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City approves sale of 47 former Wichita Housing Authority homes using ARPA funds to expand affordable housing
Summary
Council approved allocating up to $1.846 million in ARPA-funded Affordable Housing Fund awards to four developers to rehab and return 47 public-housing properties to affordable ownership or rental, with long-term affordability controls.
The Wichita City Council approved the sale and rehabilitation funding for 47 single-family homes acquired from the Wichita Housing Authority, using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to an Affordable Housing Fund.
Carmen Hoffine, real property section manager in the Department of Housing and Community Services, told council the city opened a competitive application process after HUD releases were secured; the Affordable Housing Review Board recommended 47 of 56 properties for award to four developers. The awards include up to $486,051 to Wichita Habitat for Humanity (rehab and sale), $520,000 to Hope CDC (rehab and rental using Housing Choice Vouchers), $240,000 to Sempayo Capital Group LLC (rental) and up to $560,000 to Large Enterprise (rental). "All units purchased and rehabilitated through this program must be utilized as affordable housing upon completion of rehab, subject to the applicable affordability periods," Hoffine said.
Council discussed application details, scoring and program sources. Housing staff clarified that the Housing Development Loan Program uses HUD HOME funds and that the city will continue to open competitive rounds. One council member abstained because of a conflict of interest; the motion passed 6–0 with one abstention after correcting a typographical error in the green sheet to $1,846,051.
Staff noted the awards are deferred mortgages or program subsidies: units sold for homeownership will carry affordability restrictions (10-year periods or longer where required by funding), and rental units to be leased to Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) households will carry a $40,000 deferred, 0% mortgage per unit to secure the affordability commitment.
Hoffine said the remaining program income from prior ARPA sales (about $1 million) will be used in a future competitive round. The law department reviewed and approved sale and funding agreements as to form.
The council approved the sales and fund reallocations and authorized signatures; staff will proceed to finalize agreements and start rehabilitation work under the reviewed timelines.
