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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA)____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: March 21, 2022
Disposition: Resolution 15049
Agenda Item No: 7.b
Meeting Date: March 21, 2022
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Prepared by: Alicia Giudice, Director
Alexis Captanian, Housing Analyst
Jacob Noonan, Housing Manager
City Manager Approval:
TOPIC PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION (PLHA)
SUBJECT RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING
ALLOCATION (PLHA) PROJECT FUNDING FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR
2022 TO THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution recommending Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) project funding
for the calendar year 2022 to the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
BACKGROUND
The Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program (PLHA) is a state program providing funding
to local jurisdictions for affordable housing. The funding was created by Senate Bill 2 (SB2,
2017), the “Building Homes and Jobs Act”. PLHA aims to address housing shortages and high
housing costs by providing an ongoing source of financing through real estate fees.
The County of Marin is eligible for non-competitive PLHA funds as an Entitlement Community
from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) program and because it has an approved Housing Element and submits
Annual Progress Reports to the state. In 2020, the Marin County Board of Supervisors received
a non-competitive allocation of PLHA grant funding and approved a 5-year expenditure plan.
The plan was developed in consultation with the Board of Supervisors Housing Subcommittee
and in alignment with the 2020-24 Consolidated Plan and Assessment of Impediments to Fair
Housing Choice approved by the Countywide Priority Setting Committee 1 (PSC). Applications
for funding received by the County in 2022 have been evaluated based on state and local
requirements.
1 The Countywide Priority Setting Committee is made up of elected representatives of Marin cities and
towns, a member of the Board of Supervisors and community members representing the federally
protected classes under fair housing law which includes race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial
status, and disability.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
The draft resolution provided with this report as Attachment 1 includes the recommendation for
awarding PLHA funding requests received for projects in San Rafael. The recommendation has
been drafted following the plan and the goals and criteria established by the Countywide PSC
and by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Following City Council action, the PLHA funding recommendation will be vetted through the
Countywide PSC. In early May, the Board of Supervisors will hold a final public hearing on the
recommendations from the Countywide PSC, and subsequently the County will submit the list of
approved projects to HCD.
ANALYSIS:
All project applications were evaluated by County staff based on the PLHA criteria developed by
HCD and on the PSC approved program goals.
HCD PLHA Criteria:
• Project readiness: applicant must have site control for development projects, land use
entitlements, environmental review, and commitments of other required funding and
resources.
• Priority for projects supporting individuals and households earning 60% AMI or below.
PSC Approved Program Goals:
In addition to the criteria set forth by HCD, the PSC approved the following PLHA program
goals, which are informed by the HUD approved 2020-24 Consolidated Plan and Analysis of
Impediments to Fair Housing Choice:
• Family Housing
• Rental Housing – Acquisition, New Construction, Rehabilitation
• Homeowner Housing – Acquisition, New Construction, Rehabilitation
• Special Needs Housing
• Land trust in eastern Marin that provides home ownership opportunities, with specific
inclusion for African Americans
Additionally, in alignment with the PSC’s efforts on fair housing and equity, all applications
include:
• A demographic assessment (race/ethnicity, people with disabilities, families) of the
applicant’s existing housing projects in Marin.
• Demographics of staff and board members of the applicant organization(s).
Applications Received and Funding Recommendation
A total of eight (8) PLHA applications were received for projects across the county, two (2) of
which are in San Rafael.
Following the program goals and priorities, PLHA funds are dispersed across the three (3)
CDBG Planning Areas of San Rafael, Novato, and County Other, with the goal of funding one
project in each area each funding cycle. This funding is designed to provide grants for eligible
housing-related projects and programs that help meet housing needs of local communities.
The State requires a local one-for-one match of trust fund dollars to award PLHA funding. This
local match can come from the Marin County Affordable Housing Fund (Housing Trust), which
can fund projects in all jurisdictions of Marin County. This activity was recommended by staff to
ensure effective and efficient deployment of PLHA funds. Together the matched funds support
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
predevelopment, development, acquisition and preservation of multifamily projects, with an
emphasis on projects housing those that are at or under 60 percent Area Median Income (AMI),
as stipulated in the PLHA Final Guidelines. In consultation with City of San Rafael staff, PLHA
projects can also be reviewed with a match of San Rafael Housing Trust dollars.
For the 2022 program year, the County has $1,127,763 in PLHA funds to distribute. The County
recommendation is to award the funds approximately proportional between the three planning
areas (San Rafael, Novato, Countywide) with the requirement one-for-one match of local funds
coming from the County Housing Trust fund. Therefore, the share of PLHA funds available for
applications in the San Rafael Planning Area is $357,125 which will be matched with an equal
funding award from the County Housing Trust.
The projects in San Rafael requesting PLHA funding were:
Belvedere St. (Canal Alliance) is a conceptual project that includes acquisition of a market-
rate multi-unit property in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood consisting of between 25 to 35
apartments. As envisioned, the existing property would be converted to permanently affordable
housing. Canal Alliance has requested $400,000 in PLHA funds (with a match of $400,000 from
the County of Marin Affordable Housing Fund) for acquisition of the Belvedere St. project. The
project concept was reviewed by the City Council on March 7, 2022 as part of the City’s 2021
Affordable Housing NOFA recommendations, at which time the City Council also preliminarily
committed $400,000 in City Affordable Housing Trust Funds with an option for Canal Alliance to
request additional funding should PLHA not be awarded.
At this time, PLHA funding is not recommended for the Belvedere St. project. For the project to
be eligible under the state guidelines for PLHA funding, Canal Alliance must have site control.
Once site control is obtained, Canal Alliance may reapply for PLHA, with the City’s housing trust
fund counted as the local match, or if funding is available, a match from the County trust fund
could be used.
PLHA Funding Recommendation: $0
3301 Kerner (Eden Housing) is a State Homekey project (with a City funding match) in the
Canal neighborhood. This project was awarded additional funding through a loan of $850,000
on March 7, 2022 through the 2021 Affordable Housing NOFA. This project is the adaptive
reuse of an existing three-story office building. Once complete, the project will provide 40
apartments serving as supportive housing with wrap around services for formerly homeless
persons with mental illness. Eden Housing has requested $1,025,000 in PLHA funds and
$1,025,000 from the County Affordable Housing Fund for predevelopment expenses.
This project meets the regulatory requirements set forth by the PLHA program including
readiness and site control. In addition, the project meets two of the program goals approved by
the PSC, which are the project creates rental housing and serves a special needs population.
PLHA Funding Recommendation: $357,125
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct cost or revenue impact from the recommended action.
The City Council recommendation would be to the Priority Setting Committee to recommend
that the Board of Supervisors allocate the funds as proposed for projects in the San Rafael
Planning Area. The award of PLHA funds requires a one-for-one local funding match, which
each project has requested from the County Housing Trust Fund. Additionally, on March 7, 2022
the City Council awarded Affordable Housing Trust funds to both projects which could be used
as the local match required by the PLHA funding guidelines.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4
OPTIONS:
1. Approve the PLHA funding as recommended.
2. Defer to the Countywide Priority Setting Committee to provide the recommendation for
the San Rafael Planning Area applications.
3. Do not approve the recommendation and provide direction to staff.
ACTION REQUIRED:
Adopt a resolution recommending Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) project funding
for the calendar year 2022 to the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 Resolution
Attachment 2 PLHA Guidelines
RESOLUTION NO. 15049
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDING
PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION (PLHA) PROJECT FUNDING FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 TO THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Rafael as follows:
WHEREAS in September 2017, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 2, the
“Building Homes and Jobs Act”; and
WHEREAS in February 2020, the California Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD) released the PLHA Program Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) for ongoing local government provision of housing financing through
real estate fees; and
WHEREAS in July 2020, the Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a
resolution to apply for PLHA grant funding through the non-competitive NOFA process;
and
WHEREAS in August 2020, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a
5-year expenditure plan for the funds; and
WHEREAS in September 2021, the Countywide Priority Setting Committee
approved program goals for projects; and
WHEREAS on March 21, 2022, the City Council reviewed the submitted
applications in accordance with the required selection process;
NOW, THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the City Council
recommends to the Marin County Board of Supervisors that the $357,125 in PLHA funds
available for allocation by the City of San Rafael be distributed to Eden Housing’s 3301
Kerner project, subject to adjustments necessary to accommodate any changes in the
County of Marin’s final allocation from the California Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD).
I, LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting
of the Council of said City held on the 21st day of March 2022, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: BUSHEY, HILL, KERTZ, LLORENS GULATI & MAYOR
KATE
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk
Permanent Local Housing Allocation
Final Guidelines
Gavin Newsom, Governor
State of California
Alexis Podesta, Secretary
Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
Douglas R. McCauley, Acting Director
California Department of Housing and Community Development
2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95833
October 2019
Department of Housing and Community Development 2 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
The matters set forth herein are regulatory mandates, and are adopted in accordance with
the authorities set forth below:
Quasi-legislative regulations … have the dignity of statutes … [and]… delegation of
legislative authority includes the power to elaborate the meaning of key statutory terms…
Ramirez v. Yosemite Water Co., 20 Cal. 4th 785, 800 (1999)
In consultation with stakeholders, the California Department of Housing and Community
Development (Department) may adopt Guidelines to implement this Section, including
determining allocation methodologies. Any guideline, rule, policy, or standard of general
application employed by the Department in implementing this chapter shall not be subject
to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
Section 11340) of Title 2 Government Code, Part 1 of Division 3).
NOTE: Authority Cited: Health and Safety Code Section 50470, subdivision (d).
The Department reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to suspend or amend the
provisions of these Guidelines, including, but not limited to, grant award amounts.
Department of Housing and Community Development 3 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 364, Statutes of 2017 (SB 2, Atkins) was part of a 15-bill housing package aimed
at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs. Specifically, it
establishes a permanent source of funding intended to increase the affordable housing
stock in California. The revenue from SB 2 will vary from year to year, as revenue is
dependent on real estate transactions with fluctuating activity. The legislation directs the
California Department of Housing and Community Development (Department) to use
70 percent of the revenue collected, beginning in calendar year 2019, to provide financial
assistance to local governments for eligible housing-related projects and programs to assist
in addressing the unmet housing needs of their local communities. This program is
hereafter referred to as the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) program.
Guidelines for the PLHA program are organized into five Articles as follows:
Article I. General provisions: This article includes information on the purpose of the
Guidelines, program objectives, and definitions used throughout the document.
Article II. Program funding: This article describes allocation formulas and
methodologies, and award amounts.
Article III. Formula allocation component: This article describes the requirements for
Applicants to apply for funds under the formula allocation of the PLHA program.
Article IV. Competitive allocation component: This article describes requirements and
uses for PLHA competitive allocation funds.
Article V. Administration: This article describes administrative functions such as terms,
non-performance remedies, and reporting and monitoring requirements.
Department of Housing and Community Development 4 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program:
2019 Guidelines
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS 5
Section 100. Purpose and Scope 5
Section 101. Definitions 5
ARTICLE II. PROGRAM FUNDING 9
Section 200. Allocations 9
Section 201. Award Amounts 10
ARTICLE III. FORMULA ALLOCATION COMPONENT 11
Section 300. Eligible Applicants 11
Section 301. Eligible Activities 12
Section 302. Threshold Requirements 13
Section 303. Application Review 16
Section 304. Deadlines and Funding Requirements 17
ARTICLE IV. COMPETITIVE ALLOCATION COMPONENT 17
Section 400. Eligible Applicants 17
Section 401. Eligible Activities 18
Section 402. Threshold Requirements 18
Section 403. Selection Criteria 20
Section 404. Application Review 22
Section 405. Deadlines and Funding Requirements 23
ARTICLE V. ADMINISTRATION 23
Section 500. Accounting Records 23
Section 501. Audits/Monitoring of Project Files 24
Section 502. Cancellation and Termination 25
Section 503. Reporting 26
Department of Housing and Community Development 5 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 100. Purpose and Scope
(a) These Guidelines (hereinafter “Guidelines”) implement, interpret, and make specific
Chapter 364, Statutes of 2017 (SB 2, Atkins - hereinafter “SB 2”) as authorized by
Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 50470, which created the Building Homes and
Jobs Trust Fund and the PLHA program. The principal goal of this program is to make
funding available to eligible local governments in California for housing -related
projects and programs that assist in addressing the unmet housing needs of their local
communities. Twenty percent of the funding in the Building Homes and Jobs Trust
Fund is required to be expended for Affordable Owner-Occupied Workforce Housing,
and the program prioritizes investments that increase the supply of housing to
households that are at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI),
adjusted for household size.
(b) These Guidelines establish terms, conditions, and procedures for local governments
to submit applications to the Department for funds from the PLHA program’s three
components, as listed below:
(1) Entitlement formula component per HSC 50470(b)(2)(B)(i)(I)
(2) Non-entitlement formula component per HSC 50470(b)(2)(B)(i)(II)
(3) Non-entitlement competitive grant program component per
HSC 50470(b)(2)(B)(i)(I) (eligible Applicants are the same as for component 2
above)
(c) The non-entitlement competitive grant program component prioritizes assistance to
persons experiencing or At risk of homelessness.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC Section
50470, subdivision (b)(2)(A), subdivision (b)(2)(B)(i) and subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(I-V).
Section 101. Definitions
All terms not defined below shall, unless their context suggests otherwise, be interpreted in
accordance with the meanings of terms described in HSC Section 50470.
(a) “Accessory dwelling unit” (ADU) means a dwelling unit which is attached, detached or
located within the living area of the existing dwelling or residential dwelling unit and
which provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons pursuant
to Government Code (GC) Section 65852.2 and 65852.22. It shall include permanent
provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as the
single-family dwelling. An Accessory dwelling unit also includes the following: an
efficiency unit, as defined in Section 17958.1 of the HSC, or a manufactured home, as
Department of Housing and Community Development 6 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
defined in Section 18007 of the HSC.
(b) "Activity" means any single eligible undertaking carried out as part of an Applicant's
allocation(s) under the Program.
(c) “Affordable” means a housing unit that satisfies at least one of the following criteria:
1. If the unit is being rented to low-income, Very low-income or Extremely
low-income households, it complies with the Multifamily Housing Program
guidelines Section 7312 and the Section 7301 definition of “Affordable
Rent”; or
2. If the unit is being sold, it is offered at an “Affordable housing cost”, as
published in the Fannie Mae Selling Guide, Part B, Debt to Income Ratios,
as updated annually
(https://www.fanniemae.com/content/guide/selling/b3/6/02.html#DTI.20Rat
ios), and it complies with the income limits stated in the definitions of
Moderate-Income and Lower-Income in this section; or
3. If the unit is being rented to Moderate-Income households, it is available at
a gross rent, including a utility allowance, that does not exceed 30 percent
of the applicable income eligibility level, and complies with the definition of
Moderate-Income in these guidelines
(d) "Affordable Owner-Occupied Workforce Housing" (AOWH) means owner-occupied
housing per HSC Section 50092.1 that is affordable to persons and families of low or
moderate income, as that term is defined in HSC Section 50093, except in High-cost
areas where Moderate-income shall include households earning up to 150 percent of
AMI.
(e) “Annual Progress Report” (APR) means the Housing Element APR required by
GC Section 65400 on the prior year’s activities and due to the Department
April 1 of each year.
(f) “Annual Report" means a form issued by the Department and completed by a Local
government awarded PLHA funds on which the Local government documents the uses
and expenditures of any allocated funds and outcomes achieved.
(g) "Applicant" means an eligible Local government applying for the program to administer
one or more eligible activities. Applicant also means a Local or Regional Housing Trust
Fund delegated by an eligible Local government to apply for the program and
administer its allocation in accordance with all program rules.
Department of Housing and Community Development 7 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(h) “Area Median Income” or “AMI” means the most recent applicable county median family
income published by the Department, available at the following link:
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-
limits.shtml
(i) “At risk of homelessness” means the same as defined in Title 24 Section 578.3 of the
Code of Federal Regulations and also includes any household receiving rental
assistance funded by the California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) program
or the California Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP).
(j) “Capitalized Reserve for Services” means the reserve funded by the Local government
pursuant to Section 301(a)(5) to address project supportive service budget deficits
attributable to shortfalls in service funding sources.
(k) “Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy” or “CHAS” means annual data
compiled by the United States Census Bureau for the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to document the extent of housing problems and housing
needs, particularly for low-income households.
(l) "Community Development Block Grant" or "CDBG" means the program created
pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C.
5301 et seq., as amended.
(m) “Department” means the California Department of Housing and Community
Development.
(n) “Extremely Low Income” has the meaning set forth in HSC Section 50106, which is a
maximum of 30 percent of AMI. Grantees shall utilize income limits issued by the
Department at the following link:
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-
limits.shtml.
(o) “Fund” means the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund pursuant t o HSC
Section 50470.
(p) “High-cost area” means those counties defined as high cost by the Federal Housing
Finance Agency (at: https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/ and those counties for which HUD
adjusted the Very low income and low-income rents due to high costs (at:
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdrdatas_landing.html), as published by the Department
in the annual PLHA Notice of Funding Availability.
(q) “Local government” means any city, including a charter city, any county, including a
charter county, or a city and county, including a charter city and county.
Department of Housing and Community Development 8 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(r) “Local Housing Trust Fund” or “Regional Housing Trust Fund” means a public, joint
public and private fund or charitable nonprofit organization described in
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which was established by legislation,
ordinance, resolution (including nonprofit articles of incorporation), or a public-private
partnership organized to receive specific revenue to address local or regional housing
needs.
(s) “Low or Lower Income” has the meaning set forth in HSC Section 50079.5, which is a
maximum of 80 percent of AMI. Grantees shall utilize income limits issued by the
Department at the following link:
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-
limits.shtml.
(t) “Moderate-Income” has the meaning set forth in HSC Section 50093, which is a
maximum of 120 percent AMI, or in High-cost areas, 150 percent of AMI. Grantees shall
utilize income limits issued by the Department at the following link:
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-
limits.shtml.
(u) “Non-entitlement local government” means a Local government in an area which is not
a metropolitan city or part of an urban county, a Local government that, as of
September 1, 2017, was an incorporated city with a population of less than 50,000 or a
county with an unincorporated area population of less than 200,000 persons which had
not entered into a three-year Urban County Cooperation Agreement, or a Local
government that was not otherwise entitled to receive CDBG funds directly from HUD.
(v) “Operating subsidies” means payments to owners of affordable housing developments
that make the housing more affordable by covering a portion of the ongoing costs of
operating the development. Such payments would have the same effect as rental
assistance.
(w) “Owner-occupied” means a dwelling which is occupied by the owner and includes a
single family dwelling or a dwelling unit in a stock cooperative, as defined by Business
and Professions Code (BPC), Section 11003.2, a community apartment project, as
defined by BPC Section 11004, or a condominium project, as defined by subdivision (c)
of BPC Section 11004. 5.
(x) "Plan" means the document submitted by the Applicant to the Department as part of a
complete application in which the Applicant proposes to use allocated funds for at least
one eligible Activity. The Plan shall have a term of five years. In succeeding years, the
Local government is required to obtain the approval of the Department for any
amendments made to the Plan, as set forth in Section 302(c)(5).
(y) “Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program", “Program”, or "PLHA" means the
program developed to annually allocate 70 percent of the moneys deposited into the
Fund pursuant to HSC Section 50470(b)(2)(B)(i).
Department of Housing and Community Development 9 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(z) “Permanent supportive housing” has the same meaning as in HSC Section 50675.14,
that is, housing with no limit on the length of stay, that is occupied by the target
population, and that is linked to onsite or offsite services that assist the supportive
housing residents in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and
maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community.
Permanent supportive housing may include associated facilities if used to provide
services to housing residents. Permanent supportive housing does not include “health
facility” as defined by HSC Section 1250 or any “alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or
treatment facility” as defined by HSC Section 11834.02 or “Community care facility” as
defined in HSC Section 1502, “Mental health rehabilitation centers” as defined in
Section 5675 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), or other residential treatment
programs.
(aa) “Regional Housing Needs Allocation" or "RHNA" means the share of the regional
housing need represented by persons at all income levels within the area significantly
affected by the general plan of the city or county allocated to an Applicant Local
government pursuant to GC Section 65584(b).
(bb) “Sponsor” means the legal entity or combination of legal entities with continuing control
of a Rental Housing Development. Where the borrowing entity is or will be organized as
a limited partnership, Sponsor includes the general partner or general partners who
have effective control over the operation of the partnership , or, if the general partner is
controlled by another entity, the controlling entity. Sponsor does not include the seller of
the property to be developed as the rental housing Project, unless the seller will retain
control of the Project for the period necessary to ensure Project feasibility as
determined by the Department.
(cc) “Very Low Income” has the meaning set forth in HSC Section 50105, which is a
maximum of 50 percent of AMI. Grantees shall utilize income limits issued by the
Department at the following link:
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-
limits.shtml.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470.5 and 50470, subdivision (b)(2).
ARTICLE II. PROGRAM FUNDING
Section 200. Allocations
(a) SB 2 created a dedicated revenue source for affordable housing and directed the
Department to make available 70 percent of the moneys in the Building Homes and
Jobs Trust Fund, collected on and after January 1, 2019, to Local governments
through the following allocations:
Department of Housing and Community Development 10 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(1) Ninety percent of the moneys available shall be allocated based on the formula
used under Federal law to allocate CDBG funds within California. This is the
formula specified in Title 42 United States Code (USC), Section 5306.
(A) The amount of funds awarded to each Local government eligible for the
entitlement formula component shall be determined by the 90 percent of
PLHA funds available pursuant to this paragraph (1) and the percentage of
funds received by the entitlement Local government in the CDBG federal
fiscal year 2017 allocation process performed by HUD.
(B) Through the formula specified in paragraph (1), the percentage of funds
allocated to Non-entitlement local governments shall be distributed to
Non-entitlement local governments through a competitive grant program.
(2) Ten percent of the moneys available shall be allocated equitably among
Non-entitlement local governments. The equitable allocation awarded to each
Local government eligible for the Non-entitlement formula component shall be
based on the sum of: (1) 50 percent of the funding available for the
Non-entitlement formula component divided by the number of local governments
eligible for the Non-entitlement formula component and (2) 50 percent of the
funding allocated in proportion to each Non-entitlement local government’s share
of the total most severe housing need in California’s Non-entitlement local
governments, based upon the most recent HUD Comprehensive Housing
Affordability Strategy.
(b) After funds are appropriated by the Legislature as part of the budget act, the
Department will issue one or more Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA). Local
governments shall submit an application under the NOFA pertaining to the specific
allocation for which the Local government is eligible.
(c) It is recommended that Local governments that were urban counties in accordance
with the distribution of funds pursuant to the formula specified in 42 USC,
Section 5306 for the federal fiscal year 2017 provide a proportional share of their
allocations to Local governments within their county with which they had a three-year
Urban County Cooperation Agreement as of September 1, 2017, provided that these
Local governments meet the threshold requirements of the PLHA and expend
sub-allocated funds for eligible activities within the deadlines of the Standard
Agreement governing the sub-allocation.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B).
Section 201. Award Amounts
(a) The formula allocation amounts derived pursuant to the formulas in Section 200 will be
announced in the NOFA.
Department of Housing and Community Development 11 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(b) The maximum application amount and the minimum application amount for the
competitive allocation will be stated in the NOFA.
(c) An Applicant may apply for its formula allocation from the current and two prior NOFAs
for which it did not receive an award, provided that the award meets the requirements
of Section 304(a).
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B).
ARTICLE III. FORMULA ALLOCATION COMPONENT
Section 300. Eligible Applicants
(a) Eligible Applicants for the entitlement formula component described in
Section 100(b)(1) are limited to the metropolitan cities and urban counties allocated a
grant for the federal fiscal year 2017 pursuant to the federal CDBG formula specified
in 42 USC, Section 5306.
(b) Eligible Applicants for the non-entitlement formula component described in
Section 100(b)(2) and the competitive grant program component described in
Section 100(b)(3) are limited to the Non-entitlement local governments.
(c) A Local government may delegate another Local government to submit an application
and administer on its behalf its formula allocation of Program funds, provided that the
Local governments enter into a legally binding agreement and the funds are expended
for eligible Activities and consistent with Program requirements. The delegating Local
government shall be identified in the application. The administering Local government
shall be responsible for all Program requirements.
(d) A Local government may delegate a Local or Regional Housing Trust Fund to submit
an application and administer on its behalf its formula allocation of Program funds,
provided that the Local government enters into a legally binding agreement with the
Local or Regional Housing Trust Fund and the funds are expended for eligible
Activities and consistent with Program requirements. The delegating Local
government shall be identified in the application. The Local or Regional Housing Trust
Fund shall be responsible for all Program requirements.
(e) An Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a new allocation of PLHA funds if it has an
uncommitted amount of formula PLHA funds greater than the following:
(1) Four times the pending annual allocation if the pending annual allocation is
$125,000 or less;
(2) $500,000 if the pending annual allocation is greater than $125,000 and less than
$500,000;
Department of Housing and Community Development 12 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(3) The amount of the pending annual allocation if the pending allocation is
$500,000 or more.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B).
Section 301. Eligible Activities
(a) Eligible Activities are limited to one or more of the following:
(1) The predevelopment, development, acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of
multifamily, residential live-work, rental housing that is Affordable to Extremely
low-,Very low-, Low-, or Moderate-income households, including necessary
Operating subsidies.
(2) The predevelopment, development, acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of
Affordable rental and ownership housing, including Accessory dwelling units
(ADUs), that meets the needs of a growing workforce earning up to 120 percent of
AMI, or 150 percent of AMI in high-cost areas. ADUs shall be available for
occupancy for a term of no less than 30 days.
(3) Matching portions of funds placed into Local or Regional Housing Trust Funds.
(4) Matching portions of funds available through the Low- and Moderate-Income
Housing Asset Fund pursuant to subdivision (d) of HSC Section 34176.
(5) Capitalized Reserves for Services connected to the preservation and creation of
new Permanent supportive housing.
(6) Assisting persons who are experiencing or At risk of homelessness, including, but
not limited to, providing rapid rehousing, rental assistance, supportive/case
management services that allow people to obtain and retain housing, operating
and capital costs for navigation centers and emergency shelters, and the new
construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of permanent and transitional
housing.
(A) This Activity may include subawards to Administrative Entities as defined in
HSC Section 50490(a)(1-3) that were awarded CESH program or HEAP funds
for rental assistance to continue assistance to these households.
(B) Applicants must provide rapid rehousing, rental assistance, navigation centers,
emergency shelter, and transitional housing activities in a manner consistent
with the Housing First practices described in 25 CCR, Section 8409,
subdivision (b)(1)-(6) and in compliance with WIC Section 8255(b)(8). An
Applicant allocated funds for the new construction, rehabilitation, and
preservation of Permanent supportive housing shall incorporate the core
Department of Housing and Community Development 13 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
components of Housing First, as provided in WIC Section 8255, subdivision (b).
(7) Accessibility modifications in Lower-income Owner-occupied housing.
(8) Efforts to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosed or vacant homes and apartments.
(9) Homeownership opportunities, including, but not limited to, down payment
assistance.
(10) Fiscal incentives made by a county to a city within the county to incentivize
approval of one or more Affordable housing Projects, or matching funds invested
by a county in an Affordable housing development Project in a city within the
county, provided that the city has made an equal or greater investment in the
Project. The county fiscal incentives shall be in the form of a grant or low-interest
loan to an Affordable housing Project. Matching funds investments by both the
county and the city also shall be a grant or low-interest deferred loan to the
Affordable housing Project.
(b) A Local government that receives an allocation shall use no more than
5 percent of the allocation for costs related to the administration of the Activity(ies) for
which the allocation was made. Staff and overhead costs directly related to carrying
out the eligible activities described in Section 301 are “activity costs” and not subject
to the cap on “administrative costs.” A Local government may share any funds
available for administrative costs with entities that are administering its allocation.
(c) Two or more Local governments that receive PLHA allocations may expend those
moneys on an eligible jointly funded project as provided for in Section 50470
(b)(2)(B)(ii)(IV). An eligible jointly funded project must be an eligible Activity pursuant
to Section 301(a) and be located within the boundaries of one of the Local
governments.
(d) Entitlement Local governments may use the flow of PLHA funds to incentivize private
lender loans and to guarantee payments for some or all public agency bond financings
for activities consistent with the uses identified in Section 301 “Eligible Activities”. This
loan guarantee Activity must be identified and fully explained in the Applicant’s “Plan”.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivisions (b)(2)(B)(ii)(IV), (b)(2)(D)(i-x), and (b)(3).
Section 302. Threshold Requirements
Applicants must meet all the following threshold requirements for participation in the
formula allocation:
(a) Housing Element compliance: The Applicant and any delegating Local government,
if applicable, must have a Housing Element that has been adopted by the Local
Department of Housing and Community Development 14 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
government’s governing body by the application deadline and subsequently
determined to be in substantial compliance with state Housing Element Law pursuant
to GC Section 65585. A Local government’s current Housing Element compliance
status can be obtained by referencing the Department’s website at
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/housing-element.
(b) APR on the Housing Element submitted to the Department: The Applicant and any
delegating Local government, if applicable, must submit to the Department the APR
required by GC Section 65400 for the current or prior year by the application deadline
date.
(1) Please be advised that the Department will not accept other reports in lieu of the
APR. Housing Authority Financial Reports, Redevelopment Reports, and other
similar reports will not be accepted as meeting this requirement. If uncertain of the
status of the report submittal for a Local government, please contact the
Department for more information.
(c) Submit, by the deadline specified in the NOFA, on a form made available by the
Department, a complete application which shall meet the following minimum
requirements:
(1) Application requests an allocation pursuant to Section 200 in order to carry out one
or more of the eligible activities described in Section 301. Except for a jointly
funded project as described in Section 301(c), any activities must be carried out
within the jurisdiction of the Applicant Local government.
(2) Submission of the application is authorized by the governing boards of the
Applicant.
(3) Certification in the resolution that, if the Local government proposes allocation of
funds for any Activity to another entity, the Local government’s selection process
shall avoid conflicts of interest and shall be accessible to the public . For the
purposes of this paragraph, “entity” means a housing developer or program
operator; “entity” does not mean an administering Local government to whom a
Local government delegates its PLHA formula allocation, pursuant to Section
300(d).
(4) A Plan detailing:
(A) The manner in which allocated funds will be used for eligible Activities.
(B) A description of the way the Local government will prioritize investments that
increase the supply of housing for households with incomes at or below
60 percent of AMI. Programs targeted at households at or below 60 percent of
AMI will be deemed to meet this requirement.
Department of Housing and Community Development 15 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(C) A description of how the Plan is consistent with the programs set forth in the
Local government’s Housing Element.
(D) Evidence that the Plan was authorized and adopted by resolution by the Local
government and that the public had an adequate opportunity to review and
comment on its content.
(E) The following for each proposed Activity:
(i) A description of each proposed Activity, pursuant to Section 301, and the
percentage of funding allocated to it. The description shall specifically
include the percentage of funds, if any, directed to AOWH.
(ii) The projected number of households to be served at each income level and
a comparison to the unmet share of the RHNA at each income level.
(iii) A description of major steps/actions and a proposed schedule required for
the implementation and completion of the Activity.
(iv) The period of affordability and level of affordability for each Activity. Rental
Projects are required to have affordability periods of at least 55 years.
(5) The Plan submitted in response to the NOFA shall be for a term of five years. Local
governments shall obtain approval of the Department for amendments made to the
Plan in each succeeding year of the term of the Plan. Reallocations of more than
10 percent of funds among Activities require amendment of the Plan, with approval
granted by the governing body at a publicly noticed public meeting.
(6) A certification that, if funds are used for the acquisition, construction, or
rehabilitation of for-sale housing projects or units within for-sale housing projects,
the grantee shall record a deed restriction against the property that will ensure
compliance with one of the following requirements if the property is no longer the
primary residence of the homeowner due to sale, transfer or lease, unless it is in
conflict with the requirements of another public funding source or law:
(A) The PLHA loan and any interest thereon shall be repaid to the Local
government’s PLHA account. The Local government shall reuse the
repayments consistent with Section 301; or
(B) The initial owner and any subsequent owner shall sell the home at an
Affordable housing cost to a qualified Lower-Income or Moderate-Income
household; or
(C) The homeowner and the Local government shall share the equity in the unit
pursuant to an equity-sharing agreement. The grantee shall reuse the proceeds
Department of Housing and Community Development 16 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
of the equity-sharing agreement consistent with this section.
(7) A certification that, if funds are used for the development of an Affordable Rental
Housing Development, the Local government shall make the PLHA assistance in
the form of a low-interest, deferred loan to the Sponsor of the Project. The loan
shall be evidenced through a Promissory Note secured by a Deed of Trust, and a
Regulatory Agreement shall restrict occupancy and rents in accordance with the
Local government-approved underwriting of the Project for a term of at least
55 years.
(8) A Program income reuse plan describing how repaid loans will be reused for
eligible activities specified in Section 301.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC Section
50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii).
Section 303. Application Review
(a) Applicants must submit a complete application by the deadline stated in the NOFA in
order to be eligible for funding. Application forms provided by the Department will be
available upon release of the NOFA and will require Applicants to submit the forms
and other documents to demonstrate that the Local government has met threshold
requirements.
(b) The Department may request additional information to complete its review.
(c) Applications recommended for funding are subject to conditions specified by the
Department. Applicants will receive an official letter of award after the Department
approves funding recommendations.
(d) The Department may issue an Over-the-Counter formula allocation NOFA after
completing the NOFA process so that Local governments who were not able to submit
formula allocation applications by the application deadline will have another
opportunity to do so.
(e) If funding proposed in Local government Plans for AOWH activities is lower than
20 percent of the moneys available in the Fund, the Department may require Local
governments to use a specific percentage of their annual formula allocations in some
future year for AOWH activities as part of the annual funding process.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(A).
Department of Housing and Community Development 17 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
Section 304. Deadlines and Funding Requirements
(a) The initial PLHA application, including the Plan, must be submitted within 48 months
of the budget appropriation (for example, the budget appropriation for 2019 is
July 1, 2019, so the application deadline is June 30, 2023).
(b) Funds allocated to Local governments that do not submit a complete application by
the deadline stated in subsection (a) will revert to the Housing Rehabilitation Loan
Fund for the Multifamily Housing Program or for Department-administered technical
assistance to Local governments.
(c) A Local government may petition the Department to return any funds allocated to it to
be used for the Multifamily Housing Program.
(d) Except for predevelopment expenses for construction projects funded by PLHA and
costs to develop and prepare the Plan and the PLHA application, no costs incurred
more than one year prior to commitment by the Local government may be paid from
PLHA funds. Reimbursement of expenses to prepare the Plan and the PLHA
application are subject to the cap on administrative fees.
(e) After the Standard Agreement and attachments have been finalized, the Local
government will follow provided instructions for signing all required documents . The
Local government must submit all supporting materials and a signed Standard
Agreement within the timeline provided in the instruction.
(f) After the Standard Agreement has been executed by the state, the Local government
may submit a request for 100 percent of the funds allocated to be used for eligible
expenditures for the Activity(ies) that received the award, and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Standard Agreement.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(i) and subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(VI).
ARTICLE IV. COMPETITIVE ALLOCATION COMPONENT
Section 400. Eligible Applicants
(a) Eligible Applicants for the non-entitlement competitive allocation described in
Section 100(b)(3) are limited to Non-entitlement local governments. For development
of Rental Housing Projects, the Sponsor must be a co -Applicant.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(i)(I).
Department of Housing and Community Development 18 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
Section 401. Eligible Activities
(a) Eligible Activities are limited to the following and must take place within the jurisdiction
of the Applicant Local government:
(1) Development of new multifamily rental housing that is Affordable to households at
or below 60 percent of AMI or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily rental
housing that will be Affordable to households at or below 60 percent of AMI, but
which is not currently restricted as Affordable housing; or
(2) Assistance to persons who are experiencing or At risk of homelessness, including,
but not limited to, through rapid rehousing, or rental assistance, supportive
services and case management services that allow people to obtain and retain
housing, operating and capital costs for navigation centers, or new construction,
rehabilitation, or preservation of permanent or transitional rental housing.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC Section
50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(i)(I)(ia), (b)(2)(B)(i)(I)(ib) and subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(V).
Section 402. Threshold Requirements
Applicants must meet all the following threshold requirements for participation in the
competitive allocation:
(a) Housing Element compliance: The Applicant must have a Housing Element that has
been adopted by the jurisdiction’s governing body by the application deadline date and
subsequently determined to be in substantial compliance with state Housing Element
Law pursuant to GC Section 65585. A Local government’s current Housing Element
compliance status can be obtained by referencing the Department’s website at
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/housing-element.
(b) APR on the Housing Element submitted to the Department: The Applicant must
submit to the Department the APR required by GC Section 65400 for the current or
prior year by the application deadline date.
(1) Please be advised that the Department will not accept other reports in lieu of the
APR. Housing Authority Financial Reports, Redevelopment Reports, and other
similar reports will not be accepted as meeting this requirement. If uncertain of the
status of the report submittal for a Local government, please contact the
Department for more information.
(c) Submit by the deadline specified in the NOFA, on a form made available by the
Department, a complete application which shall meet the following minimum
requirements:
(1) Application requests a grant pursuant to Section 100(b)(3) in order to carry out one
Department of Housing and Community Development 19 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
or both of the eligible Activities set forth in Section 401.
(2) Submission of the application is authorized by the governing board of the Applicant
and by the developer co-applicant, if any.
(3) Certification in the resolution that, if the Local government proposes allocation of
funds for any Activity to another entity, the selection process shall avoid conflicts of
interest, and shall be accessible to the public.
(4) Demonstration of readiness, including site control for development Projects, land
use entitlements, environmental review and commitments of other funding and
resources required, as further set forth in the NOFA;
(5) Underwriting requirements:
(A) Uniform Multifamily Regulations Subchapter 19 of Title 25, Division 1,
Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8300), as amended from time to time, and
the Multifamily Housing Program Guidelines (commencing with Section 7300),
as amended from time to time, are hereby incorporated by reference into this
subchapter and shall apply to Rental Housing Developments receiving
assistance under the PLHA competitive allocation. In the event of a conflict
between the provisions of Subchapter 19 and these Guidelines, the provisions
of these Guidelines shall prevail.
(i) Section 8312(c) of the Uniform Multifamily Regulations is hereby amended
to read:
(c) For Projects utilizing 4 percent tax credits, Developer Fee payments
shall not exceed the amount that may be included in Project costs pursuant
to 4 CCR, Section 10327. In addition, the Developer Fee paid from
development funding sources shall not exceed the following:
(1) For acquisition and/or rehabilitation Projects, or adaptive reuse Projects,
the lesser of the amount of Developer Fee in Project costs or $2,000,000.
(2) For new construction Projects, the base limit shall be the lesser of the
amount that may be included in Project costs or $2,200,000. To arrive at the
final limit on Developer Fee paid from development funding sources, the
base limit shall then be multiplied by a ratio that is the average of (i) th e
difference between 2 and the Project’s high-cost ratio, as calculated
pursuant to 4 CCR, Section 10317(i)(6) or successor language and (ii) 100
percent.
(ii) Section 8312(d) of the Uniform Multifamily Regulations shall not apply.
(iii) Section 8314(a)(1)(A) of the Uniform Multifamily Regulations is amended to
read:
(A) Approved deferred Developer Fee, pursuant to Section 8312, provided
that the aggregate of the Developer Fee paid from sources and paid as
deferred shall not exceed $3,500,000.
Department of Housing and Community Development 20 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(B) Period of affordability: All assisted rental units shall be restricted for not less
than 55 years.
(C) All development Projects shall demonstrate fiscal integrity.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii).
Section 403. Selection Criteria
(a) Applications submitted within a competitive funding round shall be evaluated using the
following criteria. Total available points shall equal 100.
1. Priority Points – 25 points
A. Population - 5 points
(i) If the Applicant is a county that has a population of 200,000 or less
within the unincorporated areas of the county, the Applicant shall
receive all points.
B. Prior Award – 5 points
(i) If the Applicant did not receive an award based on the formula
specified in 42 USC, Section 5306 in 2016, the Applicant shall receive
all points.
And either C (i) or C (ii) or C (iii) below:
C. Activity
(i) Assistance for Homeless Persons through Program Activities –
15 points
(a) Applications to assist persons experiencing or At risk of
homelessness, including, but not limited to, through programs
providing rapid rehousing, or rental assistance, or operating
assistance to navigation centers shall receive all points.
Or
(ii) Assistance to Homeless Persons through Development of Navigation
Centers– 15 points
(a) Applications for construction of navigation centers shall receive
all points.
Or
Department of Housing and Community Development 21 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(iii) Assistance for Homeless Persons through Rental Projects – 15 points
(a) Applications for the new construction, rehabilitation, or
preservation of permanent or transitional rental housing in which
all or at least 10 percent of the units are restricted to occupancy
by tenants who are homeless or At risk of homelessness shall
receive all points.
2. Evaluation Criteria – 75 points
Precise scoring for these factors will be set forth in the NOFA.
A. Community Need – 30 points
(i) Applicants will receive up to a maximum of 30 points based on the rate
of households experiencing the most severe housing need according to
the most recent HUD CHAS dataset in the Applicant Local government.
Applicants will receive points in proportion to this percentage.
B. Applicant Administrative Experience – 15 points
(i) Applicants with prior experience administering local, state or federal
affordable housing or community development programs or who have
entered into a contract with an entity with prior experience in the
implementation of local, state or federal affordable housing or
community development programs will receive up to 15 points.
C. Demonstrated Capacity – 30 points
(i) Capacity points will be based on:
(a) Sponsor experience in Affordable Rental Housing Development
and ownership (Up to 30 points) or
(b) Navigation center development experience (for development of
these facilities) (Up to 30 points) or
(c) Program Operator experience (for non-development Activities)
(Up to 30 points)
(b) Where applications requesting funds for more than one eligible Activity pursuant to
Section 401 are permitted by the NOFA, each Activity will receive a separate score for
each rating factor, and have an individual Activity total. It is possible that one Activity
may score highly enough to receive an award, and the other Activity does not.
(c) In the event of tied point scores and insufficient funding for both applications, the
Department shall rank the tied applications as follows:
(1) If one of the tied applications is for an Affordable Rental Housing Development and
the other is for a program Activity or development of a navigation center, the
Department of Housing and Community Development 22 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
Affordable Rental Housing Development application will be selected for funding;
(2) If one of the tied applications is for a navigation center and the other is for a
program Activity, the navigation center will be selected for funding;
(3) If both of the tied applications are for Affordable Rental Housing Developments, the
Project with the lowest weighted average affordability of Restricted Units will be
selected;
(4) If both of the tied applications are for navigation centers, the facility that provides
overnight shelter to the greatest number of people will be selected;
(5) If both of the tied applications are for programs, the Local government with the
highest rate of households experiencing the most severe housing need according to
the most recent HUD CHAS dataset will be selected.
(d) In the event there are insufficient funds to fulfill the entire funding request for the next
highest scored application (Application A), the Department will determine whether
Application A is feasible without the full funding request . If Application A is not feasible
without full funding, the Department may offer the remaining funds to the applica tion
whose score is immediately below Application A. If the remaining funds are insufficient
to fulfill the funding request for that application (Application B), the Department will
again determine whether this application is feasible without the full fund ing request. If
Application B is not feasible without the full funding request, the Department will
perform the same analysis for the application whose score is immediately below
Application B.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(i)(I)(ia) and subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(V).
Section 404. Application Review
(a) Applicants must submit a complete application by the deadline stated in the NOFA in
order to be eligible for funding. Application forms provided by the Department will be
available upon release of the NOFA and will require Applicants to submit the forms
and other documents to demonstrate that the Local government has met threshold
requirements. The application will require submission of documentation adequate to
demonstrate that the application has earned the appropriate number of points.
(b) The Department may request additional information to complete its review, provided
that the new information would not affect scoring.
(c) Applications recommended for funding are subject to conditions specified by the
Department. Applicants will receive an official letter of award after the Department
approves funding recommendations.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii).
Department of Housing and Community Development 23 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
Section 405. Deadlines and Funding Requirements
(a) Applicants will be required to enter into a state Standard Agreement (Standard
Agreement) that will set forth conditions for funding and milestones that are required to
be met.
(b) After the Standard Agreement and attachments have been finalized, the Local
government will follow provided instructions for signing all required documents . The
Local government must submit all supporting materials and a signed Standard
Agreement within the timeline provided in the instructions or risk forfeiting the grant
award.
(c) Except for predevelopment expenses for construction projects funded by PLHA and
the costs to develop and prepare the PLHA application, no costs incurred more than
one year prior to commitment by the Local government may be paid from PLHA funds.
Reimbursement of expenses to prepare the PLHA application is subject to the cap on
administrative fees.
(d) Grant funds shall not be disbursed until:
(1) the Department authorizes loan closing, in the case of development projects; or
(2) all general and special conditions have been complied with, in the case of other
Activities.
(e) If funds are used for the development of an Affordable Rental Housing Development,
the Local government shall make the PLHA assistance in the form of a low-interest,
deferred loan to the Sponsor of the project. The loan shall be evidenced through a
Promissory Note secured by a Deed of Trust, and a Regulatory Agreement shall
restrict occupancy and rents in accordance with the Department-approved
underwriting of the project for at least 55 years.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(VI).
ARTICLE V. ADMINISTRATION
Section 500. Accounting Records
(a) The grantee shall establish a separate ledger account for receipts and expenditures of
grant funds and maintain expenditure details in accordance with the approved work
plan, budget, and schedule. Separate bank accounts are not required.
(b) The grantee shall maintain documentation of its financial records for expenditures
incurred during the course of the PLHA Activity in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. Such records shall be kept for at least five years after the
close-out report is submitted to the Department.
Department of Housing and Community Development 24 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
(c) The Department or its designated representative shall have the right to review and
copy any records and supporting documentation pertaining to the PLHA grant.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(III) and subdivision (b)(2)(B)(IV) and
subdivision (b)(3).
Section 501. Audits/Monitoring of Project Files
(a) Grantee shall maintain PLHA files which, at a minimum, should include the
following information and reports:
1) Project/Activity description
2) Land/site Information
3) Planning & zoning history (as appropriate)
4) Records of public hearings and public comments
5) Relocation needs (as appropriate)
6) Contracts, loan and grant agreements, Standard Agreement
7) Environmental records & reports/findings (as appropriate)
8) Design/engineering reports & plans (as appropriate)
9) Description of targeted beneficiaries, services to be provided, household
incomes, special needs
10) PLHA Activity costs, invoices, purchase orders, sources and uses of funds for
PLHA Activities, terms & conditions of financings, draws and all supporting
documentation, change orders (as appropriate)
11) Activity schedule and amendments
12) History of Plan amendments
13) Procurement policy used for PLHA Activity(ies)
(b) The grantee shall maintain such records for possible audit for a minimum of three
years after the close-out report is submitted, unless a longer period of records
retention is stipulated in the Standard Agreement.
(c) The grantee shall be responsible for monitoring Rental Housing Developments that
received PLHA funds for the term of the loan, including, but not limited to, the Projects’
compliance with the occupancy and rent requirements set forth in the Regulatory
Agreement, compliance with reserve requirements, and the compliance with
habitability standards.
(d) The grantee shall be responsible for monitoring AOWH loans to assure that the homes
remain Owner-occupied.
(e) If requested by the Department, the grantee shall obtain a report from a qualified,
Department of Housing and Community Development 25 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
licensed third party that certifies to the amounts of disbursement and identifies the
specific Activities for which the disbursements were made. Such a report is permitted
to be a component of the A-133 audit.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(IV) and subdivision (b)(3).
Section 502. Cancellation and Termination
(a) In the event that it is determined, at the sole discretion of the Department, that the
grantee is not meeting the terms and conditions of the Standard Agreement, the
Department shall issue a notice to stop work. Immediately upon receiving the written
notice to stop work, the grantee shall cease all work under the Standard Agreement.
The Department has the sole discretion to determine the grantee’s compliance with
the terms and conditions after issuance of a stop work order, and to deliver a written
notice to the grantee to resume work under this Standard Agreement.
(b) The Department shall terminate the Standard Agreement if the grantee is not in
compliance with the Guidelines or the terms and conditions of the Standard
Agreement. At least 30 days prior to the effective date of the termination of the Standard
Agreement, the Department shall provide written notice to the grantee of its intent to
cancel the funding allocation. The notice shall specify the reason for early termination
and may permit the grantee or the Department to cure any deficiency(ies) prior to the
early termination date. The grantee will submit requested documents to the
Department within 30 days of the early termination notice.
(c) Failure to meet reporting requirements will result in notice to the grantee that it must
satisfactorily cure any deficiencies within three months of the notice or it will forfeit the
following year’s PLHA formula allocation and be ineligible for a competitive award. The
Local government will forfeit subsequent PLHA formula allocations and be ineligible
for a competitive award until the Department determines that the Local government
has met reporting requirements.
(d) The Department may, as it deems appropriate or necessary, request the repayment of
funds from a Local government or offset future years’ funds, or pursue any other
remedies available to it by law for failure to comply with the Guidelines and/or the
terms and conditions of the Standard Agreement.
(e) Co-Applicants may be adversely impacted by a notice to stop work and/or termination
if one grantee is deemed by the Department to not meet the terms and conditions of
the Standard Agreement, or fails to meet the reporting requirements outlined in
Section 503.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(IV) and subdivision (b)(3).
Department of Housing and Community Development 26 2019 PLHA Final Guidelines
Section 503. Reporting
(a) The Department shall provide grantees with reporting formats and instructions.
(b) Annual Reports are required from all grantees pursuant to HSC Section
50470(b)(2)(B)(ii)(III) each year by July 31 for the term of the Standard Agreement.
The Annual Report shall document the uses and expenditures of all awarded
allocations and outcomes achieved. This report must be signed by both the Local
government’s PLHA administrator and the Local government’s City Manager (or
his/her designee), or Chief Executive Officer (or his/her designee) or Chief Financial
Officer (or his/her designee). The Annual Report must describe any proposed
amendment(s) to the approved Activity and schedule.
(c) Upon expenditure of all allocated funds and completion of the Activities funded by
PLHA, the grantee shall submit a close-out report, which will be part of the Annual
Report.
(d) The Department may request additional information as needed to meet other
applicable reporting or audit requirements.
NOTE: Authority cited: HSC Section 50470, subdivision (d). Reference cited: HSC
Section 50470, subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(III) and subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(IV).