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P.O. Box 4034 · Sacramento · CA · 95812-4034 · (916) 322-3991 · www. calhfa.ca.gov <br /> <br />HELP Program <br /> <br />(Housing Enabled by Local Partnerships) <br /> <br />Announcement Date: February 4, 2005 <br /> <br />The HELP Program offers a 3% interest rate loan to local government agencies for their locally <br />determined affordable housing activities and priorities. Although the primary stipulation is that <br />the HELP Program funds be used to directly produce affordable housing units, there is, <br />otherwise, virtually unlimited flexibility for the local agency to determine the specific housing <br />activity and use of the funds in providing for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, or <br />preservation of affordable rental or ownership housing. <br /> <br />Proposals are competitively evaluated and relatively ranked using criteria to intentionally avoid <br />any regulatory structure that would undermine a Iocality's determination of housing priorities. <br />Open application periods are announced each Spring and Fall (typically February. and August). <br />Applicants (Io~:al government agencies) compete for approximately $10 million cf HELP <br />Program funding in each round. <br /> <br /> Program Objective <br /> <br />To provide affordable housing opportunities through program partnerships with local government <br />entities, consistent with their affordable housing priorities. <br /> <br />Program Parameters <br /> <br />Affordable Housing. HELP Program funds must be used to directly provide affordable housing <br />units. Housing units must be affordable for at least 10 years, with "affordable" being defined in the <br />context of the unmet housing needs and priorities of the locality. HELP Program funds may not be <br />used for technical assistance or administrative costs. <br /> <br />Local Government Involvement. Local government entities (i.e., city and county housing-related <br />divisions and agencies, and redevelopment agencies) must have a direct im/olvement with their <br />programs. Local government entity involvement can include financial contributions of Federal, <br />State, and locality program funds, and contributions such as land write-downs, fee waivers, density <br />bonuses, and local agency program staffing and administration, and other similar benefits. <br /> <br />Unmet Affordable Housing Needs. HELP funds are intended for use by local government entities <br />for unmet affordable housing needs as determined by each participating locality. Local government <br />entities must demonstrate how the local priority was established and approved. Commonly, <br />priorities are stated in Housing Elements, Consolidated Plans, or other documented housing plans. <br />Activities that are eligible under the HELP Program to facilitate affordable single family, multifamily, <br /> <br /> <br />