Request for Proposals: Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO)

The City of Gastonia is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for non-profit organizations to become certified as Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) and receive funding for affordable housing projects. Here is a summary of the key points: **Purpose:** The City of Gastonia is seeking proposals from qualified non-profit organizations to become certified as CHDOs and receive funding for affordable housing projects through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. **Eligibility:** To qualify as a CHDO, an organization must meet certain criteria, including: * Being a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) or (4) status * Having a clearly defined geographic service area * Having at least one year of experience serving the community * Having key staff members with the capacity to implement housing activities * Having financial management systems that meet federal standards * Having completed at least one CHDO-eligible development in the past two years **Project Proposal:** The City of Gastonia is seeking proposals for affordable housing projects, including new construction, rehabilitation, and acquisition of properties for homeownership or rental housing. Preference will be given to rehabilitation projects. **Evaluation Criteria:** Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: * Project type and alignment with priorities (1-20 points) * Development and organizational capacity (1-20 points) * Project feasibility and readiness (1-20 points) * Financial and compliance readiness (1-15 points) * Community impact and engagement (1-15 points) * Project sustainability and design quality (1-10 points) **Proposal Submission:** Proposals must be submitted by Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 4:00 pm. **Certification:** Organizations that apply for CHDO certification must meet the eligibility criteria and submit a completed application. Certification is required prior to any commitment of funding. **Funding:** The City of Gastonia will allocate at least 15% of its HOME funds to CHDOs for affordable housing projects. Funding will be awarded based on the evaluation criteria and the availability of funds. **Pre-Proposal Conference:** A pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 3:00 pm to answer questions and provide additional information.