Organizational Structure Requirements

Organizational Structure Requirements. The HOME Program establishes requirements for the organizational structure of a CHDO to ensure that the governing body or the organization is controlled by the community it serves. These requirements are designed to ensure that the CHDO is capable of decisions and actions that address the community’s needs without undue influence from external agendas. A. History of Serving the Community. The organization has a history of serving the community within which housing to be assisted with HOME funds is to be located, as evidenced by either documentation of at least one (1) year of experience in serving the community or for new organizations, documentation that its parent organization has at least one (1) year of experience serving the community. B. Low Income Input. Input from the low-income community is not met solely by having low-income representation on the board. The CHDO must provide a formal process for low-income program beneficiaries to advise the CHDO on design, location of sites, development and management of affordable housing. The process must be described in writing and must be documented in the organization’s by-law, resolutions, or a written statement of operating procedures approved by the governing body. Each project undertaken by the CHDO should allow potential program beneficiaries to be involved and provide input on the entire project from project concept and site selection to property management. One way to accomplish this requirement is to develop a project advisory committee for each project or community where a HOME assisted project will be developed. Proof of input from the potential low-income program beneficiaries in all aspects of the project will be required for HOME project funding. C. Clearly Defined Service Area. The organization must have a clearly defined geographic service area, which can be described and documented. CHDOs may serve individual neighborhoods or large areas. However, while organization may include the entire community in their service area (such as a city, town, village, county, or multi- county area), they may not include the entire state.