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Project Partnerships

PARTNERING PHILOSOPHY

The Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance (EDHA) is a not for profit Multi-Regional Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) serving 25 counties in eastern North Dakota. As a CHDO, the Alliance strives to build partnerships with local governments, non-profit organizations, and other parties resulting in the creation and preservation of affordable housing.

The Alliance has experience in the development of single family, multifamily, new construction, and rehabilitation projects that target lower income households. With its CHDO status the Alliance has access to North Dakota’s HOME CHDO set-aside through the ND Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services. Funding from other public and private sources may be accessed to help develop partnership projects. The Alliance should be viewed as a development partner rather than a funding source.

The following steps outline the process the Alliance uses in establishing partnerships and selecting projects to develop. It is important to involve EDHA early in the project development process.  

PRE-DEVELOPMENT

Based on preliminary information and establishing an early relationship with EDHA, the Alliance may seek pre-development loan funds from the HOME program. Receipt of this type of funding is not necessarily a commitment to develop the project or a promise of future funds. It will merely help all parties involved to determine the project’s feasibility.

 PARTNERING PROCESS

  1. Contact EDHA staff with your idea for an affordable housing project.
  2. EDHA will provide a basic outline of its organizational mission, qualifications in affordable housing, and an overview of the partnering and project selection process.
  3. Provide a written summary of the applicant’s organization, the project, and other pertinent information.
  4. Projects that meet with the mission and goals of the Alliance will be invited to present their ideas to the Board of Directors. Projects rejected at this point will be notified in writing.
  5. It is important to continue to report any progress or changes in the scope of the project to EDHA.
  6. At least once per year, the EDHA Board will review all projects based on the Project Analysis Review (PAR), an internal ranking tool. All projects reviewed will be notified in writing as to the decisions of the board.
  7. A Memorandum of Agreement will be signed between the Alliance and other parties involved in the development
  8. Alliance staff will work with partners to prepare a final development budget, including sources and uses and a proforma, to determine the level of HOME and other funding needed for the project.
  9. The Alliance Board must approve the final development budget. The board must also approve the funding level to request from the HOME CHDO set-aside and other sources the Alliance may be responsible for obtaining.

EDHA reserves the right to decline partnership with any party that it determines is unable or unlikely to carry out its proposed role. In addition, EDHA reserves the right to decline partnership with any party which has an existing HOME loan in default or a history of non-payment.

TIMING

Have realistic expectations. Developing affordable housing is a time consuming process. Coordinating various funding sources and application deadlines can be slow. It is not unusual for it to take a year or two to get from the idea stage to the start of construction.

ROLE OF ALLIANCE

The Alliance must be an equal partner in the development of the proposed project. EDHA must be owner, developer, or sponsor as defined by HUD.

Download a sample RFP (Request for Proposals)