The Impact Assessment is the second step of the Oregon Centralized Application process. This step provides OHCS with key information about the project to review alignment with policy priorities. Applicants will be asked about due diligence items and thoughtful strategies to achieve objectives.
The Impact Assessment step is where sponsors can begin refining the project concept, completing application tasks, submitting initial proforma, identifying more project partners, and more.
This step secures a Letter of Intent from OHCS, which offers a conditional hold of resources, allows OHCS to ensure the project meets determined benchmarks, and prepares the project for Financial Eligibility and Commitment steps. The Impact Assessment step should be initiated no more than 1-2 years before closing. Inactivity or failure to fulfill evaluation standards within 12 months at this step will remove a project from the application process.
Impact Assessment evaluation standards
Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan
Applicants will submit a complete and thorough Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Architectural plans
Applicants with new construction projects will provide a conceptual site and design plan, project description, and conceptual hard costs for new construction projects. Applicants with rehabilitation projects will submit these materials as well as a timeline for a capital needs assessment.
Construction costs
Applicants will describe how they derived construction costs, provide a risk assessment, describe how they will address risk, and provide a plan for covering costs outside of contingency funds.
Development team capacity
Applicants will describe the capacity and experience of the developer/applicant, architect, general contractor, management company, and primary service provider.
Submitted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Agreement
If they haven’t already, applicants will submit their DEI Agreement at this step through a web-based registry. The DEI Agreement asks applicants to select four organizational DEI goals and update their progress on these goals annually. If you are already on the DEI Agreement registry, you do not need to submit for the registry again.
Learn more about the DEI Agreement and registry
Engagement and community needs
Applicants will describe tenant engagement and how feedback informed project design, amenities, and services provided.
Environmental reports
Applicants will submit complete environmental reports (ESA Phase I or II, NEPA) or provide a plan for completing reports within appropriate timelines.
Equity and Racial Justice (ERJ) Strategy
Applicants will describe how they will implement four required strategies relating to tenant demographic data collection, translation, property management language proficiency, and existing racial equity efforts. Applicants will also choose to implement two additional strategies that can relate to project ownership, providing opportunity for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-owned businesses, resident services, tenant populations, and tenant outcomes.
Financial proforma
The draft proforma will include details about the intended project, provide a high-level estimate of sources and uses, and describe unit mix.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements review
Applicants interested in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) or Housing Trust Fund (HTF) must review HUD requirements.
Infrastructure readiness
Applicants will note if specific infrastructure, such as stormwater, water, and sewer, is available at the site or able to be extended to the site.
Location preferences
Applicants will choose among a set of factors that apply to their project’s location, including data about affordability levels and housing availability, displacement risk, environmental justice, and neighborhood amenities and resources. Please use the Oregon Housing Insights Tool to meet location preferences standards.
Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Businesses (MWESB) strategy
OHCS has established requirements for contracting with MWESB businesses. These requirements vary by MWESB Region:
- 30% for Region 1 (Portland Metro including Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Hood River, and Columbia counties)
- 20% for Regions 2-5 (rest of Oregon)
Applicants will share their past performance meeting MWESB Region percentage requirements in OHCS-funded projects, prior collaboration with general contractors and their experience with MWESB requirements, and their plans to meet MWESB requirements. The developer is primarily responsible for meeting MWESB requirements. Learn more about MWESB requirements.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) requirements
Applicants providing permanent supportive housing (PSH) must meet programmatic and underwriting standards to be considered a PSH project and/or for PSH-specific resources. To be eligible for PSH-specific resources, a project or the development team must have completed the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute.
Permit strategy
Applicants will provide documentation of permit submissions or approvals from local planning departments, including anticipated approval dates if permits are not in hand. Projects do not need to have actual permits as long as there is a plan with anitcipated timeline, strategy, and communication with the permitting jurisdiction about the project.
Submitted Prequalification
If they haven’t already, applicants must complete Prequalification within Intake Assessment. If applicants are already on the Prequalification registry, they are good to go.
OHCS will prequalifies developers, co-developers, and development consultants to expedite the funding process. Prequalified developers are those in good legal standing and have demonstrated competency through past performance and experience in affordable housing development.
Prequalified developers are listed on a web-based registry.
Learn more about prequalification
Resident services
Applicants will describe how they will address the needs of the proposed tenant populations, services offered, uses for funding, referral agencies, partnership structure, and other elements.
Site control
Applicants will provide evidence of a deed, vesting deed, option agreement, ground lease, or letter of intent to award.
Zoning in place
Applicants will provide a zoning form signed by the municipality confirming that the site’s zoning allows the intended land use.
What happens next
Evaluation standards will be reviewed by staff. Once met, this project will be brought to Oregon Housing Stability Council (HSC) for conditional approval. Once HSC approved, projects will receive a Letter of Intent identifying the types of resources assigned and a conditional funding hold.