Allegheny Housing Development Fund (AHDF)
Administered by ACED’s Housing & Human Services Division, the Allegheny County Housing
Development Fund (AHDF) provides gap-financing support for affordable housing developments.
It’s the most flexible housing program available to nonprofit and for-profit housing
developers through the County.
Several funding sources may be available, including the Community Development Block
Grant Program (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). In addition,
developers can leverage private mortgage, equity funds, Pennsylvania Department
of Community and Economic Development programs, and Pennsylvania Housing Finance
Agency programs such as Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
Funding assistance is available in two forms: “front-end” construction subsidies
(for rental projects) where developers agree to rent project units to qualified
low/moderate-income tenants for a period of up to 30 years; or “back-end” deferred
second mortgages (targeted to for-sale housing projects) where developers agree
to sell the units to qualified low/moderate-income households.
Projects submitted for AHDF financing can include the following:
- New construction of low/moderate-income, multifamily or elderly rental housing.
-
Conversion of existing properties, such as old schools, warehouses and municipal
buildings, into low/moderate-income, multifamily or elderly rental housing.
-
Rehabilitation of vacant, existing multifamily rental housing developments (of four
units or more) for rent to low/moderate-income tenants.
- New construction of
single-family residences or townhomes for purchase by low/moderate-income buyers.
-
Rehabilitation for resale of existing single-family residences or townhomes for
purchase by low/moderate-income buyers.
All the financing listed above is available in most areas of the County except opt-out
municipalities. However, developments in McKeesport and Penn Hills are eligible
for HOME-funded projects.
To be considered for financing, prospective developers/agencies should complete
a pre-application; a Loan Review Committee then determines if the project is financially
feasible and consistent with the County’s Consolidated Plan. Upon preliminary approval,
staff is assigned to assist the developer/agency with completion of the full application
documentation and progress towards development.