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.