Development Resources

Partnerships – The Key to Supportive Housing Initiatives

Beginning in 2016, AHFA expanded multifamily programs to provide incentives to create affordable rental housing for Alabama’s homeless, including persons with disabilities. These populations include:

• Persons with physical or mental disabilities who can live in integrated settings, independently with limited supportive services.
• Persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; and
• Other special needs populations.

To better promote statewide access to housing for these populations, AHFA encourages the development of, and maintenance of partnerships among: the development community, the Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC) and its member agencies, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health (DOMH). Based in part on 2024-year data provided by DOMH, AHFA expanded its outreach to organizations, which serve populations requiring supportive services. DOMH reported that estimated housing needs for persons requiring supportive services ranged between 1,634 to 2,304 units.

See our Interactive Map for a list of newly constructed and renovated projects that designate set-aside units to meet supportive housing needs. The map includes:

• Active developments specifying units reserved for special populations, including rental contact information for each project’s developer/Owner or management company.
• Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC) and its member agencies,
• Alabama Department of Mental Health (DOMH) and participating organizations.

Meeting Supportive Housing Needs

AHFA includes a point preference for developers to set aside at least 5 - 7% of HOME and LIHTC financed units for persons who are homeless or persons with disabilities. Units must be actively marketed and rented to households with at least one tenant with a disability or a tenant transitioning from being homeless. A marketing and preference plan is required at the time of application along with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the owner/developer and the CoC, DOMH provider or local service provider(s). Through this incentive, AHFA attempts to promote a statewide commitment to provide affordable housing for the above special populations.

In addition to the set-aside, AHFA utilizes National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) funds to further target extremely low-income (ELI) persons including veterans and persons with physical and mental disabilities.

Results to Date:

• View an interactive map of those projects in the state that have set-aside 5%-7% of units for supportive housing
  • ​AHFA Set Aside Units for Active and Approved Projects for the Supportive Housing Initiative
• AHFA Interview with Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care Executive Director, Felicia Jackson
• Housing Alabama's Low-Income & Special Needs Populations

Next Steps:

Learn how you can help foster a partnership with developers, CoCs, and service providers to permanently house those with the greatest needs: 

• Download a copy of our allocation plans
• Join our mailing list
• View our Disability/Homeless Election Form
• Best Practices for Memorandum of Understanding
• The Alabama HUD Homeless Continuum of Care contact information
• Alabama Department of Mental Health

Contact AHFA at [email protected] for additional information on how you can help foster a partnership.

Housing Counseling Agencies 

This Interactive Map shows HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that received 2019 HUD housing counseling grants to assist individuals and families in finding affordable rental housing or make more informed homeownership choices.