The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) is accepting applications for funding under the Pandemic Relief Housing Program. The application cycle will open Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. CT and will close on Monday, October 23, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. CT. All interested applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to apply by Monday, August 28, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. CT. A Letter of Intent is required for the application to be considered for funding.
The Pandemic Relief Housing Program is an $8 million grant program funded in 2022 by LB1014 using Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) through the federal American Recovery Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).
At least 50 percent of the funds distributed must be awarded to eligible organizations with projects located in rural counties. The remaining allocation for the third application cycle makes available $2,000,000 for rural communities. No remaining funds may be allocated to urban communities during the third application cycle.
Eligible Applicants
The Pandemic Relief Housing Program provides subaward funding to eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to develop affordable housing for income-qualifying households in a disproportionately impacted county or a qualified census tract, or for refugee and other such immigrant households. Income-qualifying households must have a total household income less than or equal to 185% of the most recent poverty guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Housing projects must be for income-qualifying residents and located in a disproportionately impacted county, listed below, or within a qualified census tract (QCT), as defined in 26 USC § 42(d)(5)(B)(ii)(I). A map of Nebraska QCTs is available at https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/pandemic-relief-housing-program/.
| Arthur County | Deuel County | Hooker County | Phelps County |
| Boone County | Dixon County | Howard County | Polk County |
| Box Butte County | Dundy County | Jefferson County | Red Willow County |
| Boyd County | Franklin County | Kimball County | Richardson County |
| Brown County | Frontier County | Lincoln County | Scotts Bluff County |
| Butler County | Gage County | Logan County | Sherman County |
| Cherry County | Garden County | Merrick County | Valley County |
| Cheyenne County | Greeley County | Morrill County | Wayne County |
| Custer County | Harlan County | Nemaha County | Webster County |
| Dakota County | Holt County | Pawnee County | Wheeler County |
| Dawes County |
Housing developed by this program may serve refugees and other such immigrants exclusively. These projects are not subject to the requirement to be located within a QCT or disproportionately impacted county. A refugee is any person who is located outside the United States; is of special humanitarian concern to the United States; demonstrates their persecution or fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; is not firmly resettled in another county; and is admissible to the United States, in accordance with 8 U.S.C. § 101(a)42. “Other such immigrants” are defined as any other persons who have a recognized immigration status enumerated within the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. Chapter 12) that validates residency within the United States.
Project Activities
Eligible organizations may apply for funding through this program for the following project activities:
- Rental housing – construction, acquisition, and/or rehabilitation of single- or multi-family rental housing units.
- Homeowner rehabilitation – rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing units.
- Homebuyer projects – homebuyer assistance, construction, acquisition, and/or rehabilitation of housing units for homebuyers.
Letters of Intent for this application cycle are required and are due August 28, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. CT.
Complete applications are due October 23, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. CT.
Program requirements and more information about the Pandemic Relief Housing Program can be found at: https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/pandemic-relief-housing-program/.
Applications may be submitted electronically through DED’s Grant Management System (AmpliFund) at any time after the application live date and on or before the application due date. The application can be found at: https://ne.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/750afc1a-a317-424d-9c0c-26b7200fc9c5.
For additional information, contact Brittany Piper, Housing Specialist, at 402-310-4782 or brittany.piper@nebraska.gov.