California Announces $144.5 Million in Federal Awards to Build Multi-Family Rental and Single-Family Homes and Support Local Housing Assistance Programs

Sacramento, CA

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) today announced more than $144.5 million in awards from the federally-funded HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) to increase the supply of affordable single and multi-family housing in California and support local programs that provide housing assistance. The combined awards are expected to assist 984 California households through rental assistance, new construction of multifamily homes, and first-time homebuyer opportunities.

The HOME program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Today's awards highlight the crucial role of federal funding in expanding upon state investments to address pressing housing challenges and deliver long-term housing solutions. Continued federal and state partnerships will ensure individuals and families across the nation receive the assistance and resources they need.

"Everyone needs an affordable place to call home," said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. "These funds will help keep homes affordable, through rental assistance, new multifamily construction and first-time homebuyers opportunities."

HOME has two distinct activities administered by HCD. The HOME Project Activities include grants to cities, counties and tribal entities and loans to developers and nonprofit Community Housing Development Corporations to build new affordable rental and homeownership housing and rehabilitate multi-family rental housing. The HOME Program Activities include grants to cities, counties, and tribal entities to operate local housing assistance programs that provide: First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) down-payment assistance; Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (OOR) assistance to help homeowners make necessary health and safety and code compliance repairs to their primary residence; and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to help eligible renters reduce their housing expense burden. The HCD HOME program is focused on small communities and rural areas of the state that do not receive HOME funding directly from HUD.

"These HOME awards demonstrate the Newsom administration's commitment to changing lives and strengthening rural economies. Today's announcement in partnership with HUD will open the door to first-time homebuyers, making the dream of stable homeownership a reality for families throughout California" said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. "The awards also highlight the importance of sustained federal funding to deliver much needed housing stability and important resources to those most at need."

HOME awarded 14 Project Activities totaling more than $134.5 million to fund 643 HOME-assisted units in 13 California counties from Del Norte to Imperial. While the vast majority were multi-family new construction projects, the total did include one $3.1 million FTHB project in Fresno County to be developed by Self-Help Enterprises. Forty-seven applications requesting $422 million were received, demonstrating overwhelming statewide need for such assistance.

HOME also awarded 15 Program Activities totaling $10.5 million to grantees in 12 California counties-also spanning the length of the state-to aid approximately 341 households. This total includes more than $4.6 million in TBRA, $3.7 million in FTHB down-payment assistance, and $1.7 million for OOR programs. Unlike HOME Project Activities, Program Activities applications were undersubscribed by over $37 million, with the remaining funds reallocated to fund Multi-Family Project Activities.

Visit the HCD website for more information on HOME programs and the awards announced today.