(A) Review by the city. On receipt of an application, the city shall:
(1) Determine whether the application submitted by the applicant is complete and responsive;
(2) Determine whether the applicant is a qualifying grantee as defined herein and in the Act;
(3) Review and analyze whether the applicant has shown a demonstrated need for activities to promote and provide affordable housing and related services to persons of low- or moderate-income and that the proposal is consistent with the city’s adopted Affordable Housing Plan;
(4) Determine whether the applicant has demonstrated experience related to providing housing or services to persons of low- or moderate-income; as well as experience and/or the capacity of the applicant to administer the affordable housing program or project for which the applicant has applied;
(5) Determine whether the applicant’s proposal provides a plan for coordinating with other service providers in the community; whether the applicant’s plan addresses how persons of low-income or moderate-income in need of housing and/or housing-related supportive services can receive supportive services and referrals to federal, state and local resources; and whether the applicant’s plan addresses outreach efforts to reach the population to be served as identified by the city in any RFP, in the Affordable Housing Plan or otherwise;
(6) Determine whether the applicant has support from public service agencies, or such other support as may be required by the city and/or the MFA, in its discretion, for its proposed services in the community;
(7) Ascertain the amount of any matching funds or in-kind services specific to the program that may be utilized by the applicant in connection with the program;
(8) Ascertain whether any local, private or federal funds will be used by the applicant in connection with the specific grant for which the applicant is applying;
(9) Ascertain whether the applicant has and can demonstrate the capability to manage the implementation of the program for which the applicant is applying;
(10) If the applicant is a prior recipient of either a housing assistance grant, affordable housing funds and/or other program funds, confirm that the applicant had no outstanding findings or matters of non-compliance with program requirements from the city or the MFA, as applicable, or if it has any such findings, it has a certified letter from the city, the MFA or the auditor stating that the findings are in the process of being resolved;
(11) If the applicant is a prior recipient of either a housing assistance grant, affordable housing funds and/or other program funds, confirm that the applicant reasonably committed and expended the funds under the prior program and/or met anticipated production levels as set forth in any contract with the city or the MFA, as applicable, for those prior program funds;
(12) Evaluate the applicant’s proposal in part based upon the applicant’s current financial audit;
(13) Evaluate the applicant’s proposed budget for the project for which the applicant is applying for affordable housing funds or a housing assistance grant, which proposed budget must be approved by the city before the applicant can be approved as a qualifying grantee, and any expenditure of grant funds under the Act or granted property is transferred to the applicant;
(14) On receipt of an application from a builder, the city will analyze the builder’s ability to construct and sell sufficient residential housing units to persons of low- or moderate-income within the time or times as may be required by the city; and
(15) Consider other factors it deems appropriate to ensure a reasonable geographic allocation for all affordable housing programs.
(B) Certification by the city to the MFA. The city shall certify an application to the MFA in writing upon:
(1) Completion of its review of the application;
(2) Determination that the application is complete;
(3) Determination that the requirements of the Act, the Rules and this chapter have been satisfied; and
(4) Determination that the applicant is a qualifying grantee.
(Ord. 2023-002, passed 8-16-2023)