Description
The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) provides grants to national and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs. The program aims to promote the production of affordable housing for low-income persons and families, including veterans, homeless persons, first responders, and persons with disabilities. Eligible applicants must demonstrate experience in providing or facilitating self-help homeownership housing opportunities and must propose to use a significant amount of SHOP grant funds in at least two states. The program requires a written agreement with affiliates and a code of conduct, and grantees must report on the use of earnings received from SHOP grant funds. Key aspects of the program include:
• Land acquisition and infrastructure improvements
• Sweat equity and volunteer labor contributions
• Homebuyer financial contribution and sale price
• Affirmatively furthering fair housing and economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons
• Audit and monitoring requirements
• Leveraging resources and achieving results