The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) posted an updated Affordable Housing Funding Application (AHFA) The Instructions tab of the AHFA includes a list of the updates made. The LIHTC rents and Qualified Census Tracts were updated to reflect 2020 values, Bond Gap Financing (BGF) submission requirements and scoring sheets added and several other changes incorporated. Please keep in mind the following upcoming application deadlines:

  • July 10: Applications for four percent LIHTC only due to OHFA no later than 5:00 pm ET on July 10;
  • July 30: Last date OHFA will accept an Intent to Apply for Housing Development Gap Financing (HDGF);
  • July 30: BGF Exception requests due to OHFA by 5:00 pm ET; and
  • September 3: BGF Proposal applications due to OHFA by 5:00 pm ET.

OHFA has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for the BGF program. OHFA staff will continue to update the document up until applications are due on September 3.

OHFA anticipates releasing the first draft of the 2021 QAP – Technical Revisions on or before June 30. The first draft will incorporate feedback received since the 2020 QAP was approved in September 2019, as well as revisions and clarifications arising out of our review of 2020’s applications. As the 2021 QAP is meant to primarily address technical revisions only, certain items will not be addressed or modified in this version to maintain as much consistency as possible with the 2020 QAP. As a reminder, comments and feedback are always accepted via the QAP mailbox and stakeholders do not need to wait for specific windows of time to submit items for OHFA’s consideration.

HOME rent and income limits have been released and posted to OHFA’s Compliance webpage. The new limits are effective July 1, 2020.

The 2013 HOME Final Rule requires Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) to review and approve rents annually for all multifamily HOME & NHTF assisted properties during their affordability period. To comply with 24 CFR 92.252 & 24 CFR 93.302 (c)(2), HOME & NHTF-funded projects must submit a completed HOME rent approval form, a copy of the newly published HOME Rent and Income Limits and a copy of the current utility allowance (UA) form to HOMERA@OhioHome.org within 30 days of the release of the HOME Rent Limits each year.