Homeless Housing Grant Program Update
In fall 2022, at the request of Mayor Mendenhall, the Salt Lake City Council appropriated $6 million for the Homeless Housing Grant Program (HHGP; see original announcement below). The program provides a critical subsidy for housing that is the most difficult to develop. Three projects have each been awarded $2 million for the acquisition/rehabilitation of aging motels to create new permanent supportive housing and interim housing units. These projects will serve qualified low-income households that meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of chronically homeless, are otherwise assessed by the region’s coordinated entry system as the most vulnerable homeless persons, or other populations with critical needs. This funding allowed projects to leverage various other sources of local, state, and federal funds.
Project developers and operators are working diligently to complete the projects as soon as possible, as the original goal was to have residents occupying these projects this spring. Unfortunately, a couple of the projects have experienced development delays due to extenuating circumstances. An overview of each project with an updated timeline is as follows:
Point at Fairpark
- Address: 130 N 2100 W
- HHGP Award: $2,000,000
- Developer/Operator: Friends of Switchpoint
- Number of Units: 94
- Supportive Services: Case management, community and behavioral health services, VA benefits coordination
- Area Median Income (AMI) Limit: Rent and income restricted to 40% AMI and below
- Populations Served: Homeless seniors (62+) and veterans living on a fixed income
- Timeline: Phased occupancy beginning in May 2023
Project Name: Ville 1659
- Address: 1659 W North Temple
- HHGP Award: $2,000,000
- Developer/Operator: Ville 1659 LLC
- Number of Units: 197
- Supportive Services: Case management, community and behavioral health services, substance use support
- Area Median Income (AMI) Limit: Income restricted to 30% AMI; rents restricted to HUD’s fair market rent; tenants shall have tenant-based vouchers
- Populations Served: Various populations experiencing or at risk of homelessness
- Timeline: Phased occupancy beginning in June 2023
Medically Vulnerable Project (MVP)
- Address: Outside of Municipal Boundaries
- HHGP Award: $2,000,000
- Developer/Operator: Shelter the Homeless
- Number of Units: 98
- Supportive Services: Care coordination, community and behavioral health services, medical case management
- Area Median Income (AMI) Limit: Rent and income restricted to 30% AMI and below
- Populations Served: Homeless individuals who are frail and/or vulnerable with medical needs
- Timeline: Occupancy to begin July/August 2023
Original Announcement
Salt Lake City (the “City”) has released $6 million dedicated to providing crucial subsidies for housing that is the most difficult to develop. This notice of funding availability (“NOFA”) for the Homeless Housing Grant Fund (HHGF) is another instance of the City prioritizing affordable and deeply affordable housing. The City is accepting applications for the construction or acquisition/rehabilitation of new permanent support housing (“PSH”) or transitional housing (“TH”) units. Projects shall target qualified low-income households that meet HUD’s definition of chronically homeless, are otherwise assessed by the region’s coordinated entry system as the most vulnerable homeless persons, or other populations with critical needs. Due to the limited cash flow generated by these types of housing projects, funding may be provided as a grant or a loan that converts to a grant. Funding shall leverage various other sources of local, state, and federal funds.
Applications will open September 30, 2022 and close October 14, 2022 at 5:00 pm.
At the City’s discretion, a subsequent NOFA will be issued at a future date if the entirety of the $6 million in funding is not disbursed because qualified applications are not received or if applications are deemed to not meet intent.
The project may be owned/operated by a mission-driven, non-profit, or public entity except for those identified by the Utah Housing Corporation as not in good standing.
For more information, see the HHGF Guidelines.