OHCS Administrative Support for MIRL Program

Sponsoring jurisdictions (SJ) may request administrative support from OHCS for the responsibilities associated with their Local MIRL Program. SJ that are interested in this should connect with Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) during the implementation stage and determine the appropriate support needed for their Local MIRL Program.

Project Application Review Support

A sponsoring jurisdiction (SJ) may request assistance from OHCS with SJ Project Application Review. During their own application review process, they may request that the developer submit the project for MIRL Project Application Analysis to be assessed against the existing criteria of the OHCS Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) or Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). OHCS will generate and provide a MIRL Project Application Analysis Report for the SJ to inform their provisional approval decision. This aims to provide a SJ with an assessment of the projects viability, feasibility, and risk as OHCS analysis projects for other funding sources.

Note: Through this optional service, OHCS does not give approval, denial, or recommendation on a given project. OHCS will provide the MIRL Project Application Analysis report based exclusively on the information provided by the Developer. Developers may be asked to provide information beyond the requirements of the MIRL Program for this analysis.

What are the ORCA and the NOFA?

Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA)

The ORCA is the application system used by the OHCS Affordable Rental Housing division to assess and match affordable rental housing projects to existing state funding resources. MIRL Project Application Analysis will be conducted through the ORCA. Although MIRL Project Funds are not allocated through the ORCA, the MIRL Project Application Analysis Report will use the ORCA criteria to analyze the Project Application and provide feedback to the sponsoring jurisdiction. Please see the ORCA webpage for more information about the ORCA.

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

The NOFA is the application system used by the OHCS Homeownership division to assess and assign homeownership projects to existing state-funded resources. Although MIRL Project Funds are not allocated through the NOFA, the MIRL Project Application Analysis will be conducted through the NOFA to generate the MIRL Project Application Analysis Report. For Homeownership projects, this Report will be based on the existing NOFA criteria. Please see the NOFA webpage for more information about the NOFA.

How does OHCS Project Application Review support work?

The sponsoring jurisdiction (SJ) has an “active” local MIRL program, meaning the SJ has executed Intergovernmental Master Agreements with OHCS.
Developer submits an eligible MIRL project application through the application process of the active local MIRL program.
The local MIRL program SJ validates the project to ensure that it meets the basic MIRL eligibility requirements including:

Program eligibility – The project complies with the minimum requirements of the MIRL Program and local MIRL Program.
Project location – The project is located within the geographical boundaries of the SJ.
Project type – The project is a new construction or conversion of non-residential property of a homeownership or rental type housing, as stated in ORS 197A.420 and 215.501
Funding need – The project has identified a gap in project financing through the MIRL Proforma.
Affordability – The project has identified and will meet the affordability requirement set forth in ORS 458.610 at 120% AMI or below.

The SJ provides a signed MIRL Project Application Analysis Request Form (provided through Procorem) to the developer and directs them to submit an Intake Form via the ORCA or NOFA.

Developer follows the application submission process through the ORCA or NOFA.
OHCS completes the MIRL Project Application Analysis and generates the MIRL Project Application Analysis Report based exclusively on the information provided by the developer.
OHCS provides the MIRL Project Application Analysis Report to the SJ.
The SJ may use the MIRL Project Application Analysis Report to inform their decision to assign provisional approval of the MIRL project.

If provisionally approved, the SJ continues the project through the remaining MIRL process.

What does MIRL Project Application Analysis include?

The MIRL Project Application Analysis will put MIRL project applications through the existing NOFA or ORCA process and assess the project against the standards and criteria of both systems. To learn more about the standards and criteria of both the ORCA and NOFA, please refer to their respective program manuals on the NOFA and ORCA webpages. The MIRL Project Application Analysis will be based exclusively on what is provided by the developer. Developers are encouraged to provide all requested documentation to the best of their ability and within the stage of their project development at the time of application submission. If the developer is unable to provide any requested materials at this time, they may provide justification which will be reflected in the report.

Compliance and Monitoring

A sponsoring jurisdiction may request OHCS support in the compliance and monitoring requirements of the MIRL Program. This would include monitoring the local MIRL program’s existing MIRL project’s compliance with the affordability requirements (including income verification) and reporting obligations of the developer to the sponsoring jurisdiction.

Required Reporting

A sponsoring jurisdiction may request OHCS support in the reporting requirements of the MIRL Program. OHCS will provide annual and final report templates and support the sponsoring jurisdiction in updating the information being required based on their local MIRL program.

Default Coordination

A sponsoring jurisdiction may request OHCS support when a developer or fee payer fails to perform or meet requirements. OHCS will assist with the coordination between the SJ and County Tax Officer (if applicable) to work through default, foreclosure, or restructuring.

Technical Assistance for County Tax Officer

OHCS will coordinate with Oregon Department of Revenue to provide technical assistance to County Tax Officers performing MIRL Program related duties around fee collection, Fire District Fee distribution, and exemption administration.