DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
1800 Third Street, Suite 390
P. O. Box 952054
Sacramento, CA 94252-2054
(916) 322-1560
FAX (916) 327-6660
www@hcd.ca.gov
NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY
September 27, 2006
CalHome Program
Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Allocation
I am pleased to announce the availability of approximately $2.0 million in funding for technical assistance grants under the Department’s CalHome Program, Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Allocation. These funds have recently become available through the CalHome Program. Grants will be funded from the proceeds of the sale of bonds authorized by the voters in November 2002 under Proposition 46. Technical assistance grants are available to eligible public agencies, private, nonprofit agencies or limited-equity housing cooperatives that provide technical and supervisory assistance to low- and moderate-income households to build their homes. The goal of the program is to increase housing opportunities by reducing the costs of newly constructed housing using “sweat equity” (self-help labor).
Technical assistance grants are limited to $300,000 per project with no more than twenty percent (20%) of the available funds awarded to any one sponsor. Twenty percent (20%) of the available funds are reserved for rural area projects for the twelve months following issuance of this NOFA. Applicants must be able to complete all grant-funded activities within the two-year grant term.
Applicants are advised to familiarize themselves with the Regulations relating to the Program. They can be found at California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Div. 1, Ch. 7, Subchapter 6.5, Sections 6910-6930 and 7530-7556, and in CalHome Regulations, Ch. 9, Subchapter 9, Sections 7715-7756. These funds are proceeds from the sale of Government Bonds. Refer to Government Code Section 16727 for eligible uses.
Applications will be reviewed for completeness and compliance with the California Self-Help Housing Program statutes and regulations. Applications will then be evaluated and funding recommendations will be based upon the following factors:
• the applicant has successfully completed a minimum of two self-help, new-construction projects within the four years immediately preceding the application;
• administrative budget reflects line items eligible under the above-mentioned references;
• the project assists low- and very low-income first-time homebuyers, who shall occupy the property as their principal residence; and
• the project is feasible.
Application and Program information and guidelines are available on the Department’s website at www.hcd.ca.gov, by writing to the address listed below, by calling Dee Franklin at (916) 445-9581, or by sending an e-mail to dfrankli@hcd.ca.gov.
Applications under this NOFA will be considered on an “over-the-counter” basis and accepted at any time after the issuance of this NOFA and until such time as the Department has received what it determines to be a sufficient number of applications to reasonably use all funds currently available. Applications must be made on the form provided by the Department, which must not be modified. The original application is to be submitted in a three-ring binder. All exhibits must be tabbed and labeled with the appropriate Exhibit #, as identified on the checklist. No additional copies are required. No facsimiles will be accepted.
The Department reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to suspend or amend the provisions of this NOFA. If such an action occurs, the Department will notify all interested parties. This NOFA provides a partial summary of the Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Program statute and regulations. For this reason, applicants are urged to carefully review the regulations and the information contained in this NOFA before submitting applications
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