What federal funding is available?
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is soliciting applications for new multifamily rental affordable housing projects seeking capital funding from Washington State’s HOME or National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) federal programs, administered by the Multifamily Housing Unit (MHU).
For the purposes of this NOFA, Multifamily Rental Housing refers to a project intended to provide habitable space to more than one household (including single-person households). Multifamily Rental Housing can take any of the following forms:
- A single building consisting of two or more distinct units, each of which is inhabited by an unrelated household. This encompasses a continuum from duplexes to high rise apartment buildings
- A set of at least two structures, initially constructed as housing for unrelated households, which is managed as a single functional unit. This includes single-residency houses that are owned and managed by a single entity
- A building, or set of buildings, which by initial design or through adaptive renovations, is used to provide sleeping space to more than one single individual, with shared living, food preparation, and sanitary facilities. This includes shelters, dormitory-style housing (e.g. for seasonal farmworkers), and group home facilities
Eligible applicants include:
- Local governments
- Local housing authorities
- Nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations
- Federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Washington
- Regional support networks established under RCW Chapter 71.24
- Regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations
Commerce’s HOME and NHTF funds will be used to provide financing and/or supplemental financing to eligible projects. Each program will target housing in eligible areas that is affordable to people who are at or below the specific program’s applicable income limits. In exchange for low‐cost permanent financing, property owners will agree to income, rent, and other restrictions for a period of affordability of at least 15 to 30 years (depending on funding source and level). Projects are monitored for compliance during the period of affordability.
Commerce will award projects that will further the goals articulated in the State’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan (CONPLAN) and 2025 Annual Action Plan (AAP) (view on Box).
Training and resources
The Multifamily Housing Unit (MHU) held a series of webinars to review application requirements and process distinctions based on the funding source and the potential populations served. To review these webinar recordings and slides, please view our Box website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for each open funding opportunity will be published with the corresponding NOFA and updated weekly throughout the open technical assistance period (July 18-October 2, 2025).
MHU will hold a series of Application Office Hours on Zoom to allow applicants to ask questions specific to the open funding rounds. Select a time and day below to register for an office hour session:
- Register for office hours on Tuesday, July 29 at 1 p.m. PT
- Register for office hours on Tuesday, August 12 at 1 p.m. PT
- Register for office hours on Tuesday, August 26 at 1 p.m. PT
- Register for office hours on Tuesday, September 9 at 1 p.m. PT
- Register for office hours on Tuesday, September 23 at 1 p.m. PT
Additionally, MHU offers predevelopment technical assistance and predevelopment grant funding to applicants who are new to housing development. For new developers who are seeking assistance with their application, please visit the Capacity Building, Outreach, and Support program webpage, or email HTFCapacityBuilding@commerce.wa.gov.
How do I apply?
Please download and carefully review the NOFA document linked below for specific information regarding funding requirements and priorities, the process for submitting an application, and dates of significance: HTF Multifamily Housing NOFA #MHU-2025-02 (view on Box).
There will be a future announcement about the Tribal Housing Set-aside NOFA. Commerce’s MHU and Office of Tribal Relations are coordinating for community outreach to thoughtfully administer the Tribal Housing Set-aside funding in a manner that represents the voices of tribal communities across the state.