California Tribal Homekey Program

HKTribal@hcd.ca.gov

The California Tribal Homekey Program will provide grants to sustain and rapidly expand housing for households experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and who are impacted by or at increased risk for medical diseases or conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds must be used to develop permanent multifamily rental housing that is affordable to the target population of individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or for senior housing. Proposals for other housing types will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Eligible uses of funding include:

• Acquisition and/or rehabilitation, of motels, hotels, or other sites and assets, including homes, apartments, vacant land, manufactured housing, commercial properties, and other buildings with existing uses that could be converted to permanent housing
• Conversion of units from nonresidential to residential purposes
• New construction of dwelling units
• Relocation costs for individuals who are being displaced because of the project
• Capitalized operating subsidies for units purchased, converted, constructed, or altered

Eligible costs include:

• Predevelopment activities including architectural, appraisal, engineering, legal costs, attorney fees, and other consulting costs that are necessary and directly related to the planning and execution of the project and which are incurred through third-party contracts
• Offsite improvements, such as sewers, utilities and streets, directly related to, and required by the rental housing development
• Onsite improvements related to the project
• Approved developer fees

Tribal entities that demonstrate sufficient experience and capacity to develop, own, and operate affordable housing are eligible to apply.

Eligible applicants may apply jointly with an eligible co-applicant, which may include other tribal entities, urban Indian organizations, local jurisdictions, or private nonprofit or for-profit corporations.

Estimated total program funding: $81,000,000

Awards will be the lesser of:

• A base amount of $300,000 per assisted unit adjusted for bedroom size and deeper affordability
• The amount necessary to enable the acquisition, development, construction, and/or rehabilitation of the rental housing development which may not exceed the total eligible costs required, when considered with other available financing and assistance, including the full amount of any tax credit equity generated by the project
• $10,000,000 per project

A link to the application instructions is available on the program website.

Applicants are required to schedule a pre-application meeting prior to applying. The meeting is offered as technical assistance and provides the prospective applicant an opportunity to discuss the housing needs and the proposed project. Email HKTribal@hcd.ca.gov to request a meeting. Technical assistance may also be requested using the online intake form.

Online applications will be accepted online on a continuous basis between August 1, 2023 - November 29, 2024, or until the available funds are exhausted. Applicants are encouraged to submit their completed application as early as possible.