The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) finally issued a $240 million NOFA for the Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG) Program yesterday.  Applications are due April 4.

 

Awards will be made both to infill projects and infill areas/multi-phase projects, with the bulk of the $240 million ($190 million) allocated for area/multiphase awards.  Under the final Draft Guidelines distributed for public comment at the end of January, the split between projects and areas/multiphase was $140 million and $100 million respectively. Last-minute deal making shifted the allocation in favor of areas. Maximum area grants for this NOFA are $30 million so it is possible that just a few large "transformative" projects will be funded.

 

Structured parking remained as an eligible expense in the final project guidelines and affordability points were retained at a maximum of 30. Since scoring is weighted to affordability and readiness, 100% affordable projects already in the pipeline should have an advantage. Minimum project grants are $500,000 with a maximum of $20 million.

 

The funds will be distributed regionally with Southern California receiving 45%.  The Federation had argued that housing needs in the state supported a split resulting in 60% to SoCal.

 

To assist applicants in preparing the IIG applications, HCD will conduct three regional workshops.  The Southern California workshop is

 

Wednesday, March 5, 2008               

1:00 to 4:00 pm                              

Junipero Serra State Building             

320 West 4th Street                         

Los Angeles, CA  90013                    
Reservations are requested by completing this form.

 

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) is seeking partners to work with the agency in creating a minimum of 350 units of SDHC-owned affordable housing in conjunction with the implementation requirements of its recently approved Public Housing Disposition Strategy. SDHC is seeking proposals from eligible respondent entities including, but not limited to, non-profit developers, for-profit developers, apartment and condominium project owners, and/or land owners. Although developers may submit multiple proposals, they must submit an individual proposal for each site/proposal to be considered. All projects with 24 or more units at a site will be considered.

 

A Pre-Proposal meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 11:30 a.m at the Housing Commission. Contact Gabriela Nevins at 619-578-7487 for a proposal package.  Proposals must be submitted no later than 2 p.m. April 10.

 

The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) has been released through the County of San Diego Department of Housing and Community Development. Through this NOFA, approximately $3.24 million dollars is available for funding capitalized operating subsidies, capital costs for rental housing developments and capital costs for shared housing developments.  These funds are available for projects that serve individuals enrolled in MHSA-funded Full Service Partnerships (FSPs), which are programs that provide comprehensive services to individuals with serious mental illness who also have unmet housing needs.

 

In order for a development to be eligible for funding under this NOFA, projects must be consistent with the recommendations adopted in the County's Mental Health Services Act Housing Plan. Funds may be leveraged or combined with other resources, including state MHSA funds. Projects may be located anywhere in the County of San Diego.

 

Proposals will be accepted until 5 p.m. April 30, 2008. For further information, please contact Dolores Diaz at (858) 694-4804 or e-mail Dolores.Diaz@sdcounty.ca.gov.

 

The San Diego Region will receive $16.2 million to provide housing and incentive units for 219 families and individuals through state grants announced this week. This includes $11.9 million creating affordable apartment homes through the Multifamily Housing Program, $2.4 million through the Governor's Homeless Initiative and $2 million from the Downtown Rebound program.

 

The awards were among those announced by California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Lynn L. Jacobs.  They totaled more than $65 Million in Proposition 1C and Proposition 46 fund awards to recipients in Los Angeles, San Diego and the Inland Empire.

 

Successful San Diego projects were:

Ten Fifty B, 118 units, Affirmed Housing Group, downtown San Diego -- $8 million

El Centro Family Apartments, 72 units, Chelsea Investment Corp., El Centro --
$3.85 million

 

Prop 46 Governor's Homeless Initiative
The Cove Apartments, 20 units, TACHS, San Diego --$2,357,955

 

Prop 46 Downtown Rebound
Ten Fifty B, Affirmed Housing Group, $2 million

 

The County of San Diego Mental Health Services (SDMHS) has released local guidelines for parties interested in applying for state funding through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Housing Program administered by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) and the California Department of Mental Health (DMH).  These guidelines provide a roadmap to how to submit an application for the development, acquisition, construction and/or rehabilitation of permanent supportive housing. Approximately $33 million in state funds have been allocated for applicants from San Diego County.  

 

Your contribution strengthens this great resource for your sector.

All California nonprofit organizations with at least 1 paid employee may participate. Each participant gets up to 70% off their purchase of the report.  Click here to download the Excel Spreadsheet.

 

 

"Capital Markets -- The Travels and Travails of Debt, Equity and the Borrower" is the topic of the next ULI breakfast meeting Tuesday, March 11 at 7:30 a.m.  The meeting is held at the University Club, 750 B St. suite 3400 in downtown San Diego. Register here.

 

 

The EITC program provides refunds to individual workers earning less than $39,783 a year who have children, even if they did not earn enough to pay taxes. Working individuals who don't have children are also eligible. Depending on marital status and number of children, families could get a tax refund of up to $4,400.

 

Trained volunteers are available to assist to low income workers complete their tax returns for free. Click here for a list of the locations that provide this assistance.

 

 

Following the creation this week of a cabinet-level position on Volunteerism, the new Secretary Karen Baker of CaliforniaVolunteers will embark on an 11-city "Listening Tour" to engage nonprofits and public agencies in a dialogue to better understand the status of and needs for volunteering in local communities.  The Secretary is hoping to explore opportunities to build partnerships and tackle barriers to volunteering in the state. 

 

The Governor's Office is beginning the tour in San Diego on March 6 at 3 p.m. at University of San Diego, Joan Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice. RSVP by March 3rd to tyree.dillingham@gov.ca.gov. The new position will focus initially on playing a role in state-wide disaster planning and response efforts as well as coordinating volunteers at disaster sites.

 

Monday is the registration deadline for Thursday's Affordable Housing Roundtable on Preparing Tax Credit Properties for Year 15. The Roundtable is at the NTC Command Center beginning at 7:30 a.m.  Register here.

 

It's time for an evening of networking, meeting prospective members, and seeing folks you haven't had a minute to talk to in the last few months.

 

The Federation is sponsoring a Member Mixer Thursday, March 13 and it's FREE thanks to the sponsorship of Wermers Multifamily Corp.  Join us at Chuey's Retaurant & Cantina from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m.  Chuey's is at the Barrio Logan stop of the Trolley Blue Line and is convenient to downtown and Hghwy 5 on Cesar Chavez Parkway.  The restaurant will be closed for this private party so there will be plenty of parking.

 

Bring your team and prospective members.  But, register first with Kelley@housingsandiego.org or by calling 619-239-6693.