AHAB approves 2026 Affordable Housing Trust Fund NOFO after scoring-matrix changes; sends packet to City Commission

The Affordable Housing Advisory Board voted to approve the 2026 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Notice of Funding Opportunity and accompanying application documents at its May 8 meeting and directed staff to forward the package to the City Commission for final approval.

Staff described changes to the scoring matrix that were made after board discussion and follow-up emails. Key changes noted by staff included increasing the points for period of affordability from 20 to 40 and reducing points in several other categories: fully ADA units and universal design (from 15 to 10 each), sustainability (10 to 5), and location (15 to 10). Staff said these adjustments reflected a majority of board recommendations submitted after the April meeting. Staff also corrected a wording issue in the affordability buckets: the matrix should treat 30-year affordability as a specific bucket (the phrasing was changed from “30 or fewer” to “fewer than 30” to avoid misclassification) and board members discussed moving the next bucket to 30–49 years for clarity.

Board members debated the matrix’s role in funding decisions. Some members urged that the matrix remain an important quantitative tool to ensure equitable outcomes; others emphasized the matrix is one input among qualitative materials, site feasibility and the board’s judgment. Concerns were raised that increasing the weight for perpetual affordability could disadvantage some Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects, which commonly use 30-year affordability terms, and staff clarified the scoring intent and buckets.

Several practical issues were raised in discussion: the condition and maintenance of long-standing affordable projects, barriers encountered by funded projects that delay completion, the availability and contractual restrictions on certain city-owned lots, and the need for progress reports to understand implementation delays. Board members urged that the AHAB use its advocacy role to help address barriers to project completion where appropriate.

A motion to approve the NOFO and associated documents was moved and seconded; the board then approved the packet on a roll-call vote. The board’s staff liaison, Leah Rosen, said she will place the approved documents on the next available City Commission agenda (likely May 20) and, upon commission approval, will release the NOFO to applicants. No funding awards were made at the meeting; the vote approves solicitation materials only.

Vote on the NOFO (roll call): Mark Bueller—Aye; Andrew Dahlager—Aye; Mario Fierro—Aye; Christina Gentry—Aye; Elizabeth O’Neil—Aye; Donovan Dillon—Aye; Monte Soka—Aye.