COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

AUTHORIZATION:

Housing Opportunity Extension Act of 1996, Section 11.

OBJECTIVES:

To facilitate and encourage innovative homeownership opportunities through the provision of self-help housing where the homebuyer contributes a significant amount of sweat equity toward the construction of the dwellings.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The only eligible expenses for program funds are land acquisition and infrastructure improvements which taken together may not exceed an average of $10,000 in assistance per dwelling.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Funds are made available directly to Habitat for Humanity International under section 11 of the Extension Act. In addition, other nonprofit national or regional organizations or consortia that have experience in providing self-help housing homeownership opportunities may receive funds based upon submission and approval of an expression of interest.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Eligible homebuyers are low-income families who are otherwise unable to afford to purchase a dwelling, and who provide significant amounts of sweat equity or volunteer labor to the development of the dwellings.

Credentials/Documentation:   This program is subject to the provisions of 24 CFR part 84 for nonprofit organizations.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Expressions of interest may only be submitted in response to solicitations appearing in the Federal Register. The Federal Register publication details the submission requirements.

Award Procedure:   Based upon the requirements published in the Federal Register Notice Of Funds Availability / Request for Expressions of Interest (NOFA/REI); respondents are notified of acceptance or rejection.

Deadlines:   As indicated in the Federal Register publication.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Leveraging of other public and/or private resources is expected.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Assistance is released on an as needed basis over a period of two years.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Annual progress and final close-out reports.

Audits:   The audit requirements in 24 CFR part 45 (implementing OMB Circular A-133) apply.

Records:   All records applicable to the program must be kept for three years following close-out.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   86-0164-0-1-604.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 99 $20,000,000; FY 00 est $20,000,000; and FY 01 est $17,500,000. (NOTE: Amounts reported reflect allocation of new budget authority rather than obligation amounts.)

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   $300,000 to $25 million; $10 million average.

PROGAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Approximately 1,000 units were completed and 2,000 are under development.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

The statute constitutes the regulations.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   None.

Headquarters Office:   Office of Affordable Housing Programs, Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410. Telephone: (202) 708-3226.

Web Site Address:   http://www.hud.gov/progdesc/cpdindx.html.

RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Expressions of Interest are reviewed according to the requirements set forth in the NOFA/REI.