Affordable Multifamily Rental Projects

The Washington State Department of Commerce, through its Multifamily Housing Unit, is soliciting applications for capital funding to support the development or preservation of affordable multifamily rental housing across the state. Funding is available through the Housing Trust Fund, Apple Health and Homes program, and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities program. The goal of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to increase the stock of affordable housing or preserve existing stock through rehabilitation. Multifamily Rental Housing is defined as any housing arrangement intended for more than one household, which can include duplexes, high-rise apartments, multiple structures managed as one unit, and facilities with shared living spaces such as shelters or group homes. Eligible applicants include local governments, local housing authorities, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes in Washington, and regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations. Projects funded under this program must enter into a contract with Commerce and commence construction between July 2026 and April 2027. While Commerce reserves the right to extend this deadline in exceptional circumstances, applicants should plan accordingly to meet the stated timeframe. Applications must be submitted by Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 12 p.m. Pacific Time. The technical assistance period ends on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. During this period, applicants can access weekly updated FAQs and attend application office hours offered via Zoom. Office hours are available on scheduled dates between July and September 2025. Predevelopment technical assistance and predevelopment grant funding are also available for new housing developers through Commerce’s Capacity Building, Outreach, and Support program. The funding opportunity emphasizes thoughtful application preparation. Interested parties should review the official NOFA document for specific funding requirements, priorities, and submission instructions. Since the release date of July 18, 2025, several revisions have been made to the funding notice and application materials, and applicants are advised to consult the Track Change Log to ensure they are working with the most up-to-date information. Applicants must submit complete proposals through the specified process outlined in the NOFA. Projects will be evaluated on their alignment with program goals, their feasibility, and their potential to meet affordable housing needs in Washington State. The Multifamily Housing Unit also plans to release a separate Tribal Housing Set-aside NOFA in the future, in coordination with the Office of Tribal Relations, to ensure community-informed allocation of set-aside funds. For questions regarding this funding announcement, applicants should contact Commerce at HTFApp@commerce.wa.gov, including “HTF Multifamily Rental NOFA #MHU-2025-01” in the subject line. Resources, webinar materials, and registration links for technical assistance sessions are available on Commerce’s Box website, providing applicants with necessary guidance to prepare competitive proposals.

Attend application office hours, review webinars and FAQs during the technical assistance period, and check the Track Change Log for updates.