Workforce Housing for Ownership Program

• Total Funding: $53,380,000 in CDBG-DR funding is allocated for the Workforce Housing for Ownership Program.  
• Award Size: Eligible applicants may receive grant awards between $2 million and $5 million.  
• Competitive Process: Awards will be made through a competitive application process administered by the Division of Community Revitalization. 

To qualify for assistance under the WHFO Program, properties must be located within a HUD-identified MID area. The eligible HUD MID areas are limited to Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, Mecklenburg (ZIP code 28214 only), McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey Counties.

Eligible applicants include:

• For‑profit housing developers
• Non‑profit housing developers, including CHDOs and CBDOs
• Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
• Public housing authorities and local governments
• Joint ventures among any eligible entities that demonstrate sufficient development capacity and financial management
• Other applicant types at DCR’s discretion, provided they can demonstrate the ability to develop, own, or manage affordable housing in compliance with CDBG‑DR and WHFO requirements

All projects must be tied to Helene recovery and meet HUD and other federal program requirements.

Eligible property types under the WHFO Program must:

• Be designed for for‑sale residential use 
• Meet all applicable program construction, accessibility, environmental, zoning, broadband, and energy efficiency requirements. 
• Qualify as real property under North Carolina law, including being permanently affixed to land and transferable by deed.
• Not be a manufactured homes or mobile homes located within any flood zone (including 100‑year, 500‑year, or non‑encroachment areas) as these properties are not eligible for funding.

To be eligible:

• Sites must be suitable for residential development and must meet all environmental, legal, and zoning requirements prior to award or project initiation.
• Sites must be zoned for residential use or show a clear and feasible path to rezoning approval within 90 days of a conditional award.
• In alignment with the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), sites located within the 100‑year floodplain, 500‑year floodplain, floodway, or state/federal non‑encroachment areas are ineligible unless the project meets HUD floodplain management requirements.

Projects must align with HUD regulations and meet a national objective.

1. Prescreening: DCR offers an optional but highly recommended project prescreening. 
2. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): DCR will issue NOFOs with application materials and deadlines.
3. Application Submission: Applicants complete and submit required documentation demonstrating eligibility, need, and project feasibility.  
4. Evaluation and Award: DCR evaluates applications against criteria.
5. Post-Award Requirements: Selected applicants must comply with federal environmental review processes, reporting, construction standards, and grant compliance procedures. 

What types of projects are eligible?

• The WHFO Program will fund eligible activities that support the construction and rehabilitation of affordable homeownership housing. 

Do Non-Profit Developers have a citizen participation/notice requirement?  

• No, this requirement is for local governments only. However, applicants are expected to demonstrate support from the community and/or local government for the project in the application.

Will the WHFO Program be using the same contactors that are currently on the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program or will you be bringing in additional contractors to complete these jobs? 

• Applicants to the Renew NC WHFO Program will be responsible for procuring any contractors needed to complete projects, as applicable.

Is my project ready enough to apply? 

• Threshold criteria as well as what is needed for a competitive project can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity: Renew NC Workforce Housing for Ownership Program, and the policy manual, Workforce Housing for Ownership Policies and Procedures. Potential applicants are encouraged to participate in the prescreening process for a technical assistance session.

How are applications evaluated?

• Applications are reviewed based on predetermined scoring criteria. Please see the NOFO for the scoring matrix and additional details.

Will preference be given to projects done in partnership with housing authorities or local government?

• Priority considerations are outlined in the NOFO. 

Can an existing CHDO who has traditionally done repair work be considered or apply as a Community Land Trust or does it matter?

• If that is the capacity in which you propose to operate, applying as a Community Land Trust would not be a problem.

I opted out the prescreen. When can I start my application?  

• The prescreen is optional; choosing to opt out will allow prospective applicants to access the application. Once a prospective applicant has opted out of the prescreen, the WHFO team will notify them via email when access to the application is granted, typically within one business day. If a prospective applicant has not received this email, they may follow up by emailing DCR.Housing@commerce.nc.gov.  
• For this reason, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to begin their application well in advance of the December 14, 2026, deadline.  

I opted out the prescreen. When can I start my application?  

• The prescreen is optional; choosing to opt out will allow prospective applicants to access the application. Once a prospective applicant has opted out of the prescreen, the WHFO team will notify them via email when access to the application is granted, typically within one business day. If a prospective applicant has not received this email, they may follow up by emailing DCR.Housing@commerce.nc.gov.  
• For this reason, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to begin their application well in advance of the December 13, 2026, deadline.  

All of my responses from the prescreen did not populate in the application. What should I do?

• You will be able to access the prescreen as read-only when completing your application, and it can be referred to when answering questions in the application.

Why am I unable to complete and continue to the next page? 

• If you are unable to click the “Complete & Continue” button or it does not display an error message, please check to make sure you have responded to all required fields in that page.

Can I save my application and continue later?

• Yes. You can save your progress at any time and return to complete the application before the submission deadline.

Can I edit my application after submission?

• Applications cannot be edited once submitted. If changes are needed, contact the grant administrator at DCR.Housing@commerce.nc.gov.

What should I do if I encounter technical issues?

• Use the “Technical Support” link in the system to submit a help request or contact the technical support team.

Is my data secure?

• Yes. The system uses encryption, role-based access, and compliance frameworks to ensure your information is protected. More information can be found in the Privacy and Data Use Notice.

How do I know if my application was submitted successfully?

• You will receive a confirmation email, and the system dashboard will show your application status as “Submitted.”

How much funding is available? 

• Approximately $53 million is available through this funding opportunity for the entire program. Each project may receive a minimum of $2 million and a maximum of $5 million. 

Can I spend money now on this project? 

• Applicants may spend their own funds on planning activities at their own risk. However, federal environmental requirements may limit whether certain costs are eligible for reimbursement. In general, applicants should not begin:
  • Property acquisition
  • Demolition
  • Construction
  • Rehabilitation
• Other activities that could limit environmental review options before receiving required approvals from DCR.  
• Taking these actions before authorization may make a project ineligible for funding.
• Please see HUD resources on Choice Limiting Actions: HUD Choice Limiting Action (CLA) Violation Review Process Fact Sheet.
• If you are considering spending money on project activities, please contact DCR at DCR.Housing@commerce.nc.gov before proceeding. 

Is it possible to have rolling funding announcements allowing for commitments to applications prior to the application period closing in December? 

• DCR does not anticipate reviewing any applications until after the application period closes.

How will I be notified about the award decision?

• Award decisions are communicated through email and posted in your user dashboard.

How are funds disbursed?

• Funds may be disbursed in installments based on approved milestones or reporting requirements. Details are included in the award agreement.

If funds are recaptured during the Affordability Period, can they be used to build additional affordable units?

• Yes, they can.

How long does the environmental review take?

• Reviews are anticipated to take a minimum of 90 days.