Richland County seeking proposals for affordable housing funding

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Richland County is seeking proposals from Community Housing Development Organizations for $250,000 in federally funded affordable housing investments.

The county is encouraging proposals for new rental units for families with incomes at zero to 60% of area median income or ownership units for families with incomes at 30 to 80% of area median income, according to a news release.

Private, nonprofit housing developers that meet criteria based on experience, capacity, organization and other requirements for low- to moderate-income affordable housing can receive the CHDO designation. Organizations not currently designated as CHDOs may submit an application with proposals.

Richland County’s estimated median income for a family of four for fiscal year 2020 is $72,600.           

Richland County has made $250,000 available to be awarded through the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program.

“About 35% of all households in Richland County are considered cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their gross income on housing needs,” Clayton Voignier, director of Richland County Community Planning and Development, said in the release. “These federal funds represent a unique opportunity to provide relief for these households. We encourage our designated CHDOs, as well as other organizations seeking to become designated as CHDOs, to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The amount to be disbursed depends on the number of proposals accepted and the amount of funding requested.

To submit a proposal, organizations must register via the Bonfire portal, which can be accessed through Richland County’s Office of Procurement and Contracting webpage. The deadline to submit a proposal is Nov. 9 at 3 p.m.