July 7, 2010 - The Department of Economic and Community Development is preparing a rating and ranking system for development grants that will provide extra points for developers including supportive housing in their projects.

There are two factors that would add points to an applicant’s score: (1) setting aside some units as supportive housing for individuals or families who are homeless, and (2) designating some of the supportive housing units for individuals or families who are chronically homeless. A Referral Protocol Agreement defining the specific units and tenant population to be served would be incorporated into mortgage documents.

To receive points for supportive housing, the applicant would have to demonstrate that at least 10% of the units in the development were designated as supportive housing. To demonstrate this applicant must show:

• Documentation of an MOU or contract with a service provider who has capacity and demonstrates adequate funding to provide those services.
• The services to be provided must be appropriate for the population. Appropriate services will include but not be limited to the type of services outlined in the Quality Assurance Monitoring Program Guidelines.
• The designated units must be affordable to households < 25% AMI.

To qualify as units serving the chronically homeless applicant must document:

• That it has a plan to screen prospective tenants who can establish through a shelter or service provider their chronic homelessness.
• The units are affordable to individuals with no income, either through a documented rental subsidy (RAP, Section8) or internally capitalized or other operating subsidy.