(1) During each calendar year in which funds from the housing trust fund or other legislative appropriations are available for use by the department for the affordable housing program, the department must announce to all known interested parties, and on its website, a grant and loan application period of at least 60 days' duration. This announcement must be made as often as the director deems appropriate for proper utilization of resources. The department must then promptly grant as many applications as will utilize available funds less appropriate administrative costs of the department as provided in RCW
43.185A.140.
(2) In awarding funds under this chapter, the department must:
(a) Provide for a geographic distribution on a statewide basis; and
(b) Consider the total cost and per-unit cost of each project for which an application is submitted for funding, as compared to similar housing projects constructed or renovated within the same geographic area.
(3) All projects and activities must be evaluated by some or all of the criteria under subsection (6) of this section, and similar projects and activities shall be evaluated under the same criteria.
(4) The department must use a separate application form for applications to provide homeownership opportunities and evaluate homeownership project applications as allowed under chapter
43.185A RCW.
(5) The department must collaborate with public entities that finance affordable housing, including the housing finance commission, cities, and counties, in conducting joint application reviews and coordinate funding decisions in a timely manner.
(6) The department must give preference for applications based on some or all of the criteria under this subsection, and similar projects and activities must be evaluated under the same criteria:
(a) The degree of leveraging of other funds that will occur;
(b) The degree of commitment from programs to provide necessary habilitation and support services for projects focusing on special needs populations;
(c) Recipient contributions to total project costs, including allied contributions from other sources such as professional, craft and trade services, and lender interest rate subsidies;
(d) Local government project contributions in the form of infrastructure improvements, and others;
(e) Projects that encourage ownership, management, and other project-related responsibility opportunities;
(f) Projects that demonstrate a strong probability of serving the original target group or income level for a period of at least 40 years;
(g) The applicant has the demonstrated ability, stability and resources to implement the project;
(h) Projects which demonstrate serving the greatest need;
(i) Projects that provide housing for persons and families with the lowest incomes;
(j) Projects serving special needs populations which fulfill statutory mandates to develop community housing;
(k) Project location and access to employment centers in the region or area;
(l) Projects that provide employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged youth under a youthbuild or youthbuild-type program as defined in RCW
50.72.020;
(m) Project location and access to available public transportation services;
(n) Projects involving collaborative partnerships between local school districts and either public housing authorities or nonprofit housing providers, that help children of low-income families succeed in school. To receive this preference, the local school district must provide an opportunity for community members to offer input on the proposed project at the first scheduled school board meeting following submission of the grant application to the department;
(o) The degree of funding that has already been committed to the project by nonstate entities;
(p) Projects that demonstrate a strong readiness to proceed to construction; and
(q) Projects that include a licensed early learning facility.
(7) Once the department has determined the prioritization of applications, the department must award funding projects at a sufficient level to complete the financing package necessary for an applicant to move forward with the affordable housing project.
(8) The department may not establish a maximum per-applicant award.