Request for Proposals: FY2025-2026 Gastonia-Gaston HOME Consortium Multi-Family Housing Project

The City of Gastonia is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 2025-2026 HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds to support the development of multi-family housing. The available funding is $600,000, which includes $350,000 for the current program year and $250,000 from prior years. The goal is to partner with community agencies, developers, and contractors to create affordable, multi-family housing units. Key aspects of the RFP include: 1. **Eligibility**: Agencies must have experience in developing affordable housing, adequate financial capability, and project management. They must also meet the criteria outlined in the HOME Investment Partnership Program Regulations. 2. **Project requirements**: Projects must be properly vetted, cleared through the Environmental Review process, and meet applicable subsidy layering requirements. They must also provide affordable housing units, with 20% of the units occupied by very low-income families. 3. **Funding sources**: HOME Investment Partnership Program funds will be used, along with other eligible sources of funding, such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. 4. **Evaluation criteria**: Proposals will be evaluated based on factors such as: * Experience and financial capability of the developer * Quality of the proposed improvements * Population being served * Financial strength and capability of the developer * Long-term affordability of the project 5. **Submission deadline**: Proposals must be submitted by April 17, 2026, at 4:00 pm. 6. **Evaluation timeline**: Staff will review and evaluate proposals from April 20-22, 2026, and committee members will receive critical information and scoring for each applicant from April 23-27, 2026. 7. **Minimum threshold requirements**: Applications must meet certain requirements, including submission by the deadline, addressing priorities identified in the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, and meeting eligibility criteria. The City of Gastonia aims to facilitate housing opportunities that include all segments of the community, with a focus on creating affordable housing units and providing supportive services for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.