The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Rental Development program is a housing block grant program used to preserve and create affordable housing for very low-income households (households earning 50% of the Area Median Income, or AMI). HUD allocates HOME funds to certain state and local governments, known as HOME Participating Jurisdictions (“PJs”).
For current funding opportunities, please visit the Funding Opportunities for Multifamily Rental Housing webpage.
Washington’s HOME program
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers the state’s HOME Rental Development program. HOME Rental Development funds are awarded to non-profit organizations, housing authorities, and local and tribal governments through the state multifamily rental housing application process.
Commerce’s HOME program is governed by the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan.
Every spring an annual Action Plan is developed to describe how the state will use the year’s annual allocation of HUD formula funds to meet affordable housing and community development needs. Action Plans are annual amendments to the five-year Consolidated Plan and encompasses all HUD programs, including HOME.
Household eligibility
HOME-assisted rental housing must comply with rent limitations that are set and published each year by HUD. Household income eligibility requirements vary depending on the HOME activity but tend to target very low-income (less than 50 percent area median income) households.
The State of Washington Consolidated Plan identifies current state HOME-funded activities, which include:
- Preservation and development of low-income rental housing
- Tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA)
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs)
HUD requires that participating jurisdictions (PJs) set aside at least 15% of their HOME funds for housing developed, owned, or sponsored by Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs). CHDOs are a specific type of nonprofit organization defined in the HOME Final Rule (24 CFR Part 92).
HOME and CHDO solicit applications for available funding during the annual HTF Traditional Funding Round, which is generally announced in the summer. Please visit Applying to the Housing Trust Fund to view available funding opportunities.
Resources
Two handbooks are available for the HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs administered by the Department of Commerce.
Commerce, working with a federal programs consulting specialist, created handbooks for the two federal housing programs. The handbooks clarify program and compliance requirements for both the HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs.
- HOME & NHTF Program Guidelines Handbook (PDF) – provides insight into overall program intent, the application process, and financing terms.
- HOME & NHTF Rental Management Handbook (PDF) – provides detail on compliance and reporting requirements, including an expansion of Compliance and Asset Management for the programs.
- HOME Cost Allocation Tool (Excel)
- Maximum Per-Unit Subsidy Limits (PDF)
- HTF/HOME/NHTF Rent & Income Limits (PDF)
- HOME Guide for Property Owners (PDF)
- Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
- HOME Program Lease Addendum (Word)
- HOME Rent Approval Request Form (PDF)
- HTF/NHTF/HOME Student Status Form (PDF)
Section 3
- Section 3 HOME & NHTF Policies & Procedures (PDF)
- HUD Section 3 Information
- HUD Section 3 Training
- HUD Section 3 Guidebook
- Section 3 Resources & Tools
Davis Bacon
- Wage Determinations
- U.S. Department of Labor Payroll Form (PDF)
- Federal Labor Standards Provisions HUD Form 4010 (PDF)
- Making Davis-Bacon Work – A Contractors Guide (PDF)
- Employee Rights under the Davis-Bacon Act – Notice to Employees Poster (PDF)