The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) is soliciting public comment regarding the best means of distributing funds from the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF). Topics they would appreciate seeing addressed include “how recipients should be selected and what qualifications they should have; preferences based on geographic diversity; and how within the federal guidelines these funds should be used.”
Interested parties are encouraged to either submit comments by June 8, 2016, to HOME@lhc.la.gov or to discuss comments at a public hearing scheduled for 1:30pm CST, June 9, 2016, at 2415 Quail Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.
The HTF is a new formula grant program, administered by states, for affordable housing production that will complement existing Federal, State and local efforts to increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe and sanitary affordable housing for extremely low-income (ELI) and very low-income households (VLI). Grantees are required to use at least eighty (80) percent of each annual grant for rental housing; up to ten (10) percent for homeownership housing; and up to ten (10) percent for administrative and planning costs. HTF funds may be used for the production of affordable permanent housing through the acquisition, new construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of housing. All HTF-assisted rental housing must meet a minimum affordability period of 30 years.
Louisiana’s allocation for 2016 is $3M based on HUD’s formula allocation procedures.
Inquiries should be directed to Robert McNeese with LHC at 225-763-8678
