Richland County is seeking proposals to invest federal funding in housing developments as it looks to preserve and increase affordable homes for low- to moderate-income families.

The County encourages Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) to submit proposals for funding to rehabilitate or build

• new rental units for families with incomes at zero to 60 percent of area median income, or
• homeownership units for families with incomes at 30 percent to 80 percent of area median income

Private, nonprofit housing developers that meet criteria based on experience, capacity, organization and other legal requirements for low- to moderate-income affordable housing can receive the CHDO designation. Organizations not currently designated as CHDOs may submit an application for designation with their proposal.

Richland County’s estimated median income for a family of four for the 2020 fiscal year is $72,600.           

This year, Richland County has made $250,000 available for selected CHDOs, to be awarded through the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program.

“About 35 percent of all households in Richland County are considered cost-burdened, spending more than 30 percent of their gross income on housing needs,” said Clayton Voignier, director of Richland County Community Planning and Development. “These federal funds represent a unique opportunity to provide relief for these households.

“We encourage our designated CHDOs, as well as other organizations seeking to become designated as CHDOs, to take advantage of this opportunity.”

The funding the County disburses for each development depends on the number of proposals accepted and the amount of funding requested.

To submit a proposal, organizations in the County must first register via the Bonfire portal, which can be accessed through Richland County’s Office of Procurement and Contracting webpage by clicking Bonfire Procurement Portal Login.

The Bonfire portal allows organizations to keep track of which information and documents to submit throughout the process. Those with questions about submitting information must submit questions through Bonfire by 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.

The deadline to submit a proposal is 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9.

To submit a proposal, click the solicitations tab on the Office of Procurement and Contracting webpage.