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Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) FAQ

Development Resources

In 2024, LIFT for Homeownership has a rolling NOFA. Funding will be awarded on a first come, first served basis to applicants meeting minimum scoring criteria. The application will be open from Jan. 8, 2024 to Sep. 2, 2024 or until all available funding has been awarded.

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The funding for the co-location of early childhood facilities is being administered through a third party collaborative of CDFIs named Build Up Oregon. We are working closely with them on projects looking to secure OHCS resources in addition to co-location funds, but applicants must apply for both funding sources separately through builduporegon.org.

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The ORCA disperses funding specifically for multifamily affordable rental housing developments. For information on funding transitional housing projects, please direct questions and inquiries to the Housing Stabilization Resources Division of OHCS at: hsd.homelessservices@hcs.oregon.gov​.

OHCS opened the Intake process in April to understand projects throughout the state that are seeking OHCS funding, including projects seeking LIHTC and Private Activity Bonds. 4% and 9% LIHTC and Private Activity Bonds will be available in 2025.

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An eligible project, including those seeking LIHTCs in 2025, may request Predevelopment resources in 2024 by first filling an Intake form. The Intake form provides the ability for eligible entities to signal that predevelopment resources are being sought. Additional information about OHCS’s prequalification programs and eligibility will be made available closer to the full ORCA launch.

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OHCS will be conducting engagement for the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) later in 2024 to update the Plan required for LIHTC. Updating the plan will support the allocation of LIHTC within the new Oregon Centralized Application. LIHTCs cannot be allocated until after the update. Projects seeking LIHTC funding will be held in the ORCA’s early pipeline intake stage until LIHTC resources are available to reserved.

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We have not yet started to program LIHTC resources for 2025, but the thinking is that projects with advanced readiness to proceed elements will be able to move through the stages of the ORCA expeditiously. Please keep an eye out, we expect to release a QAP update for feedback in Quarter 3 of 2024.

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Based on partner feedback, Housing Stability Council guidance and consulting with the Governors office, Cost evaluation and subsidy limits were shared at May 3 Housing Stability Council​ and will be finalized before launching ORCA.

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OHCS is developing a dashboard so that developers and the public will have a clear view of resources allocated to projects and remaining resources. Progress about achieving the set asides will be transparent. Decisions about reallocating unspent dollars will be presented at Housing Stability Council.


OHCS has substantial resources from the Legislature, more resources than in years past. Tax Credits are unable to be leveraged with all those resources and that is a constraint. The ORCA process opens the intake where you are asked to provide information on all the deals on your desk, in whatever stage they are, so that good information is collected.

​The intention is to incentivize projects moving forward through the development process. A developer will be unable to submit multiple applications to hold resources if they are unable to move those projects forward quickly.

Yes, the ORCA Capacity Building (ORCA CB) grant application will be available through the ORCA Intake Form. The resource is not yet open for applications. There is a section towards the end of the ORCA Intake Form to indicate your organization's interest in capacity building grants. Some information is currently available on the GHAP Capacity Building webpage​.

We are currently working through the final details of the application pathway. More specific ORCA CB application information and guidance will be available soon.

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Program definitions

The OHCS Rural-Urban definition first evaluates housing density by tract. Next, OHCS uses the National Center for Health Statics County Schema to account for economic and geographic environment the tract is a part of. See the OHCS Rural or Urban status map​.

Culturally Specific Organization (CSO): an entity that provides services to a cultural community and the entity has the following characteristics:

  • Majority of members and/or clients must be from a particular Community of Color;
  • Organizational environment is culturally focused and the community being served recognizes it as a culturally-specific entity that provides culturally and linguistically responsive services;
  • Majority of staff must be from the community being served, and the majority of the leadership (defined to collectively include board members and management positions) must be from the community being served;
  • The entity has a track record of successful community engagement and involvement with the community being served; and
  • The community being served recognizes the entity as advancing the best interests of the community and engaging in policy advocacy on behalf of the community being served.
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The data is available on the Vulnerable to Gentrification ​map. ​​​