BACKGROUND | CHDO | OPERATING ASSISTANCE
 CITY-PARISH PROCEDURES | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

BACKGROUND

HOME is authorized under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act. Program regulations are at 24 CFR Part 24. HOME provides formula grants to States and Localities that communities use often in partnership with local nonprofit groups to fund activities for new construction, acquisition and/or rehabilitation of rental housing; tenant-based rental assistance; homebuyer assistance; rehabilitation of rental housing; and administrative costs. The HOME program alleviates the problems of excessive rent burdens, homelessness, and deteriorating housing stock.

COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS(CHDO)

Community Housing Development Organizations are private, nonprofit organizations that meet certain qualifications that have been defined in the HOME regulations. Federal Regulations require that the City-Parish set aside 15% of the HOME funds for use by the CHDOs. The Office of Community Development determines eligibility of nonprofit organizations for the City of Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish for CHDO designation. CHDOs are owners, developers and/or sponsors of HOME projects and may undertake housing activities in coordination with other parties including for-profit participants.

CHDO designation is for a one year term, renewable annually, if the organization continues to meet eligibility criteria. At present, the Office of Community Development has ten organizations designated as Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs).

OPERATING ASSISTANCE

The Office of Community Development funds CHDOs for operating assistance. CHDOs operating assistance grant awards may be used for general operating expenses such as salaries, wages and other employee compensation and benefits, employee education, training and travel, rent, utilities, communication costs, taxes, insurance and equipment, materials and supplies. Assistance under this heading is for the organization’s general operating expenses only, not specific project costs.

For a nonprofit organization to become eligible for CHDO operating assistance, the CHDO must be undertaking a CHDO-eligible affordable housing project pursuant to an allocation of CHDO project set aside funds under the HOME program or (2) must have a sufficiently developed plan that yields a reasonable expectation that the CHDO will be receiving CHDO project set aside funds within twenty-four (24) months from the first receipt of operating assistance.

CITY-PARISH PROCEDURES

Applications are taken year around for non profit organizations who are Community Development Corporations. Community Development Corporations must provide status as (1) a private non profit organization and (IRS letter) as a tax exempt 501© organization, (2) Board Membership (1/3 of the board should reside in a low income community or be a representative of a low income community), (3) one year of providing community service in the area that the CDC intends to build housing. The complete CHDO Application may be downloaded from this link, or hard copies may be obtained from the City-Parish Office of Community Development.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HOME/CHDO Program Coordinator
City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge
Office of Community Development
P.O. Box 1471 Baton Rouge, LA  70802
(225) 389-3039 or Fax: (225) 389-3939
ocd@ brgov.com