Community Development

The Community Development Division (CDD) is responsible for the planning activities that guide funding for community and economic development and affordable housing initiatives, program administration in compliance with funding regulations, deployment of funding, and project management associated with the following programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), HOME Investment Partnership program, Documentary Stamp Surtax (Surtax) and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program, Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), Development Inflation Adjustment Fund (DIAF), Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) and the Housing Development Action Grant (HODAG) program. Housed within this Division, the Planning Unit prepares competitive solicitations known as Request for Applications (RFAs), the County's U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Five‐Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan(s), the HUD Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER), the state's Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP).

CD plans for and oversees the processes required for the management of awarded projects, which are carried out though activities performed by community partners, from contract development through to project completion. Community development activities include affordable housing development, housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, rental assistance, job creation, small business expansion, technical assistance to small businesses, lending, historic preservation, infrastructure improvements, capital improvements to public facilities, and public services.

GAP Financing
HCD competitively solicits applications through an annual Request for Application (RFA) process to deploy GAP funding for affordable multifamily rental housing construction and rehabilitation projects. Development categories include Multifamily Countywide, Elderly Housing Developments, Public Housing/Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), Faith-Based Developments, and Small Developments. There is also a set aside for HOME CHDO and HOME CHDO Operating Support.

GAP funding is financed by the following programs:
- Surtax
- SHIP
- HOME
Applications for GAP funding shall be limited to a maximum of $5,000,000 for a single application. Applications cannot have gaps that exceed $5,000,000. GAP funding may not represent more than 25% of the total project cost.

NOAH Loan
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) refers to unsubsidized, privately owned residential properties that are lower in cost because they are older and usually poorly maintained. Rents charged for NOAH multifamily units are typically lower than those charged at market-rate units due to their age, condition, outdated design and location. However, many NOAH properties are desirable to tenants due to their location within neighborhoods that are convenient to places of work, worship, transportation hubs, and because the rent is affordable. South Florida's expensive and highly competitive real estate market, coupled with low wages, has led to a housing affordability crisis. Miami-Dade County is incentivizing the preservation and rehabilitation of existing NOAH rental units by providing flexible rehabilitation financing to owners of existing single-family homes, duplexes or small rental housing developments.
HCD is solicits applications under a Request for Application (RFA) process to fund homeownership construction activities with Documentary Stamp Surtax (Surtax) and State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds. The units developed under this program can be sold to qualified buyers whose income does not exceed 140% of the area median income. This countywide program targets homeownership projects that may include new construction or rehabilitation and redevelopment with or without acquisition. Both for profit and nonprofit developers are encouraged to participate.

HCD has been authorized through Ordinance number 19-121 to solicit projects for homeownership activities located on county parcels through an open and rolling application process that will be reviewed and recommended for approval by HCD staff. Information on the program and how to apply can be found at:
- Request for Applications, Proposals and Qualifications (RFA, RFP, RFQ)
A conditional loan commitment approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for development activity will be provided to awardees based upon the application submitted by awardees in response to this Request for Applications. Awardees must close on projects within six months of the issuance of the conditional loan commitment.
- Business Incubator Assistance Program
- Micro-Enterprise Lending
- Special Economic Development (SPED)
  - This program will select Special Economic Development (SPED) projects, as described in the CDBG regulations found at 24 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 570 (CDBG Regulations), specifically at 24 C.F.R. 570.203. The proposed project must create one job per every $35,000 of grant/loan funding, at least 51 percent of the jobs created must employ low-to-moderate income persons. SPED Grant Awards may not exceed $100,000 and the applicant’s budget cannot exceed $100,000 per application. Please note that these funds should be identified as GAP funding in all funding applications. GAP funding is the difference between existing financing commitments, including owner equity, for a project and the overall project cost. SPED-CDBG Provides funding in the form of forgivable loans, not to exceed $100,000, to small businesses that are expanding, with the goal of creating jobs.
  - Inquires can be emailed to [email protected]
- Technical Assistance to Small Businesses (EDTA)
The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program provides funding to:
- Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street
- Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families
- Help operate these shelters
- Provide essential services to shelter residents
- Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families
- Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless
Funding awarded for ESG services must be utilized by eligible program participants residing in Miami- Dade County. Applicants must follow the CoC’s Coordinated Entry Process. Emergency Shelters will receive referrals from CoC Access Points. For ESG Homeless Prevention, subrecipients must incorporate the CoC’s Homeless Prevention Common Application. Referrals for ESG Rapid Rehousing must come from the CoC’s Housing Coordinator.
- Rapid-Rehousing
- Tenant Based Rental Assistance