The Access Alliance FAQ's
What Is the Access Alliance?
The Access Alliance is a cooperative alliance among:
• The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
• Bank of America
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
• National Equity Fund (NEF)
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 theAccess 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 homeownership 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?
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