Affordable housing grant programs
Federal, California state, and foundation funding programs for affordable housing development — 21 programs shown.
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
Looking for upcoming deadlines?
The funding calendar tracks application deadlines for TCAC, HCD, CDLAC, and other programs.
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