2010 Homeownership Round

 

Stage One Applications Received

The Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund Homeownership Program received 23 Stage Ones, requesting $7.5 million in HTF funding to build, rehabilitate, or provide Down Payment Assistance for the purchase of 461 units of affordable single-family housing. The entire list can be viewed by navigating to the HTF Historical Round Information page, or by simply clicking here.

 

The HTF Homeownership Team is currently reviewing the Stage 1 applications, and will issue invitations to organizations to submit Stage 2 applications by November 12th. Among the criteria under consideration are:

·         Organizational Capacity/History

·         Performance with previous HTF awards

·         Likelihood organization will be able to utilize award within the year 2010

 

The Team strongly recommends that organizations not receiving a Stage 2 invitation do not expend the funds necessary to prepare a Stage 2 application.

 

Applicants are reminded that HTF has only $2.5 million to award this round. All applicants are encouraged to seek additional local-level funds, in particular City and County weatherization program dollars, in order to lower their HTF request for Stage 2.

 

In early 2009, the Washington State Legislature passed E2SSB 5649 (Part 3, Section 301), finding that the growing preservation and rehabilitation needs of the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) portfolio provide an ideal opportunity to advance energy efficiency efforts for low-income households.   These benefits would be in addition to protecting the state’s $600M in affordable housing investment.  In order to accomplish this,  the Housing Trust Fund is to survey all properties in its portfolio and identify those in need of major renovation or rehabilitation.  These projects will then be prioritized in order to make offers of energy audit services and, where audits identify effective energy efficiency measures and depending on availability, will provide funding for improvements.