Housing North Carolina Awards Guidelines

The 19th annual Housing North Carolina Awards celebrate the best affordable housing in the state—housing that improves the lives of residents and their communities.

Homeownership developments
Rental apartments
Supportive housing, including group homes

Winners will be showcased at a special luncheon during the 2008 North Carolina Affordable Housing Conference, October 16-17 in Durham, NC.

In addition, the winning developments will be announced to the local news media and, by letter, to representatives in Congress and the General Assembly.

Who should enter?

Private developers
Nonprofit housing sponsors
City and county governments
Lead regional agencies

Criteria for judging

Entries will be judged on:

Design (attractiveness, appropriateness, innovation, resource efficiency, and other factors)
Sustainability (provisions to ensure the property will continue to be both affordable and attractive, including deed restrictions, quality construction, energy-saving construction)
Contribution to the local community (including meeting market needs, furthering local policy goals, and similar factors)
Special features, such as supportive services to residents, creative financing partnerships, and others.

Threshold qualifications for entering
Properties do not need to use financing from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to be eligible. The threshold qualifications, by category, are:

Homeownership Production

Subdivisions and scattered-site developments of new construction or substantial rehab (at least $20,000 per home), stick-built or modular, single-family or condominiums.
At least four (4) homes with eligible sales prices not exceeding $150,000 that are completed, sold and occupied.
Certificate of occupancy issued between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2008.

Rental Housing Production

Affordable developments produced by new construction or substantial rehab (at least $20,000 per unit)
Eight (8) or more units affordable to households at 60% of county median income, or 60% of the median for the state’s non-metropolitan counties, whichever is greater. See the 2008 Income Limits.
Certificate of occupancy issued between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2008.
Form 8609 issued for all properties financed with federal Housing Credits.

Special Needs Housing Production

Permanent or transitional housing that provides services (project-based or program-based) for persons with special needs. These include homeless persons, victims of domestic violence, and persons with mental, physical or developmental disorders, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse disorders, or terminal illnesses.
At least four (4) units (or bedrooms) for individuals at 50% of county median income, or 50% of the median for the state’s non-metropolitan counties, whichever is greater. See the 2005 Income limits.
Project-based or program-based supportive services for residents.
Housing occupied and services provided for at least one year.
Certificate of occupancy issued between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2008.

Application Forms

Homeownership Developments with NCHFA Financing
Homeownership Developments without NCHFA Financing
Rental Housing Production
Supportive Housing for Populations with Special Needs

You can also request an application by contacting Kimberly Savage at 919-877-5608 or kasavage@nchfa.com.

Application deadline: July 18, 2008, end of business.

Mail, fax or e-mail your completed application to:

Margaret Matrone
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
3508 Bush Street
Raleigh, NC 27609-7509
Phone: 919-877-5606
Fax: 919-877-5701
E-mail: mamatrone@nchfa.com

Questions?

If you would like to know more about the Housing North Carolina Awards, please call Margaret Matrone at 919-877-5606 or mamatrone@nchfa.com.

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