Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)

This SHOP NOFA announces the availability of $10,000,000 in FY2015 SHOP Grant funds to be awarded to national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia to facilitate and encourage innovative homeownership opportunities on a national, geographically diverse basis through the provision of self-help homeownership housing programs. Applicants must propose to use a significant amount of SHOP Grant funds in at least two states. Individuals are not eligible to apply for SHOP Grant funds. SHOP Grant funds must be used for land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and for reasonable and necessary planning, administration and management costs (not to exceed 20 percent). The construction or rehabilitation costs of each SHOP unit must be funded with other leveraged public and private funds. The average SHOP Grant expenditure for the combined costs of land acquisition and infrastructure improvements must not exceed $15,000 per SHOP unit. SHOP units must be decent, safe, and sanitary non-luxury dwellings that comply with state and local codes, ordinances, and zoning requirements, and with all other SHOP requirements, including but not limited to, the requirements for energy-efficiency, water conservation and accessibility). The SHOP units must be sold to homebuyers at prices below the prevailing market price. Homebuyers must be low-income and must contribute a significant amount of sweat equity towards the development of the SHOP units. A homebuyer’s sweat equity contribution must not be mortgaged or otherwise restricted upon future sale of the SHOP unit. Volunteer labor is also required SHOP Grantees may award SHOP Grant funds to local non-profit affiliate organizations to carry out the Grantee’s SHOP program. These affiliate organizations must be located within the Grantee’s service area.