Funding Opportunities

Applications For Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTF) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Are Now Closed.

 

 Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

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The City of Santa Fe is classified as an entitlement community by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). There are five entitlement communities in New Mexico - Farmington, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. The State of New Mexico’s Department of Finance and Administration allocates the balance of New Mexico’s CDBG funds for non-entitlement communities to use for capital improvements and infrastructure.

Entitlement communities can develop their own programs and funding priorities as long as their programs conform to HUD’s CDBG statutory standards and program regulations. Funded activities must support the objectives of the five-year Consolidated Plan.

Eligible Projects

• The Housing Trust Fund will make funding available for the following types of affordable housing projects:
• Homeownership assistance
• Development and construction of new affordable housing
• Preservation of existing affordable housing
• Conversion of existing housing to an affordable housing unit
• Retaining an existing affordable unit, rental development, or another special interest project
• Acquisition and rehabilitation of existing housing
• Capitalizing on affordable housing, revolving loan funds that are operated by non-profit housing organizations
• Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) that are City owned and used for affordable housing

 

Affordable Housing Trust Fund

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The City set up the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to act as a repository for development fees generated through the affordable housing program, as well as for program income funds that are paid back to the City. Another source of funding is land sales revenues from Tierra Contenta. Other prioritized activities include rental assistance for very low-income renters and real estate/infrastructure funding to support nonprofit development.

Every year, the City’s Community Development Commission sets funding priorities, and an RFP is released that is commensurate with the CDBG funding schedule as described in the preceding section. To achieve efficiency, the CDC will consider the applications for funding from the AHTF at the same time as CDBG funding requests.

For 2023-2024 funding opportunities, please see the BIDS/RFA page available on the City of Santa Fe BIDS/RFPs.

 

Eligible Projects

The Housing Trust Fund will make funding available for the following types of affordable housing projects:

• Homeownership assistance
• Development and construction of new affordable housing
• Preservation of existing affordable housing
• Conversion of existing housing to an affordable housing unit
• Retaining an existing affordable unit, rental development, or another special interest project
• Acquisition and rehabilitation of existing housing
• Capitalizing on affordable housing, revolving loan funds that are operated by non-profit housing organizations
• Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) that are City owned and used for affordable housing

 

Application for Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTF)

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Solicitation No. 23/39/R 

Applications for Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTF) are now closed. 

• AHTF RFA 23/39/R
• AHTF Application
• AHTF Info Session Certification Form
• Campaign Contribution Disclosure Form[MCJ1] 

*Please note: all applicants must re-register in the vendor self-service portal online before applying. 

Click Here to download information about Vendor Self-Service Registration.

 

Application for Community Development Block Grant

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Solicitation No. 23/38/R

Applications for Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTF) are now closed. 

• CDBG RFA 23/38/R
• CDBG Application
• CDBG Info Session Certification Form
• Campaign Contribution Disclosure Form[MCJ2] 

*Please note: all applicants must re-register in the vendor self-service portal online before applying. 

 

CDBG and AHTF Technical Assistance Training / Pre-App Orientation Session

 

Click Here to view the training slide deck. 

 

Questions and Answers

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Please submit any questions you may have to cjminnich@santafenm.gov. We will publish answers that are pertinent to all applicants here.

1) How much funding is available?

AHTF: $3,000,000

CDBG: Estimated $600,000 (22-23 grant) + up to $600,000 in reprogrammed funds

 

2) For past recipients/grantees, is there a way to edit our Munis registration, or should we re-register?

ALL applicants must re-register in the vendor self-service portal online before applying. Re-registration will begin at 12 p.m. on January 30.

 

3) Is the training session mandatory?

Before submitting an application, both new and prior applicants are required to attend a virtual training session with staff from the Office of Affordable Housing on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The session will also be recorded and made available on this page. If an applicant is unable to attend the live session, they are required to watch the recording on their own time. 

 

4) Is there a size limit on email attachments for the application submission?

The City's email server limits attachment size per email to 25MB. We recommend you submit your application via a dropbox link, especially if you include additional attachments.

 

5) Does a deferred developer's fee constitute an organizational "match"?

Yes, this resource is deferred to increase the immediate financial viability of the project, so it's a match.

 

6) Are applications required to be submitted using the fillable PDF file? Or can the same layout be used, but completed in Word, then saved and submitted as a PDF?

The latter option is acceptable as long as the applicant ensures the same layout is used and nothing is omitted.

 

7) How does Davis-Bacon apply to individual home repair?

Individual home repair does not trigger Davis-Bacon. Davis-Bacon applies to the rehabilitation of residential property only if the property contains 8 or more units. Residential property that contains 7 or fewer units is exempt.

 

8) What is the minimum amount of insurance coverage that the City requires?

General Liability - $1mm/$2mm Aggregate
Professional Liability - $1mm/$2mm Aggregate
Worker’s Comp - Statutory

 

9) What additional documents are required with the application packet?

Please refer to the application checklists below for all required documents. City staff utilizes these checklists to ensure application packets are complete.

AHTF Application Checklist 

CDBG Application Checklist

 

10) Are we allowed to use funds outside of City limits?

Using CDBG and AHTF outside of City limits is generally ineligible. Please see the City’s GIS map for confirmation that the proposed use falls within City limits. If your organization plans to use funds in the Metro area, but technically outside of City limits (Agua Fria Village, El Dorado, Tesuque, La Cienega, etc.), please mention that in your application. Otherwise, the default is to use funds within City limits. On a case-by-case basis, we can provide exceptions, but our capacity to do that is very limited and would require your organization to submit a formal request to City staff before such use is authorized.

 

11) Can CDBG and AHTF be used to fund public services, such as a homeless shelter?

AHTF can be used for operational costs of public services. This includes maintenance, cleaning, security, intake, food, and staff time related to any of those costs. Paying for utilities is an eligible cost. Insurance costs related to the facility are eligible but the insurance related to the administrative functions of the organizations, such as workmen’s comp, are NOT. Likewise, the executive director’s salary is an administrative cost and NOT eligible. Office equipment, administrative materials, etc. are NOT eligible. Any social services provided to clients whether provided by staff or an outside provider are NOT eligible.

CDBG funds can be used to pay for administrative costs and social services. However, there is a 15% cap on public services the City can fund with the annual CDBG award. This amounts to about $90,000 each year and these funds are very competitive.