Section 125.194. Evaluation criteria for funding; other program requirements.

Rule 194. (1) Requests for funding scoring the highest on the criteria explained in subrule (2) of this rule are most likely to be awarded funds.

(2)   The following criteria will be used in evaluating the responses to any NOFA or RFP:

(a)   To be eligible for funding, an applicant must first demonstrate that it meets each of the following threshold criteria:

(i)   The application is consistent with the requirements established in the statute, this rule, the NOFA, or the RFP.

(ii)    If the application involves either a rental housing project or a home ownership project, the application requests funding for a project which sets aside at least 20% of the rental units or housing units in the project for households earning not more than 60% of the median income.

(iii)    The application includes a letter of support from the highest ranking elected official for each of the jurisdictions served by the proposed project.

(iv)      The application meets the  readiness to proceed requirements established in the NOFA or the RFP.

(v)  Any outstanding housing and community development fund predevelopment loans for the same proposed development site must be paid in full at the time of loan

closing for the current requested funds.

(b)    Evaluation factors used to evaluate and score applications, as more fully described in a NOFA or RFP, will include at  a  minimum  the  following factors:

(i)   The extent to which the proposal or project represents  the leveraging of program funds.

(ii)   The ability of the applicant, recipient, or both to administer the funding award effectively and deliver results within program timelines.

(iii)    The extent to which the proposal or project helps meet the 25% earmark provided in the statute for rental  housing  projects  that   do  not  qualify under preferences for special population groups, or other preferences contained in the allocation plan.

(iv)     The extent to which the proposal or project helps meet the 30% earmark provided in the statute for projects that target extremely low income households, including developing housing for the homeless,  supportive housing, transitional housing, and permanent housing.

(v)   The extent to which the proposal helps meet the statutory requirement that a portion of the fund be expended for persons with physical or mental handicaps and persons living in eligible distressed areas.

(3)     Other program requirements include the following:

(a)    All uses of program funds shall comply with the applicable  income limitations contained in  the  act,   these  rules,  the  annual  plan,  the applicable NOFA or RFP, and any statements or representations made in any application or other documentation submitted as a part of any application, reporting or other monitoring related to any award of program funds.

(b)   A rental housing project assisted by the fund must set aside at least 20% of the housing units in the project for households earning not more than 60% of the area median income.

(c)   A home ownership project assisted by the fund must set aside at least 20% of the housing units in the project for households earning not more than 60% of the area median income.

(d)  If the housing funded by the program is rental housing, the owner  or manager of the housing must agree in writing not to evict a tenant  without just cause, as defined in section 44a of 1933 (Ex Sess) PA 18, MCL 125.694a.

(e)   All assistance for housing and real property acquired or supported by program funds shall include an agreement, restriction, or real covenant related  to  the recapture of program funds upon  sale,  conversion,  or disposition of the property if the recapture provisions of these rules  are triggered.

History: 2008 AACS; 2009 AACS.