HOME Projects

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), through its Division of Federal Financial Assistance, has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Project Activities under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. This funding opportunity offers approximately $34 million in federal funds allocated to the State of California for fiscal year 2025 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding is specifically targeted for use in non-entitlement jurisdictions, which are areas that do not directly receive HOME funds from HUD. The initiative focuses on supporting low- and very low-income households by expanding access to affordable housing through multifamily rental projects and first-time homebuyer projects. The HOME Program under this NOFA seeks to achieve several statewide objectives as part of California’s 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025–2026 Annual Action Plan. These goals include increasing the supply and preservation of affordable housing, improving access to such housing, and addressing homelessness across the state. The funds are intended to be complementary to other federal, state, and local housing programs. Eligible activities under the NOFA include the construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation of multifamily rental housing and development of homes for first-time homebuyers. Importantly, all projects must be located in eligible non-entitlement jurisdictions, and Developers can only apply for first-time homebuyer funds if the projects are situated on Native American Land. Applications are open to State Recipients, Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), Developers, and Native American Entities. A notable feature of this NOFA is its emphasis on improving tribal access. Twenty percent of the total funding is reserved for Native American Entity Applicants, who are also provided with comprehensive technical assistance throughout the application process. Applications for tribal entities are accepted on a rolling basis until June 22, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. For all other applicants, submissions must be completed by March 30, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. PDT. All applications must be submitted electronically via the EUNA Grants Network Portal. HCD strongly encourages applicants to establish portal accounts early, using centralized organizational emails to avoid access disruptions. Funding is awarded competitively for State Recipients, CHDOs, and Developers, while Native American Entities apply on an over-the-counter (OTC) basis. The award amounts vary by project type: up to $8 million for rental projects and $2 million for first-time homebuyer projects, with additional administrative and CHDO operating funds available where applicable. Projects must comply with minimum per-unit funding thresholds ($10,000/unit) and periods of affordability ranging from 5 to 55 years, depending on the project type and per-unit assistance amount. For example, new construction projects on Native American Land require a 50-year affordability period. Both grants and loans may be awarded, depending on eligibility and project structure. Applicants must adhere strictly to eligibility requirements and project standards defined under both state and federal HOME regulations. The program mandates that all housing funded must comply with local codes and standards. Applications are reviewed for threshold eligibility, rated based on scoring criteria (detailed in Appendix D of the NOFA), and undergo a financial feasibility analysis. Projects that fail to meet environmental or site control criteria will not advance. Application scoring is competitive, and in case of a tie, HCD will prioritize based on jurisdictional poverty levels or project readiness. Award announcements are expected in July 2026 for competitive applicants, with continuous announcements for Native American Entity applications. Selected applicants must execute a Standard Agreement with HCD within 90 days of receipt to secure the funds. The program includes monitoring requirements, including annual fees for multifamily projects, although these fees are waived for Native American Entity projects. For all inquiries or technical assistance requests, applicants may contact [email protected] or call 916-263-2771. Webinars and one-on-one assistance are available to support applicants throughout the submission period.

Submit via EUNA Portal using Department forms; prepare for environmental and feasibility review early; use centralized email for portal access continuity