Request for Proposals

FRANKLIN COUNTY

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND



Year 2007 Request for Proposals

Proposal Guidelines,

Funding Guidelines,

and Selection Criteria

for

Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Activities

Mailing Address:

Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund

c/o Benton Franklin Community Action Committee

Administration Office

720 W. Court Street

Pasco, WA 99301

Telephone: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

Franklin County assures that grants will be conducted and administered in compliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d), the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 3620), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive Orders 11063, 11625, 12138, 12432 and 12892, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), the Americans with Disabilities Act (title II) and implementing regulations.

Franklin County

Affordable Housing Trust Fund

2007 Request for Proposals
Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund (FCAHTF) Oversight Committee is seeking proposals that address local, affordable housing priorities serving persons or households considered to be extremely low and very low-income. Approximately $367,000.00 in revenues, generated through county document recording surcharge fees, is being made available for 2007 affordable housing grants and/or low-interest loans.

Proposals will be received and funds used only for the following types of projects:
Category#1: Acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of housing projects or units within housing projects that are affordable to persons with incomes at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI). All eligible applications will be considered, however proposals for new construction will not be considered if the vacancy rate in the county is greater than 10%. Special consideration will be given for applications addressing farm worker housing.
Category #2: Operation and maintenance assistance through either grants or loans for rental projects developed using (state) housing trust funds. Proposed rental housing projects must provide permanent housing for persons or households considered very low-income (50% or less of AMI), that requires a revenue supplement to cover ongoing operation expenses.


Category # 3: Rent assistance (short term), including gap rental assistance and assistance with security deposits for permanent rental housing projects or units within housing projects that are affordable to persons or households with income considered to be very low-income (50% or less of AMI). Rent assistance must be administered by a local public housing authority or another local organization that has an existing rental assistance voucher program consistent with HUD Section 8 Rental Assistance Voucher program.
Category #4: Operating costs for emergency shelters and licensed overnight youth shelters.

Eligible applicants include: Individuals, local governments, non-profit (including faith-based), for-profit agencies, and public housing authority. Faith-based organizations and churches may not restrict participation based on required religious affiliation or activities.
The FCAHTF Oversight Committee will not accept applications from individuals for single-family homeowner repair or rental assistance. Such activities must be sponsored by an organization willing to complete homeowner repairs and rental assistance on a larger scale.
Applicants may submit more than one application. However, since funding is limited, please prioritize applications in the order of importance. The FCAHTF Oversight Committee will consider applications requesting both grants and loans. Special consideration will be given to applications with partial or full loan requests. Timelines for any proposed project may exceed the funding year, however funding is limited to amount allocated in this cycle.

Income Guidelines:

AREA MEDIAN INCOME LIMITS Effective March 2006 AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI) FOR Richland-Kennewick-Pasco MSA IS $60,300 FOR A 4-PERSON HOUSEHOLD FAMILY SIZE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0-30%AMI (Extremely Low) $13,000 $14,850 $16,700 $18,550 $20,050 $21,550 $23,050 $24,500 31-50% AMI (Very Low) $21,650 $24,750 $27,850 $30,950 $33,450 $35,900 $38,400 $40,850

Application Availability and Submittal Deadline:
The 200 Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Application and Guidelines will be available on December 6, 2006:

• 
  on the Franklin County web site at http://www.co.franklin.wa.us;
  
• 
  by calling 509-545-4042 ext.276;
  
• 
  at the Franklin County Courthouse, Commissioners’ Office; or
  
• 
  at the City Hall offices of the City of Pasco, City of Mesa, City of Connell, and City of Kahlotus.
  

Applications must be received by 4:00p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2007.

Mail to:

Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee

c/o Benton Franklin Community Action Committee

Administration Office

720 W. Court St.,

Pasco, WA 99301.
OR

Hand-deliver to:

CAC Administration Office, 710 W. Court St., Pasco.
No faxed or e-mailed applications will be accepted.
Applicants are encouraged to attend an application workshop Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Franklin PUD public meeting room, 1411 W. Clark St., Pasco, WA.
The Benton Franklin Community Action Committee will respond to questions and requests for technical assistance in completing applications in the order received, and will make every effort to respond in a timely manner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2007 Request for Proposals Announcement 1

Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Contact Information 4

Application Instructions 5

General Application Separate Document


Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Neva Corkrum, Chair

Frank Brock

Robert Koch


Affordable Housing Trust Fund Oversight Committee Members and Staff
Committee Representatives
Franklin County – Frank Brock, Commissioner or designee of Board of Commissioners

City of Pasco – Mayor Joyce Olson

City of Pasco – Councilmember Rebecca Francik

City of Pasco – Councilmember Mike Garrison

City of Pasco – Community & Economic Development Director, Rick Smith

City of Connell – City Manager, Art Tackett

City of Kahlotus – Sharon McCaleb

City of Mesa – Mayor Patti Bailie

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Administration
Benton Franklin Community Action Committee – Janine White, Staff

Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund

Application Instructions

1. 
   Obtain a copy of the 2007 Application Packet including:
   
   • 
     Request for Proposal
     
   • 
     Application Instructions
     
   • 
     Application Form
     

2. 
   Application Packets are available on the Franklin County website (http://www.co.franklin.wa.us); at the City Hall offices of the City of Pasco, City of Connell, City of Mesa, and City of Kahlotus; or by calling 545-4042 ext.276. Please do not contact members of the FCAHTF Oversight Committee regarding questions concerning the Application Instructions or Application Form.
   

3. 
   An Applicant workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2006, at 10:00a.m. at the Franklin PUD Building, 1411 W. Clark St., Pasco. Attendance is not mandatory but applicants are encouraged to attend to ask questions.
   

4. 
   Please indicate your intent to apply by Friday, December 22. Contact Janine White at [e-mail] or by telephone at [phone] ext.276. This is to ensure that all probable applicants will receive any subsequent clarifications or additional information.
   

5. 
   After the applicant workshop, questions regarding the application forms or the application process should be addressed to Janine White, staff, at [e-mail] or 509-545-4042 ext.276. Response to questions and requests for technical assistance will be addressed in the order they are received, and every effort will be made to respond in a timely manner.
   

6. 
   Complete all parts and answer all questions on application form(s) as discussed in the instructions portion of this document. Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will not receive funding consideration.
   

7. 
   Application submittals shall be limited as to the number of pages allowed. Submittals may not exceed:
   
   1. 
      completed application form (8 pages maximum: Summary Page, Narrative (5pgs. max) and budget pages.
      
   2. 
      a signed copy of the Applicant Assurances (3 pages);
      

Submit other materials only at the request of the Benton Franklin Community Action Committee (BFCAC).
8. Provide: one (1) original and one (1) copy of all required submittals. Please do not duplex (double-sided photocopy) materials. Secure pages with binder clip or rubber band. Do not bind, hole punch, or staple the submittals. Application and Applicant Assurances must be submitted on 8-1/2”x11” paper in font size Arial 11 or Times New Roman 12.
9. Mail the completed application submittal to:

Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Oversight Committee

c/oBenton Franklin Community Action Committee

720 W. Court St.

Pasco, WA 99301

or hand-deliver to CAC Administration office at 710 W. Court St., Pasco.

Applications must be received no later than 4:00p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2007. If possible, please submit the proposal prior to that date. (DO NOT fax or email)
10. Applications must be submitted by an eligible applicant and must be signed by a person designated by the organization who has the authority to sign and contractually bind the organization. Individuals submitting an Application for funding must sign the Application as the authorized designee.

11. Eligibility Requirements:

To be considered eligible for consideration, an Application must:

• 
  Be on time.
  
• 
  Be complete.
  
• 
  Come from an eligible applicant
  
• 
  Have an original signature of an authorized representative
  
• 
  Address at least one of the four funding priorities
  
• 
  Be located within, or clearly benefit the residents of, Franklin County or one of its cities.
  

12. FCAHTF Evaluation Criteria:

The FCAHTF Oversight Committee will consider project proposals based on the following criteria:

• 
  Proposed project conforms with local Consolidated and Comprehensive Plans.
  
• 
  Project considers its impact on the tax base of the local community.
  
• 
  Amount of additional funds leveraged by the use of FCAHTF award.
  
• 
  Number of households served at or below 50% of the Area Median Family Income.
  
• 
  Endorsement of project by local governing body for which the project is proposed.
  

13. Additional Evaluation Criteria:

The FCAHTF may also consider these additional factors in the evaluation of a project proposal:

• 
  Applicant’s demonstrated capability to undertake and complete the project.
  
• 
  Outcomes are identified, defined and measurable.
  
• 
  Project is technically and financially feasible
  
• 
  Project provides supportive services
  
• 
  Project includes collaboration with other entities or organizations