Governor Hochul Announces $34 Million in Federal Funds to Improve Energy Efficiency for Over 1,000 Homes

ADUs, often called granny flats or casitas, are gaining ground with homeowners and local government

Following a Tuesday event in Oakland where Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to boost affordable housing supply and strengthen accountability measures – and touted the state’s $22 billion investment in a broad range of housing types including Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — the California Housing Finance Agency is thrilled to introduce its new ADU Grant Program.

The CalHFA ADU Grant Program will provide as much as $25,000 in assistance to low- to moderate-income homeowners to build accessory dwelling units on their property. Increasing the production of ADUs, also referred to as granny flats, in-law suites or casitas, is one of the latest efforts to ease the affordable housing shortage in the state.

California has an estimated 240,000 ADUs, a tiny fraction of the overall single-family housing supply. But more homeowners – especially those in high-cost areas like the Bay Area and Southern California – are embracing the idea, with about 25,000 building permit applications for ADUs issued in 2019 and 2020, according to the UC Berkeley Center for Community Innovation.

“ADUs are an affordable, effective and forward-looking option for many homeowners,” said CalHFA Executive Director Tiena Johnson Hall. “California must make the most of every opportunity to build more housing for its residents, and the ADU Grant Program helps homeowners who want to invest in and share their property to help address a huge issue.”

Almost 90 percent of California municipalities have adopted ADU-friendly ordinances in recent years, according to the UC Berkeley Center for Community Innovation. Several cities and counties have gone even further, establishing programs that offer financial assistance and/or pre-approved design plans for ADUs.

“Many homeowners have the land available in their backyard, and we want to make it as easy as possible for them with this grant program,” said CalHFA’s Johnson Hall.

The California Housing Finance Agency was created in 1975 with the goal of helping more Californians find a place to call home. CalHFA has helped more than 201,000 low- and moderate-income homebuyers with $32.6 billion in first mortgages and used $6.1 billion in financing for the construction and preservation of more than 70,000 affordable rental housing units throughout the state. CalHFA is a self-supported state agency that doesn’t rely on taxpayer dollars for its operational costs. For more information on CalHFA programs, and how we are creating progressive financing solutions for affordable housing in California, visit www.calhfa.ca.gov or call toll free at 877.9.CalHFA (877.922.5432).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210929005809/en/

May 25, 2021

Trinity Lake is a 56-unit affordable housing development for families in Phenix City that become the first AHFA development to close its National Housing Trust Fund loan.

In addition to the $449,160 in HTF funds allocated to Trinity Lake, the development also received $1.6 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds and $859,085 in Housing Credits, both administered by AHFA to help finance its construction.

AHFA recently spoke with developer Fred Bennett, managing partner of The Bennett Group, and Brian Hollyhand, president of Hollyhand Companies Inc., to get more information about Trinity Lake.

Q: Trinity Lake received National Housing Trust Funds in exchange for setting aside three units for families with extremely low incomes. What challenges were presented by incorporating HTF into the development’s financing structure?

A: (Fred Bennett) The HTF program was structured as a forgivable loan in the year in which we applied, which had adverse tax consequences to the investor. Mitigating this adverse tax consequence was a challenge.

Q: How were you able to utilize HTF to benefit the Trinity Lake development?

A: (FB) As COVID and rapidly increasing costs threatened the financial feasibility of the project, the HTF funds, along with some favorable financing from United Bank, helped immensely.

Q: Who does the development serve?

A: (FB) This is a family-oriented property and features a children’s play/activity room. This hasn’t been utilized during the COVID year, but we’re expecting to host some kids’ activities and after school programs soon. 

Q: What, in your mind, is special about the development? 

A: (FB) One of the things that makes Trinity Lake special is that it is sited adjacent to Webb’s Pond. We wanted to reflect in the project’s colors a kind of “water/lake/nautical” theme. To me, what is most special about this property is it’s county feel next to the pond; it’s quiet and rural and yet amazingly convenient to shopping, services, and jobs in both Phenix City and Columbus.

Q: What are some ways that you are keeping residents engaged while community group activities are on hold? 

A: (Brian Hollyhand) Management stays in communication with residents and provides a monthly newsletter.

Q: How are management and the residents coping with the pandemic? 

A: (BH) Adjustments were made in procedures during the initial lease-up phase of the property, but most operations have returned close to normal as the situation has greatly improved the last several months.

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June 09, 2021

Darrell Watkins and his family recently received help from Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama. Darrell lives in Ozark, and began a tax business on January 1, 2020. Just after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he was saddened to have to close his new business. He says, “I didn’t have a clue what we were going to do.”

Darrell had been following the news and heard about the program. “When I heard about the rental assistance program, I called right away, but it had not started yet. So the date it began, I started the application process.”

Darrell noted that the process was easy to understand and follow through. “My landlord was great. They gave me all the information I needed to complete the application, and they were very patient with me.”

Darrell was approved for assistance to cover past due rent expenses plus 3 months of future rent. He says, “This is giving us time to get caught up. I am thankful for the help, and I would tell others who are struggling not to hesitate to apply.”

Visit https://eraalabama.com/ for more information or to apply.