Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC)
The AHSC Program funds land-use, housing, transportation, and land preservation projects to support infill and compact development that reduce greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions.
Funding for the AHSC Program is provided from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), an account established to receive Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds.
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Application, General Program, and Standard Agreements Questions
Notice of Funding
- New Round 7 NOFA Amendment (PDF)
- New Round 7 Application Workbook (XLSM)
- New Round 7 Application Intake Report (PDF)
- Application Portal Instructions (PDF)
- Payee Data Record - STD 204 (PDF)
- FI$Cal Government TIN Form (PDF)
- GHG Affordable Housing Tab Inputs (DOC)
- GHG Transit Tab Inputs (DOC)
- GHG Solar PV Tab Inputs (DOC)
Guidelines & Regulations
Notice of Funding
- New Round 7 NOFA Amendment (PDF)
- New Round 7 Application Workbook (XLSM)
- New Round 7 Application Intake Report (PDF)
- Application Portal Instructions (PDF)
- Payee Data Record - STD 204 (PDF)
- FI$Cal Government TIN Form (PDF)
- GHG Affordable Housing Tab Inputs (DOC)
- GHG Transit Tab Inputs (DOC)
- GHG Solar PV Tab Inputs (DOC)
Guidelines & Regulations
Assistance Type
The AHSC Program will assist project areas by providing grants and/or loans, or any combination thereof, that will achieve GHG emissions reductions and benefit Disadvantaged Communities through increasing accessibility of affordable housing, employment centers, and key destinations via low-carbon transportation resulting in fewer vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through shortened or reduced trip length or mode shift from Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) use to transit, bicycling, or walking. Three Project Area types have been identified to implement this strategy:
- Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Project Areas,
- Integrated Connectivity Project (ICP) Project Areas, or
- Rural Innovation Project Areas (RIPA).
The assistance terms and limits include, but are not limited to, the following requirements:
- The maximum AHSC Program loan or grant award or combination thereof is $50 million with a minimum award of at least $10 million in all Project Area types.
- A single developer may receive no more than $100 million per NOFA funding cycle.*
*These limitations may be waived if necessary to meet statutorily required Affordable Housing and Disadvantaged Community set-asides.
Statutory Funding Set-Asides
Fifty (50) percent of the available funds are set aside for Affordable Housing Developments, and 50 percent of the available funds are set aside for projects benefitting Disadvantaged Communities.
Note: A single project can address both set-asides above, and are not mutually exclusive.
Eligible Activities
- Affordable Housing Developments**
- Housing-Related Infrastructure
- Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure
- Transportation-Related Amenities
- Program Costs (including active transportation, transit ridership, and workforce development partnerships)
**includes new construction, acquisition, and substantial rehabilitation, including preservation of affordable housing at risk, or conversion of one or more nonresidential structures to residential dwelling units.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicant entities include any of the following:
- A locality, public housing authority, redevelopment successor agency, transit agency or transit operator, Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA), local Transportation Commissions, Congestion Management Agencies, Joint Powers Authority (JPA), school district, facilities district, university or community college district
- A developer or program operator
- A Federally Recognized Indian Tribe
If a public agency has a financial or real property interest in the proposed project, the application must either include the public agency as a co-applicant or otherwise include a commitment to enter into a contractual agreement to develop the project, if it is awarded.
Loan Closing Documents
Documents Applicable to all NOFAs
- Architect's Completion Certificate (New Construction) (DOC)
- Architect's Completion Certificate (Rehabilitation) (DOC)
- Article XXXIV Guidelines (PDF)
- Bond Financing Term Sheet (DOC)
- Certificate of Completion (DOC)
- Closing Checklist (XLS)
- Cost Cert and Financial Reporting Requirements (DOC)
- Cost Cert Sample Form (XLS)
- Designated Payee Authorization Letter (DOC)
- Insurance Guidelines Checklist (DOC)
- Interest Rate Resets or Bond Remarketing Requirements (Management Memo 07-01) (DOC)
- Lease Rider Estoppel (DOC)
- Loan Closing Requirements (Management Memo 05-2) (DOC)
- Physical Needs Assessment - Fannie Mae Form 4327 (DOC)
- Prevailing Wage Compliance (Management Memo 02-1) (DOC)
- Prevailing Wage Compliance Certificate (DOC)
- Project Construction Sign Requirements
- Project Funding Sources (Construction) (XLS)
- Project Funding Sources (Permanent) (XLS)
- Relocation Plan Implementation Certificate (DOC)
- Request For Funds Form (DOC)
- Utility Allowance Determination (DOC)
- Sponsor Operating Guarantee (PDF)
Previous NOFAs
Fiscal Year 2019-2020, NOFA Round 6
- 2019-2020, Round 6 NOFA (PDF)
- NOFA Round 6, Amendment #1 (PDF)
- Revised Rd. 6 Application Workbook (XLS)
- Payee Data Record - STD 204 (PDF)
- FI$Cal Government TIN Form (PDF)
- 2021 AHSC Rent and Loan Limits (PDF)
- OD-1-AHSC Application Loan Authorization -Template (PDF)
- OD-2-AHSC Resolution of LLC (PDF)
- OD-3-AHSC Sponsor Recipient Authorization for Loan and Grant (PDF)
- AHSC Round 6 Submitted Applications (XLS)
Fiscal Year 2018-2019, NOFA Round 5
- Fiscal Year 2018-2019, Round 5 Awards (PDF)
- NOFA (PDF)
- Payee Data Record - STD 204 (PDF)
- FI$Cal Government TIN Form (PDF)
- 2018-2019, Round 5 Guidelines (PDF)
- Income Limits (PDF)
- Loan Limits (PDF)
Fiscal Year 2017-2018, NOFA Round 4
- NOFA (PDF)
- Payee Data Record - STD 204 (PDF)
- FI$Cal Government TIN Form (PDF)
- 2017-2018, Round 4 Guidelines
- Income Limits (PDF)
- Loan Limits (PDF)
Fiscal Year 2016-2017, NOFA Round 3
- Fiscal Year 2016-2017, Round 3 Awards
- NOFA Round 3 (PDF)
- FAQs (PDF)
- Income, Rent, and Loan Limits (PDF)
- 2016-2017, Round 3 Guidelines
Fiscal Year 2015-2016, NOFA Round 2
- Fiscal Year 2015-2016, Round 2 Awards
- NOFA Round 2 (PDF)
- NOFA Round 2, Amendment #1 (PDF)
- 2015-2016, Round 2 Guidelines (PDF)
Fiscal Year 2014-2015, NOFA Round 1
- Fiscal Year 2014-2015, Round 1 Awards
- Round 1 NOFA (PDF) — 01/30/2015
- 2014-2015, Round 1 Guidelines (PDF)
Guidelines
Resources
- AHSC Round 7 Application Workshop Webinar
- AHSC Round 7 GHG Benefits Calculator Tool Webinar
- AHSC Round 7 Calculator Webinar PowerPoint (PDF)
- Strategic Growth Council AHSC Program website
- AB 32 (Chapter 488, Statutes 2006)
- SB 375 (Chapter 728, Statutes, 2008)
- California Metropolitan Organizations (MPOs) and Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs) (PDF)