Federal funding will soon be available to support jurisdictions working to eliminate barriers to affordable housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its newly established Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program, which provides competitive grants to communities that are actively working to identify and eliminate barriers to housing and that result in lower housing costs for lower-income families. A few important details:
- A total of $85 million is available for award on a competitive basis.
- HUD anticipates making 20 awards with a minimum award amount of $1 million and a maximum of $10 million.
- Applications must be submitted by October 30th.
- Proposed activities must be an eligible CDBG activity, and include planning and policy work, and development, preservation, and infrastructure activities, including new construction.
- Eligible applicants are local and state governments, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and multijurisdictional entities.
- Jurisdictions designated as priority geographies will score additional points in the competitive process. Of California’s 58 counties, 43 fall into this category (the 15 that do not qualify are Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, and Yuba).
- This is one of only two new grant programs by HUD this year.
To learn more about the program, check out the recording of this one-hour Up for Growth webinar, which is moderated by Jennifer LeSar, President and Founding CEO of LeSar Development Consultants, and featuring Marion Mollegen McFadden, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. The program provides an orientation to the PRO Housing Grant Program, including the eligible use of funds, and helpful information about the application process.
Related Articles
About the Author
