UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS

2020 NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA)

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) announces the availability of approximately $10 million in Federal funds for the NYS HOME Program

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The NYS HOME Program is a federally funded program administered by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s (HTFC) Office of Community Renewal (OCR). The program is designed to fund activities to expand the supply of decent, safe, and affordable housing throughout the State of New York. The funds made available in this NOFA represent 2020 fiscal year HOME funds designated for use by Local Program Administrators (LPAs).

HOME ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants are defined as:

1) Units of local government, to include: Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages

2) Non-profit corporations incorporated under State Non-Profit Corporation Law

NOTE: Applications will be permitted from not-for-profit organizations within HOME Participating Jurisdictions. Please refer to the Request for Proposals for more details.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must have been in existence and providing recent and relevant residential housing services to the community for at least one year prior to application. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a local market need for the program proposed and the capacity to utilize the amount of funding requested within the two-year contract term.

HOME ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

1. Housing Rehabilitation

Funds may be requested for the repair or rehabilitation of an owner-occupied single- family (1-4 unit) dwelling. All HOME assisted units must meet NYS and/or Local Code upon completion of construction activities.

2. Manufactured Housing Replacement

Funds may be requested to demolish and dispose of a sub-standard owner-occupied manufactured or mobile home and replace it with a new manufactured home. Manufactured home replacement is considered reconstruction for the purposes of the HOME Local program. The unit must be installed on the same lot and can replace a unit that was demolished within the last 12 months prior to the date of commitment.

3. Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance

Funds may be requested to assist homebuyers with down payment and/or closing cost assistance to purchase a single family (1-4 unit), non-HOME assisted existing home or newly constructed home. The home to be purchased must meet NYS and/or local Code prior to closing in order to be HOME eligible.

Funds may also be requested for rehabilitation for the home that is purchased as well as to assist with down payment and/or closing costs.

4. Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)

Funds may be requested to provide monthly tenant-based rental assistance to assist families at or below 60% of area median income. Security deposits and tenant utility deposits may also be eligible.

Applicants may submit a maximum of two applications in response to this NOFA. Each application must be for one eligible activity. In other words, two activities cannot be combined into one application.

HOME MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNTS, MAXIMUM PER UNIT AMOUNTS

1. Housing Rehabilitation

Maximum Award up to $600,000 – Maximum Per-unit up to $65,000

2. Manufactured Housing Replacement

Maximum Award up to $1,250,000,000 – Maximum Per-unit up to $125,000

3. Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance

Without Rehabilitation- Maximum Award up to $800,000 – Maximum Per-unit up to $80,000

With Rehabilitation- Maximum Award up to $800,000 – Maximum Per-unit up to $100,000

4. Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)

Maximum Award up to $600,000 – Maximum Per-unit up to $50,000

APPLICATION FOR FUNDING

The NYS Home Local Program application for funds available through this NOFA and corresponding RFP will be available on the NYS Homes and Community Renewal website, https://hcr.ny.gov/search/funding-opportunities or https://hcr.ny.gov/nys-home-program November 25, 2020. Applications are due no later than January 22, 2021. Applications must be submitted using the Community Development Online ApplicationSystem (CDOL).

The above-stated HOME application deadlines are firm as to date and hour. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, applications received after the specified date and time will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for funding. Applicants should make early submission of their applications to avoid risks of ineligibility resulting from unanticipated delays or other delivery-related problems.

Applicants may make a request, based on demonstrated need, to submit a paper application in lieu of using the CDOL application system. Requests for approval to submit a paper application must be sent to: Crystal Loffler, Deputy Commissioner, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, Office of Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State Street, 4th Floor South, Albany, NY 12207.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For inquiries or technical assistance regarding the NYS HOME Programs, please contact: Stephanie Galvin-Riley, NY Home and Community Renewal, Office of Community Renewal, 38-40 State St., 4th Fl. S, Albany, NY 12207, (518) 474-2057, [email protected]

UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS INCORPORATED UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW

2020 NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA)

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) announces the availability of $6.2 million of State funds for the New York Main Street (NYMS) Program

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) announces the availability of $6.2 million of State funds for the New York Main Street (NYMS) Program.

APPLICATION FOR FUNDING

The detailed Request for Applications (RFA) and access to the online application will be available on the NYS Homes and Community Renewal website, https://hcr.ny.gov/new-york-main-street#funding-round-materials, on November 25, 2020. Applications will be due no later than 4:00 pm on Friday, January 15, 2021. Applications must be submitted using the Consolidated Funding Application system (CFA) available at: https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/

The above-stated application deadline is firm as to date and hour. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants, applications received after the specified date and time will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for funding. Early submission of applications is recommended to avoid the risk of ineligibility resulting from unanticipated delays.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The New York Main Street (NYMS) Program was created by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) in 2004 to provide resources to assist New York’s communities with Main Street and downtown revitalization efforts. Article XXVI was added to NYS Private Housing Finance Law in 2009 to formally establish the New York Main Street Program in statute. The NYMS Program is administered by the Office of Community Renewal (OCR) under the direction of the Housing Trust Fund Corporation.

NYMS provides resources to invest in projects that provide economic development and housing opportunities in downtown, mixed-use commercial districts. A primary goal of the program is to stimulate reinvestment and leverage additional funds to establish and sustain downtown and neighborhood revitalization efforts.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants for the New York Main Street program are units of local government and organizations incorporated under the New York State Not-For-Profit Corporation Law, that have been providing relevant service to the community for at least one year prior to application.

ELIGIBLE TARGET AREAS

All NYMS activities must be in an eligible target area. Applicants must clearly identify how the target area meets each of the three components of the statutory definition of an eligible target area. Applications that do not address each of the three statutory criteria, or do not provide clear source documentation will be deemed ineligible. Please note, based on the statutory criteria there are areas within NYS that are not eligible; therefore, vague or unclear responses cannot be interpreted to present an eligible target area.

Article XXVI of the Private Housing Finance Law indicates that an eligible target area shall mean an area:

(i) that has experienced sustained physical deterioration, decay, neglect, or disinvestment;

(ii) has a number of substandard buildings or vacant residential or commercial units; and

(iii) in which more than fifty percent of the residents are persons whose incomes do not exceed ninety percent of the area median income for the county or metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in which the project is located, or which is designated by a state or federal agency to be eligible for a community or economic development program.

Applicants are encouraged to identify well-defined Main Street areas to maximize the impact that the funds will have on the community. The proposed activities must be carried out in a program target area of generally no more than three contiguous blocks which has experienced sustained physical deterioration, decay, neglect, or disinvestment, and has a number of substandard buildings or vacant residential or commercial units.

PRE-APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Municipal Resolution

The local governing body should demonstrate that they are familiar with and in support of the proposed project. Each municipality in which the proposed program or project will function must approve a formal resolution supporting an application for the proposed NYMS program or project. The resolution should be passed prior to the application deadline and attached in the documents section of the application. In response to the COVID Pandemic, a written letter from the municipal or community board may be an acceptable alternative if a formal resolution cannot be obtained in the required timeframe. Note that this flexibility is being offered for this application round only. If awarded, a formal resolution may be required prior to grant execution.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Applicants may propose only one activity for a 2020 New York Main Street (NYMS) application.

1. Technical Assistance Project

Applicants may request up to $20,000 to complete a project that improves community or property owner readiness to participate in a future New York Main Street renovation activity. Examples of eligible NYMS-TA activities include, but are not limited to, building reuse and feasibility analysis, design guidelines, and economic development planning. Investments of NYMS funds must be matched by other funds. In conjunction with a NYMS-TA project, applicants may also request streetscape enhancement funds for activities that improve the NYMS target area.

2. Traditional NYMS Target Area Building Renovation Project

Applicants may request between $50,000 and $500,000 for Target Area Building Renovation Activities. Requests must not exceed an amount that can be reasonably expended in the identified target area, within a 24-month term. Eligible activities include building renovation, streetscape enhancements in conjunction with building renovation activities, administration, and soft cots. Investments of NYMS funds in eligible building activities or soft costs must be matched by other funds.

3. NYMS Downtown Anchor Project

Applicants may request between $100,000 and $500,000 for a standalone, single site, “shovel ready” renovation project. NYMS Downtown Anchor Project funds are intended to help establish or expand cultural, residential or business anchors that are key to local downtown revitalization efforts through substantial interior and/or exterior building renovations. Eligible activities include building renovation, administration, and soft costs. Investments of NYMS funds in eligible building activities or soft costs must be matched by other funds.

4. NYMS Downtown Stabilization Project

Applicants may request $100,000 to $500,000 to complete a Downtown Stabilization Project. Funds are available to assist with environmental remediation and associated construction costs, as well as other innovative approaches to stabilizing and developing a downtown, mixed-use project. Example eligible projects include: asbestos management, soil vapor intrusion testing and mitigation, building stabilization construction activities or other projects that identify or mitigate risks associated with other hazardous materials or remove obstacles to future redevelopment. Investments of NYMS funds in eligible building activities or soft costs must be matched by other funds. Investments of NYMS funds in eligible building activities or soft costs must be matched by other funds.

INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Please note: An applicant is encouraged to focus its efforts on one project type. For this reason, applicants may propose only one NYMS activity in an application.

Ineligible uses of NYMS funds include, but are not limited to: demolition; new construction; improvements to structures owned by religious or private membership organizations; improvements to municipally-owned buildings used for municipal purposes; the purchase of non-permanent fixtures, such as furnishings, appliances, electronics, and business equipment; general organizational operating expenses; capitalizing a revolving loan fund; site work or ancillary activities on a property, including septic systems and laterals, grading, parking lots, sidewalks, landscaping, fences, free standing signs, and general maintenance. General planning activities are not eligible under the four NYMS program activities.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The OCR reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to negotiate with applicants, recommend funding in an amount less than requested, conduct site visits, interview the applicant and development team, extend the submission deadline, and request additional information. The OCR reserves the right to waive or modify any requirement contained in the Request for Proposals and applications received subject to the applicable statutes and the Program Regulations.

MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (M/WBE) COMPLIANCE

Recipients of awards are subject to Article 15A and 17-B of the New York State Executive Law. These requirements include equal employment opportunities for minority group members and women (“EEO”) and contracting opportunities for certified minority and women-owned business enterprises (“MWBEs”) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (“SDVOBs”). Recipient’s demonstration of “good faith efforts” pursuant to 5 NYCRR § 142.8 shall be a part of these requirements.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For inquiries or technical assistance regarding these programs please contact: NY Homes and Community Renewal, Office of Community Renewal, 38-40 State St., 4th Fl. S, Albany, NY 12207, (518) 474-2057, [email protected]