Description

The City of Charlotte will issue up to a total aggregate grant pool of $6.5 million in one-time, federally funded ARPA grants to support project and/or programmatic costs of local nonprofit agencies seeking to advance housing solutions for individuals or families that have borne a disparate impact due to COVID-19 and that are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or facing housing instability. The City of Charlotte expects to award a small number of grants under this program.

Overview

The intent of the program is to provide financial support to eligible medium-sized and/or emerging non-profit organizations that demonstrate the ability to reduce the severity of homelessness or housing instability in Charlotte.

The program is expected to award an aggregate grant pool of up to $6.5 million. Eligible nonprofit organizations may submit applications for grants up to $2.5 million.

The grant application will be open between June 15, 2023 and July 14, 2023. City staff will present funding recommendations to the Charlotte City Council in late summer of 2023 and non-profit applicants will be notified of their application status at that time.

Funding Prioritization

The Housing Support Grant program will prioritize funding requests based on the following criteria:

• Organization has a track record of delivering programming in marginalized or underserved communities

• Project or programming request focuses on Corridors of Opportunity areas of influence

• Use of requested funds will focus on populations facing housing instability such as justice-involved residents, homeless families and/or households with rental subsidies

• Organization has secured other funding sources to support the project/program request

• Organization has a credible plan to sustain the project/program (as applicable) beyond the expiration of the Housing Support Grant funding

• Organization has demonstrated community support for the project/programming reflected in the funding request

The applicant’s ability to align its funding request with as many of the funding prioritization criteria reflected above will be a key factor in the City of Charlotte’s funding decisions.

Use of Grant Funds

Eligible nonprofit organizations may submit applications for grants up to $2.5 million. Grants may be used for:

Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing

• New multifamily or naturally occurring affordable housing serving households earning 80% or below the area median income (AMI), with at least 20% of the households servicing households at 30% AMI

• Projects are required to maintain a minimum affordability period of at least 20 years

Affordable Homeownership

• New construction of single-family detached or townhome-styled housing targeting households earning 80% and below the AMI, with a minimum affordability period of at least 15 years

• Projects are required to include a shared appreciation model (allowing the buyer to generate equity) or community land trust model (enabling permanent affordability)

Supportive Housing Development

• Special needs housing – i.e., elderly, homeless or disabled people

• Applicants are required to have applied or commit to apply for financing via the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Supportive Housing Development Program

Temporary Emergency Housing or Non-Congregate Shelter

• Units may be provided via lease, or acquisition/rehab, or new construction

• Units must target individuals or families that are homeless or at risk of homelessness

Supportive Services

• Services intended to assist individuals or families with obtaining or maintaining housing – e.g., case management, housing search and counseling, employment assistance and job training, mental health services, etc.

Grant Payments

Approved grant payments will be made as follows:

• 30% upon completion of executed contract

• Payment schedule for remainder of the grant will be determined in the contracting phase, based on the nature and timeline for the underlying approved project/program

Additional Considerations

• Grant awards through the Housing Support Grant program are federal funds.

• Organizations receiving federal funds must register with SAM.gov and provide a UEI number with expiration date.

• Organizations that expend $750,000 or more in federal funds in one year (total from all sources) are required to obtain a Single Audit.

Application Process

1. A virtual application workshop will be held via Zoom in on June 22, 2023 at 1 p.m. The recording and transcript will be available online. Register online .
2. Potential grantees must update and maintain their profile in the city’s grants management portal . Previous profile holders should ensure their applicant profile and organization profile are fully complete and accurate.
3. Organizations who are eligible must submit a full application through the city’s grant management portal by 5 p.m. on July 14, 2023.
4. Applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of city staff.
5. Staff funding recommendations will be presented to City Council at a scheduled Business Meeting, with a City Council vote at a subsequent Business Meeting, anticipated to occur in late summer. Applicants will learn of the status of their applications at that time.
6. Grant recipients approved by City Council will sign a contract with the City of Charlotte.

Reporting and Monitoring

• Grantees are required to provide detailed documentation at the city’s request to substantiate the use of funds.

• Grantees are required to participate in check-in meetings and provide status reports on a periodic basis (to be determined in the contracting phase).

• Grantees are required to provide a final report at the completion of the project/program to demonstrate the beneficial impact/outcomes associated with the City of Charlotte’s Housing Support Grant and their ongoing sustainability of the project/program.

Document Requirements for Application

• Summary of Operating Budget for most recently completed fiscal year

• Copy of Board of Directors list

• Copy of IRS 501c3 determination letter

• Current Form 990

• SAM.gov registration noting UEI number and expiration date

• Other documents as set forth in the city’s grant management portal application

To better streamline our process and to make sure everyone is receiving the same information, applications will only be accepted online through the city’s grant management portal .

Contact details

Grant Application Details

Virtual Application Workshop

Eligibility

Related Information

• City of Charlotte Grants Management Portal
• SAM.gov