Recently, the Delaware State Housing Authority (“DSHA”) posted some new information on its 2016 QAP Question and Answer Forum.
Here is a brief summary of the information posted:
• Liberty Court Apartments, Dover: DSHA has received preliminary approval from HUD to convert the Liberty Court Apartments from Public Housing funding to the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (“RAD”) and will be submitting tax exempt and HDF financing in the 2016 LIHTC funding round. The RAD program was created by HUD to reduce the $25.6 billion backlog of needed public housing capital improvements by moving public housing units to a long term Section 8 platform. More information is available here.
• DSHA reminds applicants that for projects with Phase I environmental reporting requirements, the environmental professional conducting such investigations must be specifically certified in environmental hazards such as asbestos and lead based paint by the State of Delaware.
• For any potential applications seeking a copy of the 2016 LIHTC Application Form, DSHA reminds them to contact DSHA at 302-739-0291 or by emailing Cindy Deakyne at cindy@destatehousing.com.
• DSHA will be holding a public meeting on March 22, 2016 at 2:30PM at the Dover Public Library located at 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, DE 19901. The purpose of the meeting is to obtain the views of citizens regarding pubic housing and the National Housing Trust Fund (“NHTF”). The NHTF is a new program designed to compliment existing federal and state affordable housing funding platforms for extremely low income and very low income households. DSHA is specifically interested in obtaining public input on how best to apply the NHTF to address Delaware’s housing needs. Separately, DSHA will release an allocation plan for the NHTF, which will be released for public comment. For those unable to attend in person, a webinar will be available online. In order to attend the webinar session, you must RSVP to SusanM@destatehousing.com or call (302) 739-4263 or (888)363-8808 to receive the required login link.
• DSHA reminds all current applicants that in applying for 2016 Tax Credits and the Housing Development Fund, rents should provide further affordability. Applicants must contact DSHA by March 15, 2016 for approval and current tax credit rents in the area of the proposed development or projects could be disqualified. You may e-mail Cindy Deakyne at cindy@destatehousing.com with any requests.
