Affordable housing grant programs
Federal, California state, and foundation funding programs for affordable housing development — 43 programs shown.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (9% & 4%)(LIHTC)
IRS / TCAC
The primary financing mechanism for affordable housing in the U.S. The 9% credit is highly competitive; the 4% credit pairs with CDLAC tax-exempt bonds.
Who can apply: For-profit and nonprofit developers of affordable multifamily rental housing
HOME Investment Partnerships Program(HOME)
HUD / HCD
Flexible block grant for new construction, rehabilitation, acquisition, and homebuyer assistance.
Who can apply: Local governments, nonprofits, CHDOs; households at or below 80% AMI
HOME American Rescue Plan(HOME-ARP)
HUD / HCD
One-time ARP supplement targeting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Who can apply: Local governments; for housing, rental assistance, and supportive services
Community Development Block Grant(CDBG)
HUD / HCD
Formula block grant for housing rehab, infrastructure, and public facilities primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income persons.
Who can apply: Non-entitlement cities and counties (entitlement jurisdictions receive directly from HUD)
National Housing Trust Fund(NHTF)
HUD / HCD
Dedicated fund for producing and preserving housing for the lowest-income households.
Who can apply: States (via HCD); used for rental housing for extremely low-income households (≤30% AMI)
Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly(Sec. 202)
HUD
Provides capital advances (forgivable grants) and project rental assistance for affordable senior housing with supportive services.
Who can apply: Private nonprofit organizations; housing for very-low-income elderly (62+)
Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities(Sec. 811)
HUD
Capital advances and project-based rental assistance for affordable housing integrated with supportive services.
Who can apply: Nonprofit developers; housing for very-low-income persons with disabilities (18–62)
Continuum of Care Program(CoC)
HUD
Competitive grant funding permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and related services.
Who can apply: CoC-designated nonprofits and local governments serving people experiencing homelessness
Choice Neighborhoods Initiative(CNI)
HUD
Transforms distressed neighborhoods by revitalizing housing, improving schools and services, and creating economic opportunity.
Who can apply: Public Housing Authorities, local governments, nonprofits targeting distressed HUD-assisted neighborhoods
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS(HOPWA)
HUD
Formula and competitive grants for housing assistance and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Who can apply: State and local governments, nonprofits; housing and services for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS
Section 108 Loan Guarantee(Sec. 108)
HUD
Enables jurisdictions to borrow against future CDBG allocations for large economic development and housing projects.
Who can apply: CDBG entitlement communities and state grantees
Rental Assistance Demonstration(RAD)
HUD
Converts public housing to long-term Section 8 contracts, unlocking private capital and LIHTC equity for renovations.
Who can apply: Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) converting public housing to Section 8 platform
New Markets Tax Credit(NMTC)
U.S. Treasury / CDFI Fund
Federal tax credit attracting private investment into low-income communities; primarily for community facilities and mixed-use development.
Who can apply: Community Development Entities (CDEs) investing in low-income communities; mixed-use projects with commercial components
Affordable Housing Program (FHLBank SF)(AHP)
Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
Competitive annual grants for new construction, rehabilitation, and acquisition of owner-occupied and rental affordable housing.
Who can apply: Member financial institutions sponsoring affordable housing developers (for-profit and nonprofit); households ≤80% AMI
Section 515 Rural Rental Housing(Sec. 515)
USDA Rural Development
Direct low-interest loans for construction and rehabilitation of rental housing in rural communities for low-income households.
Who can apply: Private developers, nonprofits, public agencies in eligible rural areas
Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing(Sec. 538)
USDA Rural Development
Federal loan guarantees enabling private lenders to finance new construction and rehab of multifamily housing in rural areas.
Who can apply: For-profit and nonprofit developers in eligible rural areas; households up to 115% AMI
California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit(State LIHTC)
California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC)
State tax credit layered on top of the federal LIHTC to boost equity in California affordable housing projects.
Who can apply: Same as federal LIHTC — nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developers in California
Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds(PABs / QRRP)
California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC)
California's annual bond volume cap allocation for affordable multifamily housing, enabling 4% LIHTC financing.
Who can apply: Affordable multifamily rental developers using conduit bond issuers; automatically triggers 4% federal LIHTC
Multifamily Housing Program(MHP)
California HCD
State deferred-payment loan (3% simple interest) for new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental housing.
Who can apply: Nonprofit and for-profit developers of multifamily rental housing for lower-income households
Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities(AHSC)
Strategic Growth Council / HCD
Combines housing development with transit, active transportation, and GHG reduction investments. One of California's largest climate-housing programs.
Who can apply: Affordable housing developers partnering with transportation agencies; projects in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)
Homekey Program(Homekey)
California HCD
Funds acquisition and rehabilitation of hotels, motels, and vacant buildings for conversion to housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Who can apply: Cities, counties, PHAs, COGs, tribal entities
Homekey+ Program(Homekey+)
California HCD
Expands Homekey with Proposition 1 bond funds, targeting permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable Californians.
Who can apply: Cities, counties, PHAs, COGs, regional agencies, tribes; housing for Veterans, transition-age youth, and individuals with mental health needs
California Housing Accelerator(CHA)
California HCD
Forgivable loans to jumpstart shovel-ready projects stuck in the financing gap. Projects must start construction within 180 days.
Who can apply: Multifamily affordable housing projects that already have an active HCD award but cannot access LIHTC or bonds
Infill Infrastructure Grant(IIG)
California HCD
Funds streets, utilities, and parks infrastructure that is integral to affordable or mixed-income infill housing development.
Who can apply: Local governments and affordable housing developers in infill locations
Permanent Local Housing Allocation(PLHA)
California HCD
Ongoing state funding for local affordable housing activities, from new construction to homebuyer assistance and ADU programs.
Who can apply: Cities and counties (formula); non-entitlement local governments (competitive); broad affordable housing uses
No Place Like Home(NPLH)
California HCD
State bond loan program pairing affordable housing with mental health services for the state's most vulnerable homeless residents.
Who can apply: California counties (and their developer partners); permanent supportive housing for adults with serious mental illness who are homeless
Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant(FWHG)
California HCD
Grants and loans for new construction or rehabilitation of owner-occupied or rental housing for California's farmworker population.
Who can apply: Local governments, nonprofits, and for-profit developers; housing for agricultural workers and their families
Transit-Oriented Development Program(TOD)
California HCD
State loans for affordable multifamily housing near transit, reducing car dependency and supporting climate goals.
Who can apply: Affordable housing developers (nonprofit and for-profit) within a half-mile of transit stations
CalHome Program(CalHome)
California HCD
Funds first-time homebuyer assistance, owner-occupied rehabilitation, ADU construction, and homebuyer education programs.
Who can apply: Local public agencies and nonprofit organizations; households at or below 80% AMI
Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention(HHAP)
California HCD
State grants for the full spectrum of homelessness interventions — from interim shelter and encampment resolution to permanent housing and services.
Who can apply: CoC lead agencies, cities, counties, tribal entities, and perinatal residential programs
Encampment Resolution Funding(ERF)
California HCD
Targeted funding to resolve encampments and connect residents to housing or shelter.
Who can apply: Local governments and tribal entities
Emergency Solutions Grants(ESG)
HUD / California HCD
Federal grant passed through HCD for emergency shelter operations and services, rapid rehousing, and HMIS data systems.
Who can apply: Nonprofits and local governments; emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention
CalHFA Multifamily Lending Programs(CalHFA)
California Housing Finance Agency
Tax-exempt and taxable permanent loans and construction financing for affordable housing serving individuals, families, seniors, and veterans.
Who can apply: Nonprofit and for-profit developers of affordable multifamily rental housing
CalHFA Mixed-Income Program(MIP)
CalHFA / TCAC
Pairs a dedicated state LIHTC set-aside with CalHFA financing to enable mixed-income projects serving a range of income levels.
Who can apply: Nonprofit and for-profit developers of mixed-income housing with affordable units
CASF Broadband Public Housing Account(CASF / BPHA)
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Funds broadband infrastructure installation in affordable housing developments so residents receive free internet access for at least 5 years.
Who can apply: ISPs, housing owners, property managers, tribal entities; 80%+ of residents must be low-income
Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing(SOMAH)
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Solar installation incentive providing bill credits to tenants in affordable housing — reducing energy costs for low-income renters.
Who can apply: Owners of affordable multifamily housing (5+ units, 80%+ low-income tenants) in PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, or SoCalGas territories
Equitable Building Decarbonization(EBD)
California Energy Commission (CEC)
Covers 100% of the cost of electrification upgrades in income-qualified properties, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions.
Who can apply: Low-income households and affordable multifamily housing buildings; community organizations can apply for portfolios
Wells Fargo Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge
Wells Fargo Foundation
Annual national competition recognizing innovative approaches to housing affordability in design, construction, finance, and service delivery.
Who can apply: Nonprofits and for-profit organizations with innovative housing solutions nationally; California organizations eligible
JPMorgan Chase Philanthropic Housing Grants
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Philanthropic grants and impact loans to expand housing supply, paired with significant CRA-motivated debt and equity financing for affordable housing developers.
Who can apply: CDFIs, CDCs, nonprofits, and intermediaries pioneering housing supply solutions; California organizations eligible
MacArthur Foundation Housing Grants
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Foundation-initiated grants to national and California housing intermediaries, advocates, and research organizations.
Who can apply: By invitation; nonprofit intermediaries, policy advocates, and research organizations focused on affordable housing preservation
Weingart Foundation Grants & PRIs
Weingart Foundation
Grants and below-market program-related investments for Southern California nonprofits working on affordable housing and community development.
Who can apply: Nonprofits in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties focused on racial and economic justice
Enterprise Community Partners — Grants & Capital
Enterprise Community Partners
National CDFI and intermediary providing grants, LIHTC equity investments, loans, and technical assistance to affordable housing developers.
Who can apply: Nonprofit affordable housing developers, CDCs, and community organizations in California
LISC California — Grants & Capital Programs
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
CDFI and intermediary providing grants, LIHTC equity, loans, HUD Section 4 capacity-building support, and technical assistance across California.
Who can apply: Nonprofit CDCs, affordable housing developers, and community organizations in California
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