northeast, and Southeast. The top scoring application within each sub-district will also be recommended in the order in which the applications are ranked statewide and based on the availability of funds within the Annual Cycle.
Applicants applying for projects within District 3 will apply through the Annual Cycle to access NAHTF funds; through the CDBG OOR Cycle to access CDBG funds; or through the CHDO Cycle to access HOME funds for the CHDO Set-aside.
Once the review and scoring process has been completed, the Department will notify and schedule contract negotiations with those applicants who have been preliminarily selected for funding. During the contract negotiations, the applicants and the Department will clarify information in the application, and applicants may be required to submit items to DED by an agreed upon due date. If items are requested during the negotiation are not received by the Department by the agreed upon due date, the applicant will no longer be eligible to receive the NAHP funds.
The award of funds forNAHP Annual Cycle applicationswillnot occur prior to July 4, 2014. Applicants requesting2014NAHPAnnualCycle funds should not plan on beginning project implementation until at least four (4) months after application review and scoring or November 2014, whichever is later.
CDBG Owner Occupied Rehab Scoring Process Summary
At the conclusion of the CDBG Owner Occupied Rehab Cycle, the Department will review and score all full applications received by the required due date on a competitive statewide basis, regardless of Congressional District. The highest scoring applications will be recommended in the order in which they are ranked. DED reserves the right to fund or not fund applications based on the status of other federal and state funding sources involved in the project and conditional reservations of funds, regardless of ranking.
Only CDBG funds may be awarded to eligible applicants during the CDBG OOR application process. Only units of general local government that are classified as municipalities (i.e. City or Village) are eligible to apply with the CDBG Owner Occupied Rehab Cycle. No joint applications or county-wide applications are eligible within the CDBG OOR Cycle. All other applicants must apply within the Annual Cycle.
Once the review and scoring process has been completed, the Department will notify and schedule contract negotiations with those applicants who have been preliminarily selected for funding. During the contract negotiations, the applicants and the Department will clarify information in the application, and applicants may be required to submit items to the Department by an agreed upon due date. If items are requested during the negotiation are not received by the Department by the agreed upon due date, the applicant will no longer be eligible to receive the NAHP funds.
The award of funds for CDBG OOR applicationswill not occur until September 2014. Applicants requestingCDBG OOR Cycle funds should not plan on beginning project implementation until at least four (4) months after application review, scoring, and awardof the CDBG owner occupied rehab applications.
CHDO Cycle Scoring Process Summary
During the CHDO Cycle, applicants will also be required to submit a Pre-Application in order to show their interest in applying for funds, and to receive feedback from their Regional Representative. Applicants may also submit portions of the full application to their Regional Representative for additional feedback.
The CHDO Cycle application process will be an abbreviated set-aside application that will clearly identify the necessary HOME required information in order to determine whether or not an applicant is an eligible entity that may receive HOME set-aside funds for HOME CHDO-eligible activities. This set-aside application will be similar to the information previously required for annual CHDO designation, but will include any necessary information as required by the HOME Final Rule, and must include the HOME eligible activities proposed for the project that must be completed within 2 years.
Other Application Cycles & Funding Sources
City of Omaha Set-aside-----Projects and programs located within the city of Omaha- Applicants interested in receiving NAHTF funds for projects within the city limits of Omaha must be identified in the 2014 City of Omaha Plan and apply through the City of Omaha’s application process. For more information contact the City of Omaha Planning Department, Housing and Community Development Division. Applicants requesting funds within the Omaha city limitsshould not apply for funds through the 2014 NAHP Annual Cycle, the 2014 CDBG OOR Cycle, or the 2014 CHDO Cycle.
DED/NIFA Low Income Housing Tax Credit Application Cycles-----The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority administers the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) process. Through a joint application with NIFA, the Department will distribute the majority of HOME funds for the 2014 Program Year. Details on the distribution of LIHTCs and HOME funds within the combined DED/NIFA application process can be found within NIFA’s Qualified Allocation Plan and on NIFA’s website at:
For questions regarding the requirements for obtaining HOME funds in a joint DED/NIFA application, please contact Brian Gaskill, DED Housing Coordinator, at (402)471-2280 or by email at . For more information regarding NIFA’s application process please contact Teresa Kyle at (402) 434-3900 or by email at: .
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
Additional Information
In order to better understand the application process the Department will be conducting application workshops in January that will give applicants the opportunity to askquestions and obtain more information about the guidelines. Attendance is strongly encouraged.