Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals/Housing Tax Credit Funding Rounds

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Minnesota Housing is excited to announce the following RFP process improvement to the market study requirement for HTC applications

What’s New?

• Projects applying for funding for the 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Rounds 1 and 2, will no longer be required to submit a market study at application. This applies to projects applying as a 9% HTC or deferred with a 4% HTC financial structure.
• Market studies are now only required for selected projects and will be collected as a post selection checklist item.

NOTE: For projects applying through the 4% HTC Only round, the market study will still be required at application/42M.

Purpose

• Reduced upfront application costs: By delaying the expense of a market study until projects are selected for funding.
• Simplified application process: To reduce the number of checklist items needed for application allowing applicants to focus on the required core elements.

Minnesota Housing remains committed to supporting your success. We believe this update will ease your journey and allow you to concentrate on bringing your affordable housing project to fruition.

Questions?

For questions about HTC visit the Housing Tax Credits webpage or email the Housing Tax Credit team at htc.mhfa@state.mn.us

In 2023, many of the Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC application documents transitioned from annual to biennial forms to align with the two-year Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) and Self-Scoring Worksheet. Refer to the instructions on each application form to identify if it is applicable for both 2023 and 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFPs/2024 and 2025 HTC funding rounds.

For application forms applicable to both 2023 and 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFPs/2024 and 2025 HTC funding rounds. Returning applicants from the 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 may reuse the same application forms for this 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Round 1. Some supporting documents from 2023 may also be resubmitted unless the checklist or scoring item has a specific timing requirement.

For application forms identified as an annual application form, a new application form and supporting document must be completed; outdated forms and/or supporting documents may have a negative impact on the project or considered ineligible for further processing.

Minnesota Housing is excited to implement a new tool, the estimated scores report. At Intent to Apply (ITA), prospective applicants will be required to input data, including the project location, estimated project type and the estimated score from the Self-Scoring Worksheet. Using all prospective applications’ ITA information, the Estimated Scores tab will populate.
The purpose of the estimated scores report is to assist prospective applicants in determining their application’s competitiveness, which may result in applicants restructuring their project’s characteristics and/or altering their application submittal timeline.
The estimated scores report is for information purposes only and are in no way binding or a guarantee of final scores or awards. Estimated scores are created by perspective applicants, not Minnesota Housing. Final scores will be validated by Minnesota Housing during the evaluation process.

Questions?

To learn more about determining the project type, see the Multifamily RFP Standards and attend the first and second sessions of the 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Round 1 Virtual Kickoff Event for more information.

Capital funding and program resources vary from year-to-year. Generally, the Multifamily Consolidated RFP offers the following: 

Housing Tax Credits are allocated twice per year through a competitive process:

• Round 1, this is Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC funding round, when much of our other funding is also available, and
• Round 2, a smaller round of HTC but uses the same application materials from the Multifamily Consolidated RFP; HTC Round 2 generally does not offer the deferred loans.

Amortizing mortgages and Bridges Loans, may include but are not limited to:

• Low and Moderate Income Rental (LMIR) Program
• Bridge Loan Product

Deferred Loans, may include but are not limited to:

• Economic Development and Housing Challenge (EDHC), including the American Indian set-aside
• Flexible Financing for Capital Costs (FFCC)
• Housing Infrastructure Program, including Housing infrastructure Appropriations (HIA) and Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB)
• Preservation Affordable Rental Investment Fund (PARIF)
• HOME Investment Partnership (HOME)
• National housing Trust Fund (NHTF)

HUD Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance Program

Funding Partner:

• Metropolitan Council Local Housing Incentives Account (LHIA)

The Metropolitan Council approved a total of $2.5 million for the Local Housing Incentives Account (LHIA). These grant dollars will be available in the multifamily deferred pool of financing in the 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP. Only projects located in participating cities that have enrolled in the Metropolitan Council’s Livable Communities Act program are eligible for these funds. Visit the LHIA website for more information about the program, including matching requirements, eligible uses and more.

How to be Considered for LHIA Grant Funds

• After logging into the Multifamily Customer Portal and creating a project within the 2025 Consolidated RFP/ 2026 HTC Round 1 funding round. 
• Go to the Characteristics tab and select the “Met Council’s LHIA Funds” characteristic. This will add the “General: Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” to your application checklist.  
• Reach out to your local government entity (city; county; or housing, economic, redevelopment, or port authority) in which the project is located, and request they serve as the applicant for LHIA funds. If they agree, they must complete the “Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” for the LHIA portion of funding. It’s best to approach the local government entity early in the process, as some need significant time to go through their approval process. For projects located in the City of Minneapolis, completing the Acknowledgement of Receptivity Form is required before receiving an award. Met Council and City of Minneapolis staff will coordinate with the applicant after the application has been submitted to verify eligibility and document receptivity.
• Upload the completed “Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” to your application checklist prior to your 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP / 2026 HTC Round 1 application submission.
• The “General: Met Council LHIA Receptivity Form” is required to be considered. The checklist item must be submitted with your 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP / 2026 HTC Round 1 application. If the checklist item is not submitted, applicants will not be considered for Met Council’s LHIA deferred funding. If the project is located in the City of Minneapolis, the Form will be completed after the application submission and before an award can be made.
• Applications for the Met Council’s LHIA Funds are due with the 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/ 2026 HTC Round 1 on Thursday, July 10 at 12:00 p.m.

What You Need to Know 

• LHIA may be awarded without Minnesota Housing funding. However, a complete 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP / 2026 HTC Round 1 application must be submitted to be considered.
• LHIA funds require that the local government entity (city; county; or housing, economic, redevelopment, or port authority) in which the project is located serve as the applicant for the LHIA portion of the funding. This is achieved by the local government completing a Receptivity Form on behalf of the developer/sponsor. The local government entity will serve as the grant recipient (Grantee) for the LHIA funds and may then re-grant the funds on to the developer/sponsor.
• Grantees (local government entity) must match LHIA awards on a dollar-for-dollar basis with a source of funding that is either directly from, or is designated by, the participating city, county, or development authority; sources include CDBG, HOME, TIF, Housing Trust Fund dollars, tax abatements, local housing revenue bonds, and the appraised value of donated land.
• LHIA grants support primarily hard costs related to the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Land acquisition costs may be an eligible use of grant funds. LHIA grants do not pay for work done before the grant is awarded with the exception of reimbursement of qualifying land acquisition costs incurred no more than 12 months prior to the date of award.
• For LHIA grant's eligible and ineligible uses, visit the Metropolitan Council website.

For LHIA information visit the Metropolitan Council or contact Emily Seddon, Senior Planner, at emily.seddon@metc.state.mn.us.

The policy and guidance documents listed are the foundation to the Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC funding rounds. All projects must meet the requirements of these policy and guidance documents. The program-specific resources listed are supplemental to the policy and guidance documents and may provide further requirements and/or guidance.

• 2025 Multifamily Request for Proposals (RFP) Standards
• 2026-2027 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP)
• 2026-2027 Self-Scoring Worksheet
• 2026-2027 Methodology Guide: 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC
  • Community Profiles - Interactive Geographic Scoring Map
• Scoring Guide: 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Funding Rounds
• 2025-2026 Underwriting Standards and Release Notes
• Building Standards
• Tax-Exempt Bond Information Guide
• Temporary Relocation Principles
• Multifamily Loan Programs and Housing Tax Credit Fee Schedule

• Deferred Loan and Grant Programs - Reference all program guides for each Capital Funding and Program Resources Offered. Though applicants generally do not request a specific program, each program may have different eligibilities and requirements.
• Housing Tax Credits - Awards and allocates federal tax credits to owners of qualified affordable rental housing projects. These HTCs, which offer a 10-year reduction in tax liability, are sold to investors in exchange for capital to build eligible affordable rental housing units in new construction, rehabilitation, or acquisition with rehabilitation.
• Preservation - Prioritizes properties for preservation that are at risk of losing federal rental assistance due to poor physical condition, diminished owner capacity or owner commitment, or at risk of conversion to market (opting out of the rental assistance program).
• Rent and Income Limits - HTC Rent and Income Limits, Fair Market Rents (FMR), Area Median Income (AMI)
• Supportive Housing - Ending Long-Term Homelessness Initiative, reports and studies on homelessness, service models, Minnesota Departments of Human Services (DHS) programs, Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS).

Two pre-applications are available for this 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1 and are now open in the Multifamily Customer Portal.

• HUD Section 811 Project-Based Rental Assistance (HUD Section 811 PRA) Program
• Innovative Construction Techniques (ICT) selection criterion

Pre-applications are optional and are not required. Only applicants interested in HUD Section 811 PRA or Innovative Construction Techniques selection criterion must apply. Refer to the details for each pre-application. Pre-applications must be submitted through the Multifamily Customer Portal.

The HUD Section 811 PRA Program is designed to expand the supply of supportive housing that promotes and facilitates community integration for people with significant and long-term disabilities. HUD Section 811 PRA Program funds will be available for units for people with disabilities through the 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1

Applicants must submit a HUD Section 811 PRA Program pre-application to determine eligibility prior to submitting a full 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1 application. Applicants will be notified about eligibility for the program prior to the application due date.

Pre-Application Materials for HUD Section 811 PRA:

1. HUD Section 811 PRA Pre-Application 
2. HUD Section 811 PRA Workbook

For more information about the program, visit Minnesota Housing’s Section 811 webpage.

Minnesota Housing is now offering a selection criterion, instead of a preference, for projects that will use ICT. Applicants are required to submit the narrative to be eligible to receive points for this selection criterion. The proposed projects must achieve, or pilot a technique to achieve, one or both of the following goals:

• Reduce total construction cost by at least 10%
• Reduce the time a project is under construction by at least 20%

All conditions a proposed project must meet are outlined in the 2026-2027 Self-Scoring Worksheet and the ICT Narrative.  Applicants will be notified about eligibility for the selection criterion prior to the application due date.  

Pre-Application Materials for ICT:

1. Innovative Construction Techniques Narrative

• Partially Supportive Housing: Less than 50% of the total units will serve HPH, PWD, or other homeless households*. 
• Primarily Supportive Housing: 50% or more of the total units will serve HPH, PWD, or other homeless households*.

*Other homeless households include (i) individuals leaving institutions that do not have a permanent residence or (ii) other homeless populations not referred by the Coordinated Entry System.

• Partially Supportive Housing Certification Form
• Notification to the Continuum of Care (CoC) and county or Tribal human services office - this is different from the CoC Confirmation form required for Primarily Supportive Housing and does not require a meeting with CoC

The required submission forms will be listed on the applicable checklist for Primarily Supportive Housing or Partially Supportive Housing and HUD Section 811 PRA Units in the Multifamily Customer Portal.

Important application materials updates can be found in the 'What's New!' section. Application materials may be downloaded but must be uploaded to the Multifamily Customer Portal.

*Tip: All Required checklist items will populate once applications, including Funding Partner(s) applications, are created in the Multifamily Customer Portal.

All development team members must have current qualification forms on file for each funding round for which they apply.  Qualification forms are valid for 12 months. Learn more about the qualification forms and how to submit them.

Minnesota Housing is dedicated to providing information and trainings to applicants. To learn more and register for 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1 trainings, view the “Event Calendar – Sign Up Today!” section. All trainings are recorded and posted as resources for applicants. 

Sign up to receive our eNews notifications when program changes and training opportunities are posted.

Trainings are a four-part series targeting applicants who are newer to or revisiting the Multifamily Consolidated RFP processes. Each training provides general information and is subject to change annually based on statutory requirements. For the most current process and procedures refer to the Multifamily Request for Proposal Standards. The purpose and goal of each training module is to provide a high-level understanding of each subject matter indicated.

• Introduction to the Multifamily Consolidated RFP (00:34:56) | Slides - provides a general understanding of the application timeline and steps to take to submit a full application;
• RFP Programs and Funding Sources (00:24:49) | Slides - provides a general understanding of the eligibility and requirements of each program and funding source offered;
• Project Teams (coming soon) - provides a general understanding to the subject matter experts evaluation during the feasibility review; and
• Selection and Funding Framework (coming soon) - provides a general understanding to the selection and funding considerations.

Minnesota Housing will continue to develop the training module series and will welcome topic and content suggestions to mhfa.consolidated.rfp@state.mn.us

Minnesota Housing hosted the virtual Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1 Kickoff Event. This event is not a replacement for project-specific technical assistance. Complete and submit a Technical Assistance Request Form.

This session covers who Minnesota Housing is and provide an introductory overview of the Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes the process, programs and funding resources and selection considerations. The session will conclude with Q&A. (Hosted April 16)
Recording (01:17:35) | Presentation Slides 

The 2026-2027 Self-Scoring Worksheet is applicable for both the 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 Housing Tax Credit Funding Rounds and the 2026 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2027 Housing Tax Credit Funding Rounds. The Self-Scoring Worksheet contains the selection criteria that applicants use to score their application in the Scoring Wizard found in the Multifamily Customer Portal. This training provides an overview of each selection criteria for the 2026-2027 Self-Scoring Worksheet and includes helpful tips and highlight changes from the 2024-2025 Self-Scoring Worksheet.

• 2026-2027 Self-Scoring Worksheet Training: (01:28:53) | Presentation Slides [PDF] - Held April 23, 2025

For Multifamily funding, the application process is facilitated through our Multifamily Customer Portal (Portal). If you do not have a Portal account, refer to the Multifamily Customer Portal Resources webpage so that you can learn how to access.

• Apply for Funding - Learn how to get started in the Portal. This tutorial also walks through how to find open funding rounds, create a project using the Apply for Funding Wizard and request project team access.
• Intent to Apply - Learn what the Intent to Apply is and the steps you need to complete to meet the deadline. This tutorial also covers how to withdraw a project from consideration.
• Project Checklist - Learn how to select project characteristics, manage checklist items, and submit a checklist.
• Scoring Wizard - Learn how to use the Scoring Wizard to complete the self-scoring process.

• Important updates to the 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1, including the Intent to Apply deadline, Underwriting Standards, and Scoring Wizard (May 2, 2025)
• The 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1 is open for applications! (April 9, 2025)
• 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1 estimated resources, early release, and other important information (March 20, 2025)

• 2025 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2026 HTC Round 1 coming soon! (February 27, 2025)

• Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1 Deadline Reminder: Applications are due July 11, 2024 at noon Central Time (July 9, 2024)
• Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1 Estimated Budget, Legislative Updates and More (June 21, 2024)
• Final Reminder for Pre-Applications, Intent to Apply Summary, Updates to Underwriting and Other Important Information (May 28, 2024)
• Final Reminder for the Intent to Apply and Request for Action Deadlines and Other Important Updates (May 6, 2024)
• 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Round 1 Intent to Apply Tips, HUD Section 811 PRA Program Technical Assistance Session Registration Information, Important Updates and Reminders (April 24, 2024)
• Last Chance to Register for the 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Round 1 Virtual Kickoff Events and Self-Scoring Worksheet Training! (April 15, 2024)
• 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Round 1 Application Release (April 10, 2024)
• 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Round 1 Early Release (March 20, 2024)
• 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP and HTC Round 1 Application Dates, Save the Dates for Trainings and Application Materials Information (March 5, 2024)
• Final Reminder: 2024 HTC Round 2 Applications Due and 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2025 HTC Round 1 Updates (February 20, 2024)
• Final Reminder for HUD Section 811 PRA Program Pre-Application Deadline, Selections and Final Scores for 2023 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/2024 HTC Round 1 Now Available and Other Updates and Reminders (February 6, 2024)
• 2024 HTC Round 2 Reminders, Market Study Updates and 2024 Multifamily Consolidated RFP/HTC Round 1 Information (January 18, 2024)