The Ohio Housing Finance Agency released the first draft of its amendments to the 2016-2017 Qualified Allocation Plan on July 13, 2016. Many stakeholders responded to requests for feedback and their comments, up through August 12th are available online.

Other interested parties have requested additional time to review the changes and submit responses. In response, OHFA has decided to offer an extended comment period. A revised planning calendar accommodating this request is as follows:

  • Aug. 26: End of Public Comment Period
  • Sept. 8: Final Draft and Comment Summary Posted
  • Sept.14: Seek Multifamily Committee Approval of Changes
  • Sept. 21: Seek Full Board Approval of 2017 QAP

A second draft of the QAP, along with a redline version are available online. Please be aware that all documents are subject to change as further public comments are received and considered. See NH&RA’s summary of the QAP changes from an earlier story below.

July 27, 2016 –

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) released its draft 2017 QAP including a redline version. Comments should be sent to 2017QAPMailbox@ohiohome.org. The following is a non-exhaustive list of some of the proposed changes:

  • Prevailing Wage Requirements Added:
    • Applicants would be required to include in their proposal summaries whether Davis-Bacon Wage Rates or State Prevailing Wages apply to the development.
  • AFFH Marketing Plan
    • Clarifies that applications must include an Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan, using a form provided by OHFA (OHFA Form PC-E45). Applicants who own property with project based Sec. 8, HUD Sec. 236, or USDA contracts could submit their current and approved Fair Housing Marketing Plan to satisfy the requirement.
  • Equity Pricing Review Considerations Added
    • If equity prices are significantly above or below the pool average without sufficient explanation as to why, OHFA would reserve the right to underwrite to the pool equity pricing average
  • Basis Boost Policy Amended to be available for:
    • New Family Developments in High Opportunity Census Tracts
    • Permanent Supportive Housing Pool developments earning 25pts for Continuum of Care Priority
    • Developments in Single Family Infill Development pool located in areas experiencing moderate, high, or very high rates of positive change.
    • Would remove any categories eligible for basis boost in the past not listed above
  • Set-Asides
    • Family Housing: increased for high opportunity areas
    • Family Housing: set-aside added for non-QCTs
  • Family and Senior Pools Adjusted
    • Includes Family pool funding target increase from $4M to $5M
  • Substantial Rehabilitation Defined
    • Generally, improvements must either involve replacement of the majority of two or more major building components (structural, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC) or improvements must be $20,000 or greater per unit ($15,000 for 4% credits).
  • Net New Stable Job Growth Priority Eliminated (inability to obtain census tract level data)