HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
The HOME Program provides formula grants to the City of Muncie that the city uses - often in partnership with local nonprofit groups - to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. HOME funds are awarded annually as formula grants to participating jurisdictions (PJs). The program’s flexibility allows states and local governments to use HOME funds for grants, direct loans, loan guarantees or other forms of credit enhancements, or rental assistance or security deposits.
The program reinforces several important values and principles of community development:
- Flexibility empowers people and communities to design and implement strategies tailored to their own needs and priorities.
- Emphasis on consolidated planning expands and strengthens partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector in the development of affordable housing.
- Technical assistance activities and set-aside for qualified community-based nonprofit housing groups builds the capacity of these partners.
- Requirement that participating jurisdictions match 25 cents of every dollar in program funds mobilizes community resources in support of affordable housing.
Units constructed or rehabilitated in the HOME program must pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspection prior to occupancy. If you are HOME developer who needs to request an HQS inspection, you may use this form.
Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO)
At least 15 percent of HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds must be set aside for specific activities to be undertaken by a special type of nonprofit called a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). A CHDO is a private nonprofit, community-based organization that has staff with the capacity to develop affordable housing for the community it serves. In order to qualify for designation as a CHDO, the organization must meet certain requirements pertaining to their legal status, organizational structure, and capacity and experience.
With Participating Jurisdiction (PJ) approval, CHDOs may use HOME funds for all eligible HOME activities. However, in order to count towards the 15 percent set-aside, a CHDO must act as the owner, developer, or sponsor of a project that is an eligible set-aside activity. These eligible set-aside activities include: the acquisition and/or rehabilitation of rental housing; new construction of rental housing; acquisition and/or rehabilitation of homebuyer properties; new construction of homebuyer properties; and direct financial assistance to purchasers of HOME-assisted housing that has been developed with HOME funds by the CHDO.
HOME-ARP PLANNING
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) through HUD"s HOME program has provided $1.8 million to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations, by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter, to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability across the city. The office will be holding public hearings and taking comments for developing a plan and on a plan (once developed). View public notice for more details.