Program provides funding for development and redevelopment of affordable rental housing units serving households with an income earning 60% and below area median income
Annapolis, MD (January 25, 2023) Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Arundel Community Development Services, Inc. (ACDS) announced the opening of pre-applications for the production of affordable rental housing projects. Pre-applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and successful pre-applicants will be invited to submit a full application.
“There is an affordable housing crisis in our county and we intend to do all we can to address it,” said County Executive Pittman. “This program is just one effort to restore equity and ensure access to affordable rental housing for those who need it most.”
Administered by ACDS on behalf of Anne Arundel County, the program makes federal HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funding, County General funds, and Anne Arundel County Affordable Housing Trust Funds available for the development and redevelopment of affordable rental housing units. Qualified nonprofit organizations and for-profit development partners are eligible to submit a pre-application. Pre-applications will be reviewed by ACDS staff and the ACDS Development Committee for consideration.
“We recognize the need to create affordable units in this high cost jurisdiction - providing a significant capital subsidy for long-term affordability is one way to do that,” said ACDS CEO Erin Karpewicz. “Our ability to do this was significantly enhanced when the County provided initial seed money for the Affordable Housing Trust fund. We have created a single point of entry through our Pre-application process and welcome the opportunity to partner with the private and nonprofit sectors to create and preserve more units in an equitable manner.”
Applications must meet basic threshold criteria to be considered. Reservation of funds will be prioritized to the degree that project proposals are ready to proceed and meet the stated ACDS and County priorities. All else being equal, ACDS will prioritize projects that:
- Include units that serve very low income households;
- Provide permanent supportive housing for persons/households that (i) include a Veteran; (ii) are experiencing homelessness; (iii) are returning from incarceration; and/or (iv) are fleeing domestic violence or are victims of human trafficking;
- Meet existing zoning requirements;
- Are located within a state designated Community of Opportunity;
- Are sited in an area that has a Transit Score above 70;
- Exceed minimum UFAS standards and provide more accessible units than required;
- Incorporate accessibility components or design features that allow residents to more easily age in place (for senior projects);
- Provides comprehensive tenant services above the minimum requirement;
- Include development team members that are Minority Business Enterprise or Women Business Enterprise firms; and /or
- Have a managing partner that is an experienced nonprofit developer.
HOME, County General funds, and/or Housing Trust Fund dollars can be used for pre-development (e.g. engineering and architectural fees, permitting), acquisition, and construction development costs for the development of affordable housing. Housing units supported with ACDS Rental Housing funds must serve households with an income earning 60% and below area median income, adjusted for household size, for the Baltimore Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined and published annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A full commitment of funds is subject to the timely submission of a full Rental Housing Development application and all required attachments by the Owner/Developer Applicant; a completed underwriting analysis demonstrating the project has an unmet funding need; the availability of funds at the time analysis is completed, and the approval of the full ACDS Board of Directors.
For more information on the program and requirements, visit the ACDS website.