The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) awards grant funds to eligible national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs for low-income persons and families. Through this NOFA, HUD is making $10,000,000 of FY2018 Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) grant funds available to national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia. SHOP funds must be used for eligible expenses to develop decent, safe and sanitary non-luxury housing for low-income persons and families who otherwise would not be able to afford to become homeowners. SHOP units must be decent, safe, and sanitary non-luxury dwellings that comply with state and local codes, ordinances, and zoning requirements, and with all other SHOP requirements.

Only national and regional non-profit organizations and consortia with experience facilitating innovative homeownership opportunities through the provision of self-help homeownership housing programs are eligible to apply. Applicants must propose to use a significant amount of SHOP grant funds in at least two states. Individuals are not eligible applicants for SHOP grant funds. Applications received from individuals will not be reviewed by HUD.

Land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and reasonable and necessary planning and administration costs (not to exceed 20 percent) are the only eligible uses for SHOP grant funds. The average SHOP expenditure for the combined costs of land acquisition and infrastructure improvements cannot exceed $15,000 per SHOP unit. Successful applicants must leverage other public and private funds to pay for the construction or rehabilitation costs of each SHOP unit.

The SHOP units must be sold to homebuyers at prices below the prevailing market price. Homebuyers must be low-income and must contribute a significant amount of sweat equity towards the development of the SHOP units. Reasonable accommodations must be permitted for individuals with disabilities in order for such individuals to meet hourly requirements. A homebuyer’s sweat equity contribution cannot be mortgaged or otherwise restricted upon future sale of the SHOP unit. Volunteer labor is also required.

SHOP Grantees may award SHOP grant funds to local non-profit affiliate organizations to carry out the Grantee’s SHOP program. These affiliate organizations must be located within the Grantee’s service area.

Funding Opportunity Number:  FR-6200-N-19
Opportunity Title:  Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) NOFA
Competition ID:  SHOP-19
CFDA No.:  14.247
OMB Approval Numbers:  2506-0157
Deadline Date:  November 12, 2018