Partnerships – The Key to Supportive Housing Initiatives
Partnerships – The Key to Supportive Housing InitiativesBeginning 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.
AHFA Interview with Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care Executive Director, Felicia Jackson
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.
Next Steps
Learn how you can help foster a partnership with developers, Continuum of Care, and service providers to permanently house those with the greatest needs:
Contact AHFA at [email protected] for additional information on how you can help foster a partnership.
More Resources
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The Supportive Housing Needs Partner Organizations interactive map includes locations and contact information for organizations that can be partnered with to meet supportive housing needs. The map includes:
Alabama Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC) and its member agencies
Alabama Department of Mental Health (DOMH) and participating organizations
Veterans Service Offices throughout the state
The AHFA Funded Projects with Disabilities/Homeless Set-Aside Units interactive map can be utilized to locate and obtain information for funded projects that have set-aside units for homeless and disabled tenants.
Mental Health Providers and Supportive Service Providers serve Alabama residents with services for mental illness, developmental disabilities, counseling, substance use disorders, and other needs at locations throughout the state. The interactive map below provides location, areas served and contact information for these organizations.
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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.