825 R.I. Code R. 825-RICR-30-00-1.5

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 825-RICR-30-00-1.5 - APPLICATION PROCESS

A. Requests for Proposals. The Corporation will request Proposals from Housing Sponsors at such times as the Corporation may establish from time to time by Program Bulletin. With the approval of the Corporation, the review and approval of Proposals submitted during a particular Funding Period may be carried over into a future Funding Period or periods. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation will consider Proposals submitted at any time and from time to time after the expiration of a Funding Period to the extent that funds allocated to such period are still available, provided such Proposals otherwise comply with this Part.

B. Receipt of Proposals. Proposals may be submitted to the Corporation during Regular Business Hours. A Proposal shall be deemed received as of the date the Corporation determines that the Proposal contains the information necessary to conduct the Corporation's preliminary review.

C. Review of Proposals and Evaluation Criteria.

1. The Corporation seeks to maximize the availability of affordable rental housing in the State of Rhode Island and to use monies allocated for that purpose efficiently. Accordingly, the Corporation will give priority to Proposals which:

a. utilize other available funding resources such as Community Development Block Grants, Stuart McKinney Funds and other federal funds, foundation grants and grants of real estate by state and municipal governments and agencies;

b. request less than the maximum Targeted Loan Fund Loan allowable under this Part and Program Bulletins;

c. utilize the Tax Credit (defined in § 1.11 of this Part) in a cost-effective manner;

d. creatively respond to the needs of Low Income Persons or Families that are physically handicapped;

e. provide rental housing to families rather than individuals in furtherance of the Corporation's Program goals, recognizing that such a goal may not be applicable to Assisted Living Facilities;

f. are located in areas that do not have low income housing;

g. are competitive on a per unit development cost basis; and

h. contain extended long-term affordability provisions.

2. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, modify or supplement the priorities and evaluation criteria set forth herein from time to time by Program Bulletin.

D. Use of Forms; Contents of the Proposal.

1. The Corporation may from time to time designate, make available and require Housing Sponsors to use Corporation forms in connection with a Proposal. Housing Sponsors seeking financing under the Program shall submit to the Corporation the following information in triplicate:

a. The name, address and telephone number of the Housing Sponsor together with the name, title and telephone number of the individual(s) designated to correspond and communicate with the Corporation in connection with the Proposal;

b. Certified copies of the organizational documents of the Housing Sponsor including its enabling legislation, constitution, Articles of Association or Incorporation and by-laws, declaration of trust, partnership, limited partnership or joint venture agreement, as the case may be, together with all amendments thereto;

c. Credit reports of the general contractor and of each Affiliated Person of the Housing Sponsor;

d. Certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors, Trustees or other managing body of the Housing Sponsor authorizing the Development and the submission of the Proposal to the Corporation;

e. A copy of the most recently available audited annual financial statements of the Housing Sponsor prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and duly certified by a licensed certified public accountant covering a period ending within twelve (12) months prior to the date submitted.

f. Personal financial statements of each Affiliated Person of the Housing Sponsor;

g. Detailed pro forma financial information of the Development including an operating budget which clearly sets forth, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, the sources and applications of Development funds;

h. A proposed construction timetable;

i. A disbursement schedule;

j. A construction cost breakdown;

k. A copy of the proposed development plans and specifications, including without limitation, the site plan, location map, soil and foundation investigation report and, if required by the Corporation, a structural report;

l. Copies of the Development survey and the surveyor's report;

m. Resumes of the Housing Sponsor, each Affiliated Person of the Housing Sponsor and of any architects, contractors, engineers and attorneys or other third parties on the development team setting forth all previous housing experience;

n. Copies of all market data collected by the Housing Sponsor, tenant selection plan, housing, management plan and questionnaire and evidence of compliance with federal and state fair housing, fair rental and landlord/tenant laws;

o. Evidence that the Development will comply with applicable zoning, building and fire codes and ordinances and will not be located in a wetland or flood hazard area;

p. Title report with respect to the Development evidencing good and marketable title;

q. A utility cost analysis together with certifications from authorities providing electricity, waste removal, water and heat as to their ability to provide such services to the Development;

r. With respect to Assisted Living Facilities, copies of all contracts for (or, if such contracts have not yet been entered into, the Housing Sponsor's plans for) the provision of Services to the Development, a lease-up/absorption analysis, and a copy of the license issued by the Rhode Island Department of Health with respect to the Development, if required;

s. Other information as shall in the discretion of the Corporation be required to establish that the requirements of the Tax Act have been satisfied; and

t. With respect to applications for construction loans funded from the Corporation's reserves, evidence satisfactory to the Corporation of a commitment or commitments for permanent financing.

2. In addition, the Corporation may require each Housing Sponsor to submit evidence of its ability to complete the Development in a timely manner. To the extent permitted by law, the Corporation may obtain or require additional background information respecting the character of the Housing Sponsor and any Affiliated Person of the Housing Sponsor.

3. The Corporation reserves the right to waive any of the foregoing requirements in any particular case, and to supplement any of the foregoing requirements from time to time by Program Bulletin. Any information or materials submitted must be in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation in all respects. The Corporation shall, by Program Bulletin, establish a timetable for the submission of information required to be contained in a Proposal.

E. Review by Staff; Approval of Board of Commissioners.

Each Housing Sponsor shall submit the information and materials required by the Corporation to evaluate the Development. Upon receipt of those materials required by the Corporation to commence the review process, the Corporation shall notify the municipality where the Development is or will be located. Upon completion of its review, Corporation staff shall recommend to the Board of Commissioners, for either construction loan or permanent financing or both, those Developments which best satisfy the criteria set forth in § 1.5(C) of this Part hereof and are economically feasible.

F. Developments to be Financed with Bonds or Other Instruments of the Corporation.

1. Except as modified hereby, the procedures set forth in § 1.5(E) of this Part shall apply to Housing Sponsors seeking to finance Developments through the issuance of the Corporation's bonds or other debt instruments. Such Housing Sponsors shall submit the information and materials required by the Corporation to make an initial evaluation of the Development. If it shall initially approve the Development, the Board shall adopt a resolution evidencing the Corporation's intent to issue bonds or other instruments to finance the Development, if necessary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the adoption of such resolution shall not constitute the Corporation's binding commitment to finance the Development.

2. Following the issuance of the resolution, Corporation staff shall meet with such Housing Sponsor to review further processing requirements and to obtain any further information and documentation not previously submitted. Upon satisfaction of such requirements and submission of the required documentation, staff shall make final recommendations to the Board to issue a commitment to such Housing Sponsor. The commitment may be conditioned on the Corporation's ability to issue bonds or other instruments at prevailing market rates and may contain such other terms and conditions as the Board of Commissioners may, in its sole discretion, deem appropriate. Upon satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the commitment within the time period contained therein, there shall be an initial closing (the "Initial Closing") for the development, construction and/or rehabilitation phase of the Development at which the parties will execute certain documents, instruments and agreements. After the development, construction and/or rehabilitation phase has been completed to the satisfaction of the Corporation, there shall be a finalization of the loan transaction (the "Final Closing").

G. Rejection. The Corporation shall advise any Housing Sponsor, in writing, that has been rejected under the Program.

825 R.I. Code R. 825-RICR-30-00-1.5