The Access Alliance FAQ's
 What Is the Access Alliance?
The Access Alliance is a cooperative alliance among: banks, community dev elopement organizations, developers, and law firms.
What Are the Goals of the Access Alliance?
The Access Alliance was formed to assist NAHRO housing and community development agency members:
- Expand the nation's supply of housing that is affordable to families of low- and moderate-income;
- Revitalize neighborhoods through development, acquisition and preservation of viable, affordable housing and community improvements without relying solely on federal programs and funding; and
- Create mixed commercial and residential developments, as well as commercial developments to further local revitalization goals.
How Will the Access Alliance Achieve This?
The Access Alliance will achieve its goals through the coordinated delivery of:
- Private capital at competitive rates and terms;
- State-of-the-art education and technical assistance;
- Financial products that respond to changing needs in the affordable housing and community development industry; and
- Best practices information;
What Is the Size and Scope of this Effort?
The Access Alliance is a national, multi-year effort which began in 2001 and is ongoing.
What Types of Projects Can the Access Alliance Help Fund?
The Access Alliance gives qualified housing and community development agencies access to capital to meet a variety of local development needs including:
- Developing/expanding affordable rental housing, special needs housing and related services;
- Preserving affordable housing;
- Acquiring vacant land, building and other facilities to develop as affordable housing and/or commercial use;
- Developing home ownership programs;
- Revitalizing neighborhoods; and
- Enhancing urban economic development through retail revitalization, quality mixed-use developments, and initiatives that expand family-wage jobs and other related programs.
Who Can Participate?
Only NAHRO Housing and Community Development Agency members are eligible to participate in the Access Alliance. Generally, agencies should be "change ready," meaning that they have:
- a commitment to repositioning or reinventing affordable housing;
- a commitment to the creation, acquisition, or preservation of non-public housing assets;
- a specifically identified housing development concept or acquisition target;
- support from state and/or local government in this endeavor;
- evidence of financial feasibility/readiness to proceed;
- the capacity to participate in leveraged financing or the willingness to grow that capacity; and stable, professional leadership.
Agencies that are interested in moving forward but that may not be "change ready" may be eligible for assistance in building their capacity for future efforts.
Who Do I Contact if I Have Questions?
|
