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Dallas housing staff lays out NOFA application steps, readiness rules and timeline
Summary
City of Dallas housing staff in a recorded NOFA presubmission session told developers that projects must be shovel‑ready, show site control and substantial outside funding, and align with Dallas Housing Policy 2033 to qualify for gap financing; submission requires two flash drives and a multi‑stage review that can take three to six months.
A presenter from the City of Dallas Housing Department summarized how developers should prepare applications for the department’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), saying the program is intended to provide gap financing for projects that are near‑ready and aligned with the department’s housing goals.
The presenter said applicants should first confirm basic readiness: alignment with Dallas Housing Policy 2033 (DHP 33), an experienced development team, site control (ownership, purchase agreement or long‑term lease) and significant outside funding commitments. “The NOFA is a tool that we use here in the department to evaluate affordable housing development proposals,” the presenter said.
Why it matters: the department uses DHP 33’s equity pillars to weight applications. Projects located in the department’s equity strategy target areas (ESTAs) receive additional points: staff said it has committed to directing 50% of program resources toward ESTAs, which increases the likelihood of support for projects in those areas.
What to submit: applicants must file a letter of intent, complete the department’s self‑scoring workbook and deliver the completed application package on two flash drives (mailed or dropped off) for the time being. The presenter explained an option for sensitive financials: a password‑protected third drive can be provided so those documents are not widely circulated. “You are required to submit 2 flash drives to city staff,” the presenter said.
Evaluation and timing: applications first undergo a threshold review for completeness, then a deeper review by project managers and underwriting. The presenter estimated the process from submission through approvals and contract negotiation can take about three to six months, and said staff typically issues a preliminary determination within about four weeks for complete submissions.
Scoring priorities and tips: the application has five main sections—project attributes, equity/alignment, readiness, developer experience and bonus/penalty items. The presenter advised applicants to document community benefits in the narrative, show mixed income targeting, vary unit sizes (rental projects should keep one‑bedroom units to 40% or less), and provide resumes and two years of financial statements to demonstrate capacity.
Next steps: staff urged applicants to attend a live presubmission meeting (the recording does not replace this requirement), use the NOFA checklist, and monitor the department website, which staff said will be updated monthly before presubmission meetings. For questions, the presenter provided the NOFA inbox and phone number (214‑670‑3644).
