DSHA’s Area of Opportunity Land Bank Program Wins National Award

Dover, Del. October 26, 2023 – A program designed to encourage new rental housing construction in Delaware received national recognition via the 2023 Annual Awards for Program Excellence at the NCSHA’s 2023 Annual Conference & Showplace, held October 14 -17 in Boston.  

 

The award recognized DSHA’s Area of Opportunity Land Bank Program, which created a $5 million revolving fund to support housing developers in building more affordable rental housing in Delaware. 

 

“This Award for Program Excellence from NCSHA demonstrates how DSHA was able to provide a creative solution to the need for affordable rental units in our state,” said DSHA Director Eugene Young, Jr. “The Area of Opportunity Land Bank Program is an innovative and accommodating program that aligns with DSHA’s mission to efficiently provide and assist others in providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans.”

 

DSHA was one of over 30 housing finance agencies nationwide to submit entries in the 2023 awards program. NCSHA judges evaluate each entry for its level of innovation, replicability, response to a critical state housing need, and effective use of resources, among other criteria. The juror panels include former housing finance agency executive directors and staff, as well as other senior leaders in the affordable housing community.

 

The Area of Opportunity Land Bank Program, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to give affordable housing developers more time to complete the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) process when developing in areas of opportunity. This added time increases the likelihood of their success in developing much-needed affordable housing in the areas.   

 

While the program is new, DSHA has already seen significant interest. In 2022, one LIHTC developer turned in a robust application that just missed an allocation of LIHTC credits. The developer used The Area of Opportunity Land Bank Program to secure site control while continuing to work through the predevelopment process. They successfully applied for an LIHTC allocation in 2023 and are now working on a development strategy for a second phase, which could result in more than 80 new affordable rental housing units in Lewes, Delaware, rather than a market-rate rental development.  

 

For more information on the Area of Opportunity Land Bank Program, please visit: http://www.destatehousing.com/Developers/Developers.php.

 

To read the full Program of Excellence award entry, please visit: https://www.ncsha.org/awards-category/rental-housing/encouraging-new-construction-rental-housing/.  

About Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, provides quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique because it serves as a Public Housing Authority in Kent and Sussex County and a Community Development and Planning Agency. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (302) 739-4963 or visit our website at: 

http://www.destatehousing.com.

 

About National Council of State Housing Agencies

The National Council of State Housing Agencies is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created to advance, through advocacy and education, the efforts of the nation’s state HFAs and their partners to provide affordable housing to those who need it. NCSHA’s vision: An affordably housed nation. Learn more at www.ncsha.org.


Delaware State Housing Authority Shares Preview Of The 2023 Housing Needs Assessment Report

Government officials and community members gather in Dover to learn of qualitative, quantitative, and projection data to solve the housing crisis

Dover, Del. October 10, 2023 – Delawareans, including government officials, nonprofit and for-profit partners, and service providers, joined the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) at POLYTECH Adult Education Center to hear preliminary findings from the 2023 Housing Needs Assessment report compiled by Root Policy Research. 

Key findings from the report include: 

  • Overall, 50% of renters in Delaware are cost-burdened, with 25,000 severely cost-burdened—paying more than 50% of their income in rent.
  • Since 2010, the homeownership rate has dropped for all age cohorts except seniors, with the most significant decline among ages 35 to 44, where the rate dropped from 71% to 63%.
  • The composition of the state’s housing stock has changed little over time, with the most significant change being a 6,800 unit decrease in manufactured or mobile homes.
  • To keep up with household growth through 2030, the state will need to add 24,400 new units or an average of 2,400 units per year.

Key takeaways from the report include: 

  • Securing additional funding and financing tools will be essential to addressing current housing shortages and meeting projected needs. Delaware has received unprecedented federal and state funding for housing in recent years, but more investment will be needed.
  • Planning and zoning changes are needed to ensure all Delawareans can access safe housing, regardless of income, age, location, or household size. Even with additional funding and resources, efforts to address the state’s housing needs will be constrained unless state and local regulatory policies explicitly encourage the development of diverse housing types. 
  • Cross-sector collaboration is crucial to making meaningful progress toward addressing the shortage of affordable units. This includes communication and cooperation among state and municipal governments as well as the private and nonprofit sectors.

To view the Delaware Housing Needs Assessment Executive Summary and event PowerPoint, visit: http://www.destatehousing.com/FormsAndInformation/needs.php. The full report will be available later this fall. 

This comprehensive report was completed using data collection and analysis of various housing sources, stakeholder interviews and focus groups with residents, community leaders, and housing advocates, and a resident survey. 

The report aims to inform housing agencies and local jurisdictions in prioritizing housing and housing-related services, developing more targeted program and policy responses, and better coordinating federal, state, and local resources. 

“Everyone deserves safe and affordable housing, but we know there is not enough housing stock, and home prices have excluded so many people from the market,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Thousands of people in Delaware today are able to afford a roof over their head because of our state’s housing authority working hand in glove with partners – including federal programs your congressional delegation works so hard to protect – to make Delaware a great place to live. I will keep working to ensure everyone has an affordable and safe place they can call home.”

“The 2023 Housing Needs Assessment report findings are a stark reminder that the housing crisis in Delaware is real, and it is urgent,” said Matthew Heckles, HUD Regional Administrator. “My team and I in HUD’s Region 3 are committed to working with our state and local partners to secure additional funding and financing tools for affordable housing.”

“We know that affordable housing must be a priority for our state,” said Governor Carney. “We have a lot of work to do, but we are moving in the right direction. We are making historic investments in housing throughout Delaware, and the data collected in the Housing Needs Assessment will help us to identify the most effective solutions. I want to thank the Delaware State Housing Authority and all of our partners for their efforts.”

“Together, I’m confident that we can make Delaware the perfect place to live for all current and future residents,” said Eugene Young, Jr., Director of DSHA. “I want to thank Root Policy Research and the DSHA staff for their hard work today and over the past few months. We are proud of this report and can’t wait for the full release later this fall.” 

About Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, provides quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it serves as a Public Housing Authority and a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own, and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about DSHA, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit destatehousing.com.

About Root Policy Research

Root Policy Research is a women-owned housing policy consulting firm that specializes in housing needs assessments, housing market analyses, and analyses of barriers to housing choice. The Root Policy team has been conducting housing research for more than 25 years in a diverse set of markets. For more information about Root Policy, see www.rootpolicy.com.


Delaware State Housing Authority To Begin Issuing Final Federal Homeowner And Homebuyer Funding

Final Federal Assistance Is Available Through Early 2024; State-Funded Assistance Is Still Available and Ongoing

 

Dover, Del., September 18, 2023 – As part of the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) launched three new temporary programs to address barriers to achieving and maintaining homeownership for affected populations.

The Delaware Mortgage Relief Program (DEMRP), Delaware Diamonds Home Loan, and Home Sweet Home Program are now nearing the end of their allocated funding. Delawareans are encouraged to apply now or explore alternative assistance programs offered by DSHA.

DEMRP provides up to $50,000 for housing-related delinquencies such as mortgage, property tax, homeowners association, and homeowner insurance payments, and up to $20,000 for critical home repairs, including mold and mildew remediation, lead-based paint removal, roof replacement, heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing repairs, and the repair, replacement, or installation of accessibility aids such as hand railings, ramps, grab bars and wider doorways.

DEMRP is expected to exhaust its funds by early 2024, if not sooner. Homeowners are being encouraged to apply for assistance as quickly as possible as funding is limited. An application for the DEMRP Program can be found here: https://demortgagehelp.com/.

 

 

Program uses

Maximum Assistance Amount  

Application Status

Housing-related delinquencies such as:

·         mortgage,

·         property tax,

·         homeowner’s association,

·         and homeowner insurance payments

 

 

$50,000

 

 

Application Open

Home repairs, including:

·         mold and mildew remediation

·         lead paint removal

·         pest abatement

·         heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing repairs,

·         and the repair, replacement, or installation of accessibility aids

 

 

 

$20,000

New Castle County – Waitlist Available

 

Kent County – Application Open

 

Sussex County – Waitlist Available

 

To date, DEMRP has disbursed over $30 million in financial assistance to more than 12,000 Delawareans across the state. Read a program participant testimonial here or view the program’s data dashboard here.

The Delaware Diamonds Home Loan and Home Sweet Home Program have exhausted their available funding. Both programs offered potential homebuyers a zero-interest forgivable second loan of $12,000 to $15,000 and were funded by a $5 million allocation from Governor Carney to DSHA.

The Delaware Diamonds Home Loan and Home Sweet Home Program helped 136 Delawareans achieve homeownership throughout the state. Read a success story here.

Potential homebuyers can still receive alternative assistance from DSHA through the Smart State Home Loan and First State Home Loan Program. Subsidized revenues from DSHA fund these programs, and both will remain active for the foreseeable future.

For more information or to learn about other homeownership programs offered by DSHA, please visit https://kissyourlandlordgoodbye.com/.

“Supporting homebuyers and homeowners is at the core of our agency’s mission,” said Eugene Young Jr., Director of DSHA. “We knew that these programs would eventually end and are incredibly proud of the impact we were able to have. Our team remains committed to serving Delaware families and is exploring all options to ensure every resident can access a safe, affordable home.”

 

About the Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, provides quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique because it serves as a Public Housing Authority in Kent and Sussex County and a Community Development and Planning Agency. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit www.destatehousing.com.


Delaware State Housing Authority Announces New Program And Partnerships To Address Housing Instability

Dover, Del. August 9, 2023 – The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) has awarded over $800,000 in Housing Outreach and Stability Services (HOSS) grants to five community partner organizations throughout the state.

The overarching goal of HOSS is to support individuals and families in maintaining their housing and achieving housing stability. HOSS does this by providing education on and connection to short- and long-term services as needed.

Each HOSS partner organization will have dedicated staff to provide community outreach, case management, and other wraparound supports-including referrals to legal aid, employment or education resources, and financial literacy and housing counseling-to eligible households experiencing housing instability.

The five HOSS organizations are:

Central Delaware Habitat For Humanity
https://centraldelawarehabitat.org/
302-526-2366 
Latin American Community Center 
https://www.thelatincenter.org/(302) 655-7338
 

Lutheran Community Services
https://lcsde.org/
302 654-8886 

NeighborGood Partners
https://www.neighborgoodpartners.org/
302-678-9400
 

West End Neighborhood House
https://westendnh.org/
302-658-4171

 

 

The HOSS grants are funded through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA), which the U.S. Department of the Treasury distributed to Delaware in December 2020 and March 2021.

“Our agency frequently receives calls, emails, and letters from Delawareans facing housing instability,” said DSHA Director Eugene Young, Jr. “We’re a state of neighbors, and help is out there for those in need. DSHA is proud to partner with these five organizations and help make the essential connections and referrals to services.”

To receive services from a HOSS organization, the individual and/or family must meet the following requirements:

  • One or more individuals qualified for unemployment OR experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the pandemic; AND
  • Risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include: past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice, housing cost burden (rent is more than 30% of monthly income), or any member of the household has experienced homelessness since March 13, 2020;
  • Income (either 2020 annual income or current income at time of application) at or below 80% of Area Median Income for the county of residence.
  1-person 2-person 3-person 4-person 5-person 6-person 7-person 8-person
New Castle County

 

62,500 71,400 80,350 89,250 96,400 103,550 110,700 117,85
Kent County

 

45,750 52,300 58,850 65,350 70,600 75,850 81,050 86,300
Sussex County 49,800 56,900 64,000 71,100 76,800 82,500 88,200 93,900

 

To learn more about the HOSS program, please visit http://www.destatehousing.com/OtherPrograms/ot_hoss.php.   

 

About Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about DSHA, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit destatehousing.com.


DSHA Partners With Habitat For Humanity Organizations To Expand Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs

$3 Million Available To Assist With Home Repairs Throughout Delaware

Dover, Del., August 7, 2023 – The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) today announced a partnership with all three Habitat for Humanity organizations in Delaware to administer a $3 million grant program to help eligible Delaware homeowners who need to make critical home repairs, but have been unable to because of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Delaware Homeowner Assistance Fund (DEHAF) Home Repair Program grant for each household is capped at $20,000. Eligibility requirements include: 

  • household income at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI)
  • the property must be the homeowner’s primary residence
  • the financial hardship must have occurred after January 21, 2020
  • the property must be a single-family, detached or attached home or townhouse, a one-to-four-unit single-family condominium, or a mobile or manufactured home.  

 

County Persons in Family

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
New Castle $62,500 $71,400 $80,350 $89,250 $96,400 $103,550 $110,700 $117,850
Kent $45,750 $52,300 $58,850 $65,350 $70,600 $75,850 $81,050 $86,300
Sussex $49,800 $56,900 $64,000 $71,100 $76,800 $82,500 $88,200 $93,900

 

The program is intended to address conditions severe enough that, for health or safety reasons, would involuntarily displace the homeowner from the property. Repair work to be done could include:

  • pest abatement;
  • insulation installation;
  • mold and mildew remediation;
  • asbestos and lead paint removal;
  • heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing repairs;
  • structural issues such as roof, floor, stairway, porch, and window repairs or replacement;
  • and the repair, replacement, or installation of accessibility aids such as hand railings, ramps, grab bars and wider doorways.

Homeowners can apply for the DEHAF Home Repair Program grant through their local Habitat for Humanity. Delaware’s three Habitat for Humanity organizations—Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity, and Sussex County Habitat for Humanity— will initiate the application process and obtain required documentation from their respective counties, determine eligibility, and oversee repair work for accepted applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the $3 million runs out.

 

Habitat Organizations Phone Number Website
Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (302) 652-0365 https://www.habitatncc.org/
Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity (302) 526-2366 ext 115 https://centraldelawarehabitat.org/
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity (302) 855-1153 https://www.sussexcountyhabitat.org/

 

“We are grateful to DSHA for the opportunity to serve more families impacted by COVID through these Homeowner Assistance Funds. Helping individuals and families sustain the homeownership they have worked so hard to obtain is one of our key programs. Our programs build strength, stability, and self-reliance,” said Kevin L. Smith, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County.

 

“Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity extends its sincere gratitude for partnering with the three Habitat Affiliates in Delaware for this critical program. Serving the vulnerable population is our greatest priority and this funding will ensure much-needed support to those impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. We believe in a world where everyone has a decent and safe place to call home,” said Timothy Bailey, CEO, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity.

 

The program, tied into DSHA’s Delaware Mortgage Relief Program (DEMRP), is funded by the Homeowner Assistance Fund of the American Rescue Plan Act, which the U.S. Treasury Department distributed to the state of Delaware. The $50 million received is being administered by DSHA and will be available until 2025 or until funds run out, whichever occurs first.

“This funding focused on home repairs is an important step in addressing the housing crisis throughout the state of Delaware,” said Kevin Gilmore, CEO of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. “The need for this type of program in immense. More than 25,000 owner-occupied homes are in need of repairs in the state. Sussex County Habitat is looking forward to utilizing the funding to help families in our county.”

“Repairs are a part of owning a home; however, when those repairs threaten the safety, peace of mind, and stability of families, something must be done immediately,” said DSHA Director Eugene Young, Jr. “One of DSHA’s main priorities is to keep families in their homes, and we’re proud to partner with Delaware’s Habitats so that families across the state will no longer have to face the possibility of leaving the communities they call home.”

The Statewide Emergency Repair Program (SERP), also DSHA-funded, is managed by Milford Housing Development Corporation and is an additional ongoing program available to homeowners. For more information, please call (302) 491-4010 or toll-free at (844) 413-0038.

About the Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, provides quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique because it serves as a Public Housing Authority in Kent and Sussex County and a Community Development and Planning Agency. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (302) 739-4263 or visit our website at www.destatehousing.com.

About Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity

Since 1990, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity (CCHFH) has built 80 affordable homes for individuals and families in-need in Kent County, DE. CDHFH has also served more than 500 households through critical repair, aging-in-place, and other housing and counseling programs. A key component in Habitat for Humanity’s global mission is bringing people together. In the last 33 years, CDHFH has brought more than 30,000 volunteers together to serve on build sites and in the ReStore, all in support of affordable housing solutions.

About Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County

Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (HFHNCC) celebrated 37 years of impact in June of 2023. To date, HFHNCC has built or renovated over 300 homes and served over 1,000 families. Committed to changing lives and landscapes, HFHNCC provides affordable housing solutions for hard working, low-income families. Habitat engages residents in improving their neighborhoods, provides free critical home repairs to preserve existing homeownership, conducts financial literacy and home maintenance education for families in our homeownership program and builds affordable housing.

About Sussex County Habitat for Humanity
Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. For more information or to donate, visit SussexCountyHabitat.org.