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Unlike prior years, CHFA is developing a multi-year QAP so it's more important than ever to express STRONG SUPPORT for Passive House in Connecticut's Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Public comments close DECEMBER 23

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) is holding a public input period to receive data, views, and comments with respect to its Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program, its Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), and its current priorities and policy goals.
One of our ongoing advocacy initiatives is to ensure PH tax incentives are available for developers through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. These tax credits have a powerful impact on a developer's decision to build healthy, comfortable, low energy buildings for affordable housing while also, helping to meet the state’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the resiliency of our building stock.

The Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) designates these tax credits in the form of points for meeting various qualifications.  Competition is fierce, among developers of affordable housing, for these tax credits so the allocation of points in the QAP for specific high-performance criteria determines the type of projects that are  pursued and approved for funding. 
What you need to know!
1. 
The stakes are very high this time since this will be a multi-year QAP. The Sustainable Design Criteria section must be  "forward-thinking" to ensure that newly constructed buildings will not be obsolete in ten years or out-of-step with building codes, which are likely to become more robust as Zero Energy/Carbon becomes the norm, as we are starting to see in other states.

While there is no draft QAP to review, there is a just-released early-stage matrix for Sustainable Design Measures on which CHFA is seeking feedback as they continue to refine the QAP into 2021.  Now is the pivotal time to inform the decisions about how to re-configure criteria in the next QAP.
 
2.
Eversource is poised to fund an ambitious PH training program beginning January 2021, followed by substantial utility incentives for Passive House (new construction) specifically geared towards affordable multifamily housing which have the potential to accelerate the market transformation of high-performance affordable and market-rate housing in Connecticut, as they have done in Massachusetts. 

In addition, Eversource is proposing incentives for all-electric new residential construction.

In order for the utility incentives to have the fullest impact for affordable housing, the QAP must send the right signal to developers to pursue Passive House by awarding more points for this standard.


Key Recommendations for the multi-year QAP: 
  • The total number of points for Sustainable Design Measures should increase in order to send a strong signal to developers to pursue high-performance projects.
  • Continue to include Passive House -- but with higher levels of points, commensurate with its status as the most stringent energy standard that also offers co-benefits of health, occupant comfort, and resiliency (the ability for occupants to safely shelter-in-place).
  • All new construction should be required to be net-zero emissions.

There has never been a more important moment to speak up for Passive House.  With the combination of potential points for PH in the QAP and Eversource's commitment to provide PH training and utility incentives for PH, Connecticut is on the cusp of the type of market transformation which is occurring in Massachusetts.

Please write to CHFA and our government leaders to encourage them to strengthen Connecticut's momentum towards energy and sustainability goals and continue to use tax incentives to promote healthy, comfortable buildings for the sector of the population who would most benefit.

Short on time?  No worries!
Follow these simple steps and submit your comment in a few minutes...
STEP 1
DOWNLOAD OUR TEMPLATE  LETTER
Click on THIS LINK  to download an editable Word document.

 
STEP 2
FILL IN THE BLANKS
Customize the letter with your info.
Here's a portion of what you'll see: 


"I am a resident of ______________ and am involved in my community as a ______________ (environmental steward, business owner, developer, contractor, parent, teacher, health care professional etc.). I care about this issue because ______________."


If you have time to spare, add more information.  

Need some ideas? See the June 2020 QAP comments for inspiration.

 
STEP 3
SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO OUR GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Save your document and send it to:

Terry Nash Giovannucci
CHFA Manager 2, Multifamily
PublicComment@chfa.org
or by mail to CHFA, 999 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Seila Mosquera-Bruno
Commissioner of Department of Housing & CHFA Board Chair
seila.mosquera-bruno@ct.gov

Nandini Natarajan
CHFA CEO
Nandini.natarajan@chfa.org

Jennifer Landau
CHFA Director, Multifamily
jennifer.landau@chfa.org

Seema Malani
CHFA Architect, Multifamily
seema.malani@chfa.org

Katie Dykes
DEEP Commissioner
katie.dykes@ct.gov

Michael Li
Energy Bureau Chief, DEEP
Michael.Li@ct.gov

Governor Lamont:  
via web form
 
GOOD GOING!
THE SIMPLE ACT OF SENDING AN EMAIL IS CONTRIBUTING TO POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocating agency for the State of Connecticut.  The federal LIHTC program requires each state agency that allocates tax credits to have a Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). The QAP sets out the state's eligibility priorities and criteria for awarding federal tax credits to housing properties.
 

Want more details?

  • See the current QAP here
  • June 2020 QAP comments here (includes audio recording)
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