§92.2. Definitions. — Inbound Citations

(C) A creditor designated as a Community Housing Development Organization provided that the creditor has entered into a commitment with a participating jurisdiction and is undertaking a project under the HOME program, pursuant to the provisions of 24 CFR 92.300(a), and as the terms community housing development organization, commitment, participating jurisdiction, and project are defined under 24 CFR 92.2; or

(1) The requirements of this subpart shall not apply to HOME funds which are committed to a specific project in accordance with § 92.2 of this title before September 15, 2000. Such projects shall be subject to the requirements of § 92.355 of this title that were in effect at the time of project commitment, or the requirements of this subpart.

(i) The requirements of this subpart shall not apply to funds which are committed in accordance with § 92.2 of this title before September 15, 2000; and

(2) The requirements of this subpart shall not apply to HOME funds which are committed to a specific project in accordance with § 92.2 of this title before September 15, 2000. Such projects shall be subject to the requirements of § 92.355 of this title that were in effect at the time of project commitment or the requirements of this subpart.

(3) Before the dates described in this definition, if HUD or the grantee determine that the displacement was a direct result of conversion or demolition in connection with an activity subject to this subpart for which financial assistance has been requested and is thereafter approved.

HCD Act of 1974 means the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).

Lower-income dwelling unit means a dwelling unit with a market rent (including utility costs) that does not exceed the applicable Fair Market Rent (FMR) for existing housing established under 24 CFR part 888.

Lower-income person means, as appropriate, a “low and moderate income person” as that term is defined in § 570.3 of this title, or a “low-income family” as that term is defined in § 92.2 of this title.

Recipient means CDBG grantee, UDAG grantee, or the HOME participating jurisdiction.

Standard condition and substandard condition suitable for rehabilitation have the meaning the recipient has established for those terms in its HUD-approved consolidated plan pursuant to 24 CFR part 91. In the case of a unit of general local government funded by a State, either the State's definitions for those terms or the definitions adopted by the unit of general local government for this purpose shall apply.

Vacant occupiable dwelling unit means a vacant dwelling unit that is in a standard condition; a vacant dwelling unit that is in a substandard condition, but is suitable for rehabilitation; or a dwelling unit in any condition that has been occupied (except by a squatter) at any time within the period beginning 3 months before the date of execution of the agreement by the recipient covering the rehabilitation or demolition.

(2) Acquisition of vacant land or demolition may only be undertaken for a project that will provide affordable housing and meets the requirements for a specific local project in paragraph (2)(i) of the definition of “commitment” in § 92.2.

(c) An organization that meets the definition of “community housing development organization” in § 92.2, except for the requirements in paragraph (9) of the definition, may receive HOME funds for operating expenses in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section in order to develop demonstrated capacity and qualify as a community housing development organization.

(3) The participating jurisdiction may permit the Community Land Trust, as defined in § 92.2, that originally developed the HOME-assisted housing, to exercise a purchase option, right of first refusal, or other preemptive right to obtain ownership of the housing to preserve affordability, including but not limited to the right to purchase the housing in lieu of foreclosure, under the following conditions:

(i) The Community Land Trust obtains ownership of the housing, subject to existing HOME affordability restrictions;

(ii) The housing must be resold to an eligible homebuyer in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section within 12 months;

(iii) The period of affordability for the eligible homebuyer is equal to the remaining period of affordability of the former homeowner, unless the participating jurisdiction provides additional HOME funds to directly assist the eligible homebuyer in accordance with subparagraph (b)(3)(iv) below (i.e., homeownership assistance); and,

(iv) The participating jurisdiction may not provide additional HOME funds to the Community Land Trust to obtain ownership, rehabilitate the housing, own/hold the housing pending resale to the next homebuyer, or provide homeownership assistance to the next eligible homebuyer. The participating jurisdiction may provide homeownership assistance to the next eligible homebuyer and the period of affordability shall be based upon the homeownership assistance provided to the homebuyer, in accordance with subparagraphs (b)(1)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv) of this section.

(1) Funds are reserved when a participating jurisdiction enters into a written agreement with the community housing development organization (or project owner as described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section) committing the funds to a specific local project in accordance with paragraph (2) of the definition of “commitment” in § 92.2.

(b) Notwithstanding the definition of “community land trust” in § 92.2, HUD may provide housing education and organizational support assistance under this section to a community land trust only if the following requirements are met:

(1) The community land trust meets the definition of a “community housing development organization” at § 92.2, except for the requirements in paragraphs (9) and (10) of the definition.

(2) The community land trust is established to complete the activities in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.

(i) Acquires land to hold in perpetuity and primarily for conveyance under long-term ground leases;

(ii) Transfers ownership of any structural improvements located on such leased land to the lessees; and

(iii) Retains a preemptive option to purchase any such structural improvement at a price determined by formula that is designed to ensure that the improvement remains affordable to low- and moderate-income families in perpetuity;

(4) The community land trust's corporate membership is open to residents of a particular geographic area, as specified in the organization's bylaws; and

(i) Includes a majority of members who are elected by the corporate membership; and

(ii) Is composed of equal numbers of lessees pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(ii), members who are not lessees, and any other category of persons described in the organization's bylaws.

(3) The participating jurisdiction may preliminarily award HOME funds for a proposed project, contingent on conditions such as obtaining other financing for the project. This preliminary award is not a commitment to a project. The written agreement committing the HOME funds to the project must meet the requirements of “commit to a specific local project” in the definition of “commitment” in § 92.2. The HOME assistance must be provided directly to the owner under the terms and conditions of a written agreement that complies with the requirements of this part and contains the following:

(i) The agreement between the participating jurisdiction and a for-profit or nonprofit housing owner must include the address of the project or the legal description of the property if a street address has not been assigned to the property, the specific amount and use of the HOME funds and other funds for the project, including the tasks to be performed for the project, a schedule for completing the tasks and the project, and a complete budget. These items must be in sufficient detail to provide a sound basis for the participating jurisdiction to effectively monitor performance under the agreement to achieve project completion and compliance with the HOME requirements. If HOME funds are being used to reimburse costs incurred not more than 24 months before the date that the HOME funds are committed to the project, the written agreement must explicitly permit the use of HOME funds for costs described in § 92.206(d)(1). The agreement must state that any and all repayments made by the owner on HOME assistance (e.g., grants or loans) must be remitted to the participating jurisdiction, unless the participating jurisdiction permits a subrecipient or State recipient to retain the funds.

(ii) The agreement must require housing assisted with HOME funds to meet the affordability requirements of § 92.252 or § 92.254, as applicable, and must require repayment of the funds if the housing does not meet the affordability requirements for the specified period of affordability. The agreement must require a means of enforcement of the affordability requirements by the participating jurisdiction and the intended beneficiaries. The means of enforcement may include liens on real property, deed or use restrictions, a recorded agreement restricting the use of the property, covenants running with the land, or other mechanisms approved by HUD in writing, under which the participating jurisdiction has the right to require specific performance.

(A) If an owner is undertaking a rental project, the agreement must establish the initial rents, the procedures for rent increases pursuant to § 92.252(e)(2), the number of HOME units, the size of the HOME units, the designation of the HOME units as fixed or floating, and include the requirement that the owner provide the address (e.g., street address and apartment number) of each HOME unit no later than the time of initial occupancy. In accordance with § 92.252(g), the written agreement must specify the option in § 92.203(b)(1) that the participating jurisdiction selected for calculating annual income.

(B) If the owner is undertaking a homeownership project for sale to homebuyers in accordance with § 92.254(a), the agreement must set forth the resale or recapture requirements that must be imposed on the housing, the sales price or the basis upon which the sales price will be determined, and the disposition of the sales proceeds. Recaptured funds must be returned to the participating jurisdiction. If the owner is a Community Land Trust, as defined in § 92.2, the Community Land Trust may preserve affordability in accordance with § 92.254.

(iii) As applicable and in accordance with the type of project assisted, the agreement must require compliance with the project requirements in subpart F of this part, including compliance with tenant protections in 24 CFR 92.253. The agreement may permit the owner to limit eligibility or give a preference to a particular segment of the population in accordance with § 92.253(e).

(iv) The agreement must require the housing to meet the property requirements as specified in § 92.251. The agreement must also require owners of rental housing assisted with HOME funds to maintain the housing in compliance with § 92.251 for the duration of the period of affordability.

(v) The agreement must require the owner to carry out each project in compliance with the following requirements of subpart H of this part:

(A) The agreement must specify the owner's affirmative marketing responsibilities as enumerated by the participating jurisdiction in accordance with § 92.351.

(B) The Federal and nondiscrimination requirements in § 92.350.

(C) Any displacement, relocation, and acquisition requirements imposed by the participating jurisdiction consistent with § 92.353.

(D) The labor requirements in § 92.354.

(E) The conflict of interest provisions prescribed in § 92.356(f).

(F) If HOME funds are being provided to develop rental housing, the agreement must set forth all obligations the participating jurisdiction imposes on the owner in order to meet the VAWA requirements under § 92.359, including the owner's notice obligations and owner obligations under the emergency transfer plan.

(vi) The agreement must specify the particular records that must be maintained and the information or reports that must be submitted in order to assist the participating jurisdiction in meeting its recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The written agreement must require the owner of rental housing to annually provide the participating jurisdiction with information on rents (including rental amounts charged to the tenant), and occupancy of HOME-assisted units to demonstrate compliance with § 92.252. If the rental housing project has floating HOME units, the written agreement must require that the owner provide the participating jurisdiction with information regarding unit substitution and filling vacancies so that the project remains in compliance with § 92.252. The agreement must specify the reporting requirements (including copies of financial statements) to enable the participating jurisdiction to determine the financial condition (and continued financial viability) of the rental project.

(vii) The agreement must specify remedies for breach of the provisions of the written agreement. The agreement must require a means of enforcement of the affordability requirements by the participating jurisdiction and the intended beneficiaries. The means of enforcement may include liens on real property, deed or use restrictions, a recorded agreement restricting the use of the property, covenants running with the land, or other mechanisms approved by HUD in writing, under which the participating jurisdiction has the right to require specific performance.

(viii) The agreement must specify that the owner may not request disbursement of funds under the agreement until the funds are needed for payment of eligible costs. The amount of each request must be limited to the amount needed.

(ix) The agreement must specify the duration of the agreement. If the housing assisted under this agreement is rental housing, the agreement must be in effect through the period of affordability required by the participating jurisdiction under § 92.252. If the housing assisted under this agreement is homeownership housing, the agreement must be in effect at least until completion of the project and ownership by the low-income family.

(x) The agreement must state the fees that may be charged by the owner in accordance with § 92.214(b)(4) and prohibit owners from charging tenants for any of the prohibited charges listed in § 92.214(b), including but not limited to fees that are not customarily charged in rental housing, such as laundry room access fees. The agreement must also prohibit the owner undertaking a homeownership project from charging servicing, origination, processing, inspection, or other fees for the costs of providing homeownership assistance.

(iii) Is a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) under 24 CFR 92.2, designated as a CHDO by the HOME Investment Partnerships program participating jurisdiction, with a geographic area of operation of no more than one neighborhood, and has received HOME funds under 24 CFR 92.300 or is expected to receive HOME funds as described in and documented in accordance with 24 CFR 92.300(e).

(iii) Is a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) under 24 CFR 92.2, designated as a CHDO by the HOME Investment Partnerships program participating jurisdiction, with a geographic area of operation of no more than one neighborhood, and has received HOME funds under 24 CFR 92.300 or is expected to receive HOME funds as described in and documented in accordance with 24 CFR 92.300(e); or

(C) A creditor designated as a Community Housing Development Organization provided that the creditor has entered into a commitment with a participating jurisdiction and is undertaking a project under the HOME program, pursuant to the provisions of 24 CFR 92.300(a), and as the terms community housing development organization, commitment, participating jurisdiction, and project are defined under 24 CFR 92.2; or