Released: February 4, 2019 | Revised: February 5, 2019
I. SUMMARY:
Philadelphia LISC is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) that seeks to provide funding to non-profit community based organizations to further advance the preservation of affordable rental housing in the City of Philadelphia in the following ways: (1) LISC will provide recoverable grants for predevelopment activities associated with affordable rental housing preservation and; (2) LISC will provide small catalytic grants to assist non-profit community-based partners in analyzing preservation of affordable rental housing portfolios.
Philadelphia LISC’s housing strategy aims to preserve neighborhood assets and promote growth, protecting long-term residents and meeting community needs for affordable and equitable housing options. As part of the funding, LISC will also provide targeted technical assistance to help partners innovate, problem-solve, or strengthen competencies to achieve their housing and equitable development goals.
Funding: Philadelphia LISC is projecting approximately $115,000 in available funding:
* Recoverable grants for affordable rental housing preservation will be sized at $25,000 - $50,000. Repayment of the recoverable grant will be at closing of permanent financing or any predevelopment debt financing which would replace the recoverable grant.
* LISC is also offering small catalytic grants (no repayment) no greater than $10,000 to help with affordable rental housing preservation planning and analysis.
Applicants seeking funding will be required to participate in at least two technical assistance sessions and attend workshops to advance their projects. Proposed topics may include the following:
Understanding Neighborhood Change & Planning for Affordable Rental Housing Preservation
Understanding Debt and the Nuts & Bolts of Re-Capitalization
Catalytic Grants Round Table: Project Sharing & Lessons Learned
Working with the Experts: 1-to-1 Affordable Rental Housing Preservation Portfolio Assessment with LISC/NEF.
Mandatory Briefing: Lead applicants, or their designee, must attend the mandatory RFP briefing, which is scheduled for 1:00 PM February 15, 2019 at LISC’s Office, 718 Arch Street, Suite 500 South, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1530. If applicants, or their designee, do not attend this briefing, they will be ineligible to apply for funding. Please email your RSVP to Carolyn Placke, Program Officer at LISC, cplacke@lisc.org.
Proposal Deadline: The deadline to submit proposals is 5:00 PM March 1, 2019. Electronic submissions only. Hard copies will not be accepted. Questions should be directed to Carolyn Placke at cplacke@lisc.org or (215) 923-1743 no later than 9:00 AM February 21, 2019.
II. BACKGROUND:
Philadelphia LISC is the local office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national non-profit community development intermediary. With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America–great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. Since 1979, we have invested more than $18.6 billion (and leveraged $56.2 billion) nationally to build or preserve more than 376,000 homes, and to develop 63 million square feet of retail and community space.
Philadelphia LISC is a catalyst for community change, working with partners to strengthen neighborhoods and improve the lives of residents. Philadelphia LISC combines corporate, government, and philanthropic resources to help community-based organizations revitalize underserved neighborhoods. To find out more about our work visit: www.lisc.org/philly
III. ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS:
Must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation
The proposed development must be located in the City of Philadelphia
Applicant, or designee, must have attended the RFP Briefing
IV. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
Only affordable rental housing preservation projects will be considered.
Catalytic Grants: Early stage plans or analyses that will result in a preservation strategy for existing affordable rental housing.
Recoverable Grants: Pre-development activities for the preservation of existing affordable rental housing.
Preference will be given to projects located in appreciating neighborhoods, or where there is a projected loss of LIHTC or Section 8 HUD subsidized units.
All Submissions Must be consistent with the City of Philadelphia Housing priorities:
Housing for Equity: An Action Plan for Philadelphia
https://www.phila.gov/documents/housing-for-equity-an-action-plan-for-philadelphia/
Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH)
http://ohcdphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/afh-2016-for-web.pdf
V. ELIGIBLE USES:
Catalytic Grants: Affordable rental preservation market analysis, asset management, portfolio assessments; or other uses related to preservation of affordable rental housing. Consultant fees are eligible under this category.
Recoverable Grants: Professional expenses, such as third party consultants for pre-development work, including but not limited to, schematic design, survey, market study, appraisal, capital needs assessment, environmental, legal, etc. Administrative costs and development consultant fees are not eligible under this category.
Funding Options Matrix
OPTIONS | Option A | Option B |
Owner | Non-Profit | Non-Profit |
Funding | Recoverable Grant | Catalytic Grant |
Type | Affordable Rental Housing Preservation | Affordable Rental Housing Preservation |
Funding Activity | Pre-Development | Planning & Analysis |
Max. Funding Amount | $50,000 | $10,000 |
Repayment | Yes | No |
Technical Assistance | Yes | Yes |
Workshop Participation | Yes | Yes |
Consulting Eligible Cost | No | Yes |
Staff/Admin Eligible Cost | No | No |
VII. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION (Please submit proposal exactly as outlined below):
Organization Information
Cover letter: Provide cover letter signed by the applicant. State eligible use Option (ref. Section V), and include primary contact, address, phone, and email address.
Brief history of the sponsor/applicant.
Summary of prior projects and/or programs completed by the applicant.
Resumes for key staff members working on proposed project.
Organizational budget for the current fiscal year.
Project Information
Description of project or program, including a brief narrative, amount of grant request, address/location, number/type of units, number/type of units with children (ages 0 – 18), services/activities offered, and jobs created, if applicable.
Description of target population.
Description of how proposed project or program addresses defined local needs. If part of a comprehensive neighborhood or community plan, please explain how project/program fits within plan.
Catalytic grant requests must explain how an award will catalyze affordable rental housing preservation within a neighborhood and/or provide the necessary tools to advance preservation as an organizational priority.
Four (4) site photographs.
Budget for the use of LISC funds.
Program/Project Timeline.
Preliminary development budget.
Preliminary operating budget.
Status of Site Control.
List of project team members, including: architect, general contractor, consultants.
Any supporting information that you wish to share about your project (e.g. conceptual designs, neighborhood plan, or organization strategic plan).
VIII. SELECTION CRITERIA:
LISC will evaluate all proposals based upon the Selection Criteria. All proposals will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. Incomplete applications or not meeting threshold eligibility may result in rejection.
Threshold: Project or activity must be in Philadelphia, addresses preservation or mixed use development.
Project Feasibility: Demonstrated experience carrying out projects and programs of similar size and scope. Experience includes key staff and partners.
Organization Capacity: Demonstrated capacity, skills and knowledge to successfully implement the proposed activities; ability to commit staff to complete the activities proposed. Should LISC determine the need for capacity building, LISC may recommend partnering or joint venturing with another organization.
Addressing Local needs: City of Philadelphia Housing Action Plan, Priorities of the Assessment of Fair Housing, and Annual Action Plan
Collaboration: Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with community partners and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
Community Engagement: Demonstrates commitment to community engagement and resident and stakeholder participation in planning and implementation.
Impact: Ability to demonstrate visible impact and/or address community need.
Leverage: Ability to leverage other public and/or private dollars.
IX. TIMELINE:
Benchmark | Date |
RFP issued | February 4, 2019 |
Mandatory RFP Briefing | February 15, 2019 |
Questions Taken until 9 AM | February 21, 2019 |
Deadline for Proposals by 5 PM | March 1, 2019 |
Selection of Grantees | March 22, 2019 |
Estimated Grant Start Date | May 1, 2019 |
X. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION:
Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 PM March 1, 2019. Please submit an electronic version to cplacke@lisc.org. Hard copies will not be accepted.
Questions can be directed no later than 9:00 AM February 21, 2019 to Carolyn Placke by email at cplacke@lisc.org. Questions along with LISC response will be distributed to all RFP applicants.
Philadelphia LISC reserves the right to revise deadlines, modify RFP guidelines, and follow up with applicants with any questions. Applicants will receive written notice of any change in deadline or program guidelines.