HCD Extends Near Term Deadlines And Extends Or Re Opens NOFAs To Aid Fire Impacted Communities In Recovery And Rebuilding

HCD Extends Near-Term Deadlines And Extends Or Re-Opens NOFAs To Aid Fire-Impacted Communities In Recovery And Rebuilding

January 14, 2025

All of us at the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by the fires that have devastated so many and continue to burn across the Los Angeles Region. We are deeply, personally invested in the communities we serve and stand ready to support our partners in these trying times and throughout the recovery that lies ahead.

Our team has already heard from some stakeholders with concerns about their ability to fulfill near-term commitments or meet impending deadlines. Please know that we will do everything within our authority to work in partnership with you to address the challenges you face as a result of these fires.

Here are some of the changes HCD has already made or is working to implement:

Federal Programs

• HOME Investments Partnership (HOME) NOFA - HCD will extend the application deadline for HOME projects and programs by 60 days until May 24, 2025, to allow more time for communities, developers, and tribes in impacted areas to apply for assistance. Related webinars which are scheduled for the next three weeks will be extended by one month. Questions? Contact: [email protected]
• Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) NOFA - We are amending the existing NOFA to allow fire-impacted applicants up to an additional six months to apply. Questions? Contact [email protected]
• HOME American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Re-Entry Housing NOFA - HCD will re-open the Re-entry Housing Pilot Project NOFA, which originally closed December 31. Questions? Contact [email protected]

State Programs

• Homeownership Super NOFA - The deadline to submit applications for Affordable Homeownership Projects and Programs will be extended from February 14, 2025, to March 13, 2025. Questions? Contact [email protected]
• Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) NOFA - HCD will extend the deadline to submit applications for PLHA CY 2022 funds for fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles County and Ventura County from February 28, 2025, to April 1, 2025. In addition, for any impacted jurisdictions wanting to amend their existing approved five-year plan to support fire recovery efforts consistent with the eligible uses outlined in Section 301 of the Program Guidelines, HCD will not require pre-approval of such change. Jurisdictions should contact their assigned State Grant Management Representative.
• Homekey+ NOFA - The deadline to submit Homekey+ applications for gap financing projects will be extended from March 14, 2025, to April 3, 2025, though we encourage applicants to apply earlier as they are able. Further information on webinar registration will be forthcoming.
• Annual Reporting Requirements and Deadlines for Funding Disbursement Requests - HCD will offer extensions to fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles County and Ventura County on annual or biannual reporting requirements and/or Funding Disbursement Request deadlines (i.e., PLHA CY 2021 Funds) due between January and March 2025. Any such request should be directed to the assigned HCD representative.
• Homelessness Grants - For fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the deadline for fiscal reports for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program; Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) Program, and Family Homelessness Challenge (FHC) Grant Program will be extended from January 31, 2025, to February 14, 2025. HCD will also extend the HHAP fiscal report due on February 28, 2025, to March 14, 2025, for these communities. As a reminder, HHAP funding is intended to be flexible to support the specific needs of the unhoused population. If grantees need to pivot their HHAP funding plans to support emergency response and recovery under the program's allowable uses, HCD will expedite review of budget modifications in fire-impacted areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Similarly, for encampments receiving ERF funding in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, HCD will expedite review of budget amendments as necessary. Questions? Contact [email protected]

Land Use Planning

• Housing Element Rezones - HCD will extend the deadline for cities and counties in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to complete rezones required by their housing elements from February 12, 2025, to March 12, 2025, prior to HCD commencing any enforcement process. Requests for additional extensions will be considered. Questions? Contact [email protected]
• Accountability and Enforcement - For fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, HCD will extend the deadline to respond to enforcement letters from HCD's Housing Accountability Unit by four weeks. Requests for additional extensions will be considered. Questions? Contact [email protected]

Administration

• Request for Proposal Extension - HCD is currently seeking a team of Technical Assistance providers to assist eligible applicants for HCD's funding programs and provide capacity building to internal HCD staff. The deadline for proposal submissions has been extended to January 31, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. PST to allow respondents additional time to navigate fire-related impacts. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor the event status on Cal eProcure. Questions? Contact the HCD Procurement Administrator.

This list is not intended to be final or all-inclusive. It would be impossible to address every potential individual concern in one message, and we understand the situation continues to evolve. We simply wish to convey that we are acutely aware of the immediate and long-term challenges you face, we are unwavering in our commitment to the recovery of California communities, and we are working to be as responsive and flexible as statute allows in the face of this unprecedented disaster.

If you represent a housing development or community property in the HCD portfolio that has experienced direct impacts, damage, or destruction, please reach out to your single point of contact as soon as possible if you have not already done so.

Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires - a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal governments. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• By calling 800-621-3362
• By using the FEMA smart phone application
• Assistance is available in over 40 languages
• If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

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