Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals/Housing Tax Credits Funding Rounds

For a complete list of resources offered through and requirements of the Multifamily Consolidated RFP, refer to the 2023 Multifamily RFP Standards.

Housing Tax Credits are allocated twice per year through a competitive process:

• Round 1, this is Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC funding round, when much of our other funding is also available, and
• Round 2, a smaller round of HTC but uses the same application materials from the Multifamily Consolidated RFP; HTC Round 2 generally does not offer the deferred loans.

Amortizing mortgages and Bridges Loans, may include but are not limited to:

• Low and Moderate Income Rental (LMIR) Program
• Bridge Loan Product

Deferred Loans, may include but are not limited to:

• Economic Development and Housing Challenge (EDHC), including the American Indian set-aside
• Flexible Financing for Capital Costs (FFCC)
• Housing Infrastructure Bond (HIB) proceeds
• Preservation Affordable Rental Investment Fund (PARIF)
• HOME Investment Partnership (HOME)
• National housing Trust Fund (NHTF)

U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD) Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PRA) Program

Funding Partners

• Metropolitan Council Local Housing Incentives Account (LHIA)
• Saint Paul Public Housing Authority Project-Based Vouchers (PBV)

The policy and guidance documents listed are the foundation to the Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC funding rounds. All projects must meet the requirements of these policy and guidance documents. The program-specific resources listed are supplemental to the policy and guidance documents and may provide further requirements and/or guidance.

• 2023 Multifamily Request for Proposals (RFP) Standards
• 2024-2025 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP)
• 2024-2025 Self-Scoring Worksheet
• 2024-2025 Methodology Guide and Community Profiles - Interactive Geographic Scoring Map
• Scoring Guide: 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Funding Round
• 2022 Underwriting Standards (reference only)
• 2023 Underwriting Standards 
• 2023 Underwriting Standards Release Notes
• Building Standards
• Tax-Exempt Bond Information Guide
• Market Study Guidelines and Authorized Market Analyst List
• Temporary Relocation Principals
• Multifamily Loan Programs and Housing Tax Credit Fee Schedule (effective 3.16.2023)

• Deferred Loan and Grant Programs - Reference all program guides for each Capital Funding and Program Resources Offered. Though applicants generally do not request a specific program, each program may have different eligibilities and requirements.
• Housing Tax Credits - HUD Qualified Census Tracts, Equitable Development Narrative, Community Development Initiative Narrative, HTC Threshold letter
• Preservation - Prioritizes properties for preservation that are at risk of losing federal rental assistance due to poor physical condition, diminished owner capacity or owner commitment, or at risk of conversion to market (opting out of the rental assistance program).
• Rent and Income Limits - HTC Rent and Income Limits, Fair Market Rents (FMR), Area Median Income (AMI)
• Supportive Housing - Ending Long-Term Homelessness Initiative, reports and studies on homelessness, service models, Minnesota Departments of Human Services (DHS) programs, Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS).

Two pre-applications are available for this 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 funding round. Pre-applications are optional and are not required. Only applicants interested in HUD Section 811 PRA or preference for Innovative Construction Techniques scoring points may apply. Refer to the details for each pre-application and refer to the Applications dates for pre-application due dates. The Multifamily Customer Portal will be open for pre-application starting on April 12. Pre-application must be submitted through the Multifamily Customer Portal.

The HUD Section 811 PRA is a program to expand the supply of supportive housing that promotes and facilitates community integration for people with significant and long-term disabilities. In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Housing was recently awarded funding for approximately 160 new units of HUD Section 811 PRA.

HUD Section 811 PRA program funds will be available for units for people with disabilities through the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 funding round. Applicants must submit a HUD Section 811 PRA pre-application to determine eligibility for the program prior to submitting a full Multifamily Consolidated RFP application. Applicants will be notified about eligibility for the program prior to the application due date.

Applicants need to apply and be selected for capital funding through the Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1 funding round to be eligible for HUD Section 811 PRA. Applicants cannot apply for only HUD Section 811 PRA funding in the Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1 or HTC Round 2. Awards are contingent on funding availability.

Pre-application Materials for HUD Section 811 PRA:

1. HUD Section 811 PRA Pre-application
2. HUD Section 811 PRA Workbook

For more information about the program, visit Minnesota Housing’s Section 811 webpage.

Minnesota Housing is offering a selection preference for projects that will use Innovative Construction Techniques (ICT). To be eligible for this selection preference, a pre-application is required for projects that will achieve or will pilot a technique to achieve one or both of the following goals:

• Reduce total construction cost by at least 10%, and/or
• Reduce the time a project is under construction by at least 20%

Refer to the 2024-2025 Self-Scoring Worksheet for additional details on how the preference will be used to evaluate different project proposal types that apply in the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP, and in accordance with the 2024-2025 Qualified Allocation Plan and the 2023 Multifamily RFP Standards. For more information, visit the Housing Tax Credits webpage.

Pre-application Materials for ICT:

1. Innovative Construction Techniques Pre-application

• Partially Supportive Housing: Less than 50% of the total units will serve HPH, PWD, or other homeless households*.

• Primarily Supportive Housing: 50% or more of the total units will serve HPH, PWD, or other homeless households*.

• Partially Supportive Housing Certification Form
• Notification to the Continuum of Care (CoC) and county or Tribal human services office - this is different from the CoC Confirmation form required for Primarily Supportive Housing and does not require a meeting with CoC

The required submission forms will be listed on the applicable checklist for Primarily Supportive Housing or Partially Supportive Housing and HUD Section 811 PRA Units in the Multifamily Customer Portal.

The Metropolitan Council announced a total of $2.5 million was approved for the Local Housing Incentives Account (LHIA) on March 4, 2023. These dollars will be available in the multifamily deferred pool of financing in the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1. Only projects located in participating cities that have enrolled in the Metropolitan Council’s LHIA program are eligible for these funds. Visit the LHIA website for more information about the program, including matching requirements, eligible uses and more.

How to be Considered for LHIA

• After logging into the Multifamily Customer Portal and creating a project within the 2023 Consolidated RFP/ 2024 HTC Round 1 funding round.
• Go to the Characteristics tab and select the “Met Council’s LHIA Funds” characteristic. This will add the “General: Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” to your application checklist.  
• Reach out to your local government entity (city or county) in which the project is located, request them to serve as the applicant, and for them to complete the “Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” for the LHIA portion of the funding.
• Upload the completed “Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” to your application checklist prior to submission. The “General: Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” is required to be considered.
• The checklist item must be submitted with your 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP / 2024 HTC Round 1 application. If the checklist item is not submitted, applicants will not be considered for Met Council’s LHIA deferred funding. Applications are due by noon on Thursday, July 13.
• New to the Multifamily Customer Portal or need a refresher? Please review the Multifamily Customer Portal Resources webpage.

What You Need to Know 

• LHIA may be awarded without Minnesota Housing funding. However, a complete 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP / 2024 HTC Round 1 application must be submitted to be considered.
• LHIA funds require that the local government entity (city or county) in which the project is located serve as the applicant for the LHIA portion of the funding. This is achieved by the local government completing a Receptivity Form on behalf of the developer/sponsor. The local government entity will serve as the grant recipient (Grantee) for the LHIA Funds.
• Grantees (local government entity) must match LHIA awards on a dollar-for-dollar basis with a source of funding that is either directly from, or is designated by, the participating city or development authority; sources include CDBG, HOME, TIF, Housing Trust Fund dollars, tax abatements, local housing revenue bonds, and the appraised value of donated land.
• Local Housing Incentives Account (LHIA) grants support primarily hard costs related to the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Land acquisition costs may be an eligible use of grant funds. LHIA grants do not pay for work done before the grant is awarded with the exception of reimbursement of qualifying land acquisition costs incurred no more than 12 months prior to the date of award.

For LHIA information, visit the Metropolitan Council or contact Ashleigh Johnson, Senior Planner at ashleigh.johnson@metc.state.mn.us.

For technical assistance from Minnesota Housing, email mhfa.app@state.mn.us or complete the Technical Assistance Request Form. 

The Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) will be offering 125 Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), plus an additional 25 HUD Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Project-Based Vouchers. The available 125 PBV may be used for the Family Unification Program (FUP), mixed-income, senior, and/or supportive housing projects. HUD-VASH vouchers will be available for veteran housing.  Applications will be accepted only through the 2023 St. Paul PHA Voucher Application funding round.

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

Applicants may mix-match vouchers for each project submitted; however, a minimum of 10 vouchers per project must be requested. There may be a limit to the number of vouchers requested per project. Refer to the PBV Program Guide available on the Saint Paul PHA website.

PBV Only Requests:

Applicants do not need to apply for capital funding through the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 funding round to be eligible for vouchers. Apply for PBVs in “2023 Saint Paul PHA Voucher Application” funding round in the Multifamily Customer Portal.

PBV Requests with Minnesota Housing Capital Funding:

Applicants who are applying for capital funding in conjunction with a voucher request must apply separately for PBVs in the “2023 Saint Paul PHA Voucher Application” funding round in the Multifamily Customer Portal. PBV awards are contingent on Minnesota Housing funding.

For information on PBVs, visit the Saint Paul PHA website or contact Corina Serrano at corina.serrano@stpha.org.  

For information or technical assistance from Minnesota Housing, email mhfa.app@state.mn.us.  

Application materials for the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 funding round are posted on the Application Materials webpage. Application materials may be downloaded and must be uploaded to the Multifamily Customer Portal.

*Tip: Create your application in the Multifamily Customer Portal, including Funding Partner(s) applications, all required checklist items will populate.

All development team members must have current qualification forms on file for each funding round for which they apply.  Qualification forms are valid for 12 months. Learn more about the qualification forms and how to submit them.

For most funding types, the application process is facilitated through our Multifamily Customer Portal. If you do not have a Portal account, refer to the Multifamily Customer Portal Resources Webpage so that you can learn how to access our Common Application.

Training Opportunities are available!  Scroll up to the Events Calendar and register today. Sign up to receive our eNews notifications when program changes and training opportunities are posted. Recorded trainings will be posted here as they become available.

In preparation for the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1, Minnesota Housing hosted a 2 day virtual Technical Assistance Kick off event.

• Day 1:  This tutorial focuses on information for applicants new to the process. The presentation included an introduction to the application funding process, as well as underwriting Low Income Housing Tax Credits (HTC), Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB) and supportive housing.
  Training recording (01:51:05) | Presentation slides [PDF]
• Day 2: This event focuses on new items and updated processes, changes to the Qualified Allocation Plan, overview of updates that have been made to forms and documents and submission requirements for supportive housing projects, important preservation and underwriting updates, and learn funding sources such as federal Housing Tax Credits (HTC) and Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB).
  Training recording (02:15:58) | Presentation slides [PDF]

NOTE: The virtual Technical Assistance Kickoff Event is not a replacement for more focused, project-specific technical assistance. Please complete a Technical Assistance Request Form and you will be connected with a staff person who can discuss specifics about your proposal and answer your questions.

Minnesota Housing hosted a training about the Self-Scoring Worksheet which provides applicants with a walk-through of the 2024-2025 Self-Scoring Worksheet, an overview of each selection criteria, and changes since the last Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC funding round. The Self-Scoring Worksheet contains the selection criteria that applicants use to score their application in the Scoring Wizard found in the Multifamily Customer Portal. 
Training recording (01:23:15) |  Presentation slides [PDF]

Visit the Multifamily Customer Portal Resources webpage to watch tutorials for the following topics:

• What's new in 2023? - Learn about changes to the Apply for Funding Wizard, project checklists, and the Scoring Wizard to support the 2023 Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1. 
• Apply for Funding - Learn how to get started in the Portal. This tutorial also walks through how to find open funding rounds, create a project using the Apply for Funding Wizard and request project team access.
• Intent to Apply - Learn what the Intent to Apply is and the steps you need to complete to meet the deadline. This tutorial also covers how to withdraw a project from consideration.
• Project Checklist - Learn how to select project characteristics, manage checklist items, and submit a checklist.
• Scoring Wizard - Learn how to use the Scoring Wizard to complete the self-scoring process.

• How Awards are Sized (5:19) - PowerPoint Slides
• Rent and Income Restrictions (11:14) - PowerPoint Slides
• Sponsor Qualification Forms (9:26) - PowerPoint Slides

• Consolidated Request for Proposals Due Soon! (July 11, 2023)
• Multifamily Consolidated RFP Legislative Update and Estimated Budget (June 30, 2023)
• 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 Application Deadline, Underwriting Standards, and more (June 26, 2023)
• 2023 Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP)/2024 Housing Tax Credits (HTC) Round 1 Reminders, ITA Overview, Rent and Income Limits, Energy Tax Credits, and other important information (June 1, 2023)
• Reminder ITA due May 11 and other important Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals/2024 Housing Tax Credits Round 1 information (May 9, 2023)
• Building Standards: Updates to Documents (April 28, 2029)
• 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 Funding Round Pre-Application Final Reminder, Important Tips and Information, and more! (April 26, 2023)
• Minnesota Housing Announces Funding Availability (April 12, 2023)
• 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 Early Release Today, Pre-Applications Now Open, and other important information (March 29, 2023)
• 2023 Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP)/2024 Housing Tax Credits (HTC) Round 1 Early Release of Application Materials, Sign up for Technical Assistance Trainings, Learn about Funding Partners’ Funding Announcements, and more (March 16, 2023)
• Updates to the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1 Important Dates, 2024 HTC Distribution Estimates, and Other Multifamily News (February 22, 2023)
• Governor Walz Approves Minnesota Housing’s 2024-2025 QAP, 2023 HTC Round 2 Reminders, and Important Dates for the 2023 Consolidated RFP (February 2, 2023)
• 2023 HTC Round 2 Application Reminder, 2023 Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP) and 2024 Housing Tax Credits (HTC) Round 1 Dates, Pre-Application Information, and Other Multifamily News (January 23, 2023)