Project Turnkey 2.0
Thank you for your interest in Project Turnkey 2.0. The application window is re-opened until August 19. Applicants will receive a response from OCF by August 30, 2022.
In the face of Oregon’s ongoing housing crisis, the Oregon Legislature allocated $50 million for a second round of Project Turnkey in 2022. The funds will be administered by Oregon Community Foundation through a competitive grant application, with the goal of providing award funds as a strategic investment to support communities with short-term emergency shelter that can be converted to permanent housing in the long term.
Eligible applicants include local entities (cities, counties, housing authorities) and nonprofit organizations. Grantees will be selected through an application and due diligence process, with guidance from a diverse advisory committee of state, local, and community stakeholders. Projects selected for grants are community centered and equity focused and support the most vulnerable of unhoused community members.
Eligibility
Eligible Regions
This application is open statewide to all 36 Oregon counties.
Eligible Entities
Eligible applicants include local government entities such as cities, counties, housing authorities, or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Co-applicants comprised of two entities are allowed. In cases of co-applicants (one as owner/one as operator), the intended owner of the proposed property should serve as the primary applicant on the RFA.
In order to qualify for a grant an organization must:
- Be physically located in and serve populations in Oregon;
- Intend to acquire a property located in the Eligible Regions defined above;
- Have been in operation since at least October of 2020;
- Have registered government or not-for-profit status (501c3): Demonstrate ability and experience in working and providing housing related services to underserved populations including people from communities of color;
- Agree to utilize the State’s funding for non-congregate shelter; and
- Complete the Application.
Priority Populations
Mirroring the Statewide Housing Plan strategies and responding the urgency of the multiple crises our state is facing, the following are priority populations for this project: unsheltered and high-needs populations, including veterans, people with disabilities, families, communities of color, people with serious mental illness, people experiencing chronic homelessness, people vulnerable to COVID or diagnosed with COVID who need to quarantine or isolate.
Eligible Properties
Applicants do not need to have a property identified in order to apply. Eligible property types include hotels, motels, and other vacant properties that can readily and affordably be converted to non-congregated shelter such as duplexes, apartment complexes, care facilities, or dormitories.
Expected Impact
Approximately 8-10 properties are expected to be acquired by local communities through this project. The Advisory Committee aims for an equitable geographic distribution.
Fund Amount
A total of $50 million has been allocated for this Fund.
Eligible Uses of Grant Funds
- With pre-approval by OCF on a transaction-by-transaction basis: pre-acquisition costs related to the due diligence of properties and real-estate related transactions.
- Acquisition costs and/or funds for minor retrofitting, rehab, or renovation of properties to make property operational as non-congregate shelter. Funds for retrofitting, rehab, or renovation will be primarily for safety and accessibility purposes. (Note: If a non-congregate property is already owned by an eligible entity, funds could support the renovation or retrofitting of the property.)
Application Process
Thank you for your interest in Project Turnkey 2.0. The application is re-opened until August 19. Applicants will receive a response from OCF by August 30, 2022.
- Framework for Evaluation
- Application Questions
- Grant Portal FAQ
- Step-by-step guide to using the Grants Portal
The application process will be phased.
Phase 1 will evaluate base requirements, including: operator/owner expertise and readiness, priority populations to be served, demonstrated community support, defined partnerships with culturally-specific organizations for supportive services, coordination with local Continuum of Care and/or Community Action Agency, Housing Authority, Public Health teams, provision of housing navigators and pathways out of shelter to address barriers to housing, identification of property (if known), operational plan including local contributions for acquisition or operation (if applicable), and other basic organization information.
If an application meets base requirements, the applicant will receive notification to enter into Phase 2.
Phase 2 will focus on a collaborative, consultative process of property identification and subsequent due diligence including acquisition cost negotiations, appraisal, environmental & physical inspection reports, city or county considerations, soil report, surveying, legal fees, exiting of flag contract (if applicable), leases, and other pre-acquisition due diligence necessary to ensure suitability and quality of property. If a property is already owned by the applicant, Phase 2 may involve assessment and due diligence of necessary retrofitting or rehab to make the property operational as non-congregate shelter and/or temporary housing.
If an application meets Phase 2 requirements, the applicant will receive notification of grant award recommendation for the acquisition of the identified property, pending approval of the OCF Board.
Phase 3 includes a grant award for acquisition of the property and/or expenses related to minor post-acquisition rehab/retrofitting as identified and approved in Phase 2.
Selection Process
An Advisory Committee, comprised of state, local, and community stakeholders, will participate in the review and recommendation process for grants. All grant recommendations will be made to the OCF Board for final approval.
See the Framework for Evaluation for additional details about the selection process, evaluation of applicants, and reporting details.
Questions
Questions about eligibility or qualification for this grant program can be directed to Megan Loeb, Program Officer at mloeb@oregoncf.org
Questions about technical help with the application process can be directed to grants@oregoncf.org
Questions from the media can be directed to Maureen Kenney, Public Relations Manager at mkenney@oregoncf.org
Frequently Asked Questions
This application is open statewide to all 36 Oregon counties.
501(c)(3) organizations and government entities are eligible to apply.
Yes. It is likely that applications may be best suited for co-applicants, including one applicant who intends to be owner of the property and a co-applicant who will be the primary operator of the property. In cases of co-applicants, the intended owner of the proposed property should serve as the primary applicant.
No. Oregon Housing & Community Services has earmarked funds to support some of the start-up and operational costs of these properties and applicants will be provided detailed information about these resources in Phase 2 of the process.
No. We recognize that some applicants may not have the necessary resources to identify a property. We plan to consult with applicants in Phase 2 to identify a property, if needed. Applicants that do not have a property identified in Phase 1 will not be penalized during the scoring process.
The goal is to approve up to 10 projects.
Mirroring the Statewide Housing Plan strategies and responding the urgency of the multiple crises our state is facing, the following are priority populations for this project: unsheltered and high-needs populations, including veterans, people with disabilities, families, communities of color, people with serious mental illness, people experiencing chronic homelessness, people vulnerable to COVID or diagnosed with COVID who need to quarantine or isolate. Additionally, survivors of the 2020 wildfires will be prioritized for support through the project.
The Advisory Committee aims for an equitable geographic distribution and will allocate funds based upon demonstrated need and anticipated impact.
OCF has retained two consultants with real-estate expertise who will oversee due diligence including appraisals, physical inspections, environmental inspections, ADA compliance, and other tasks. Working in partnership with the applicant, OCF’s consultants will approve, on a transaction-by-transaction basis, costs related to due diligence and real-estate transactions.
In our application and selection process, we want to ensure that owners/operators have the capacity to be successful, and that includes plans for maintenance and operations. Applicants should share plans for these expenses as part of their operations design.
Yes! We are engaging a network of community advisors to participate in the review and recommendation of these grants. The Advisory Committee includes members of Oregon’s Legislature, state and local agency leaders, community members with expertise in racial equity and accessibility equity, and members of nonprofit organizations providing culturally and regionally-specific services. These members will provide input and guidance on which organizations are best positioned to address the unique needs of applicants’ communities.
Having received a different grant from OCF – including Project Turnkey 1.0 grants – does not preclude an organization from applying for, and receiving, a grant from the Project Turnkey Fund.
Email us at grants@oregoncf.org and we will get back to you as soon as we are able.