OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency Board of Trustees voted Tuesday, during a specially called meeting, to lift the temporary suspension of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
The program was paused in March pending the outcome of House Bill 1823, which would have affected program implementation. The legislation did not pass.
Since joining OHFA’s portfolio in 1998, the HOME program has supported the creation of 6,671 for‑sale and rental housing units and has provided down payment assistance to 3,099 homebuyers.
During the meeting, trustees also approved a grant to Neighborhood Housing Services Oklahoma. The organization will use the funds to provide down payment assistance to 10 homebuyers in Cleveland, Logan, and Pottawatomie counties.
"We look forward to once again working alongside our development partners through the HOME program as they work to create vital affordable housing opportunities across the state," said Mike Buhl, chairman of the OHFA Board of Trustees.
Through the HOME program, OHFA provides grants to non-profit organizations, Public Housing Authorities, Community Housing Development Organizations, local or tribal governments, and private developers. The grants may be utilized to assist low-income residents with housing needs through the new construction or acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable rental and for-sale housing. Grants may also be used to provide down payment assistance and rental assistance.
OHFA operates as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s state participating jurisdiction. The cities of Oklahoma City, Lawton, Norman, Tulsa and the Tulsa County HOME Consortium also administer the program. Therefore, OHFA does not provide HOME funding in those areas.
