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Housing Acceleration Grant Program

The Housing Acceleration Program (HAP) Grant is an innovative program developed by SANDAG that aims to help local jurisdictions build their capacity to produce more housing and better integrate it into their communities.  

The goal of HAP is to develop and adopt policies and process improvements that accelerate housing production, facilitate implementation of the 6th Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Cycle, implement the Regional Plan Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), and build local jurisdictions’ capacity to compete for funding statewide through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Prohousing Designation Program. 

Using state Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) funds, the HAP will provide grants to local jurisdictions to fund planning projects related to the acceleration of housing production within smart growth or mobility hub planning areas. HAP grants are versatile and can be used to fund a variety of planning activities, such as staff augmentation, density bonus ordinances, housing plan element updates, anti-displacement strategies, objective design standards, and more. The program offers resources to assist local jurisdictions in meeting RHNA goals, achieve housing element compliance, pursue HCD’s prohousing designation, and support the SANDAG Regional Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategies goals. In March 2022, the Board of Directors approved funding for seven planning projects under the initial HAP Cycle 1 call for projects.

Cycle 2 Call for Projects 

The HAP Cycle 2 Call for Projects is open for applications on BidNet. Approximately $16 million will be awarded to eligible planning and capital projects.

Anticipated Timeline

  • May 7, 2023: Call for projects released
  • August 4, 2023 (By 5:00 PM): Application deadline
  • August through September 2023: Eligibility and evaluation period
  • October 2023: Regional Planning Committee and Board of Directors consider funding recommendations
  • November 2023: Grant Agreements executed/Notice to Proceed issued

Cycle 1 Projects

Program will provide assistance to local residents who are interested in constructing ADUs, by offering pre-approved ADU designs, planning software, and a one stop shop webpage with FAQs, the program will make ADU construction more affordable, faster, and easier than before.

Grant Application 

Project with compile Phase I information to study the feasibility of developing at least 54 affordable housing units, obtain expertise/consulting services to secure housing agreement with State 22nd District Agricultural Association. Also complete a Phase II feasibility study to understand what types of incentives maybe be needed to facilitate affordable housing production.

Grant Application 

Update the City of Encinitas (City) Permit Ready ADU (PRADU) plans to meet the City's green building code update for 100% all electric new unit developments; retain contract principal planner discretionary plan review services to expedite housing production; and conduct a Displacement Risk Analysis Study to identify the local conditions that lead to displacement.

Grant Application 

Program is focused on development within areas served by high-frequency transit. Program is an opt-in system for developers to use an alternate calculation method for the number of units proposed on a parcel, rather than putting a limit on dwelling units per acre. No single-family zones are proposed to be included in the opt-in method, mixed-use overlay zones and housing overlay zones would also be included.

Grant Application  

City of San Diego - HAP accelerates the production of housing in transit rich areas through a combination of improving building permit processes and studying city-owned sites to evaluate feasibility for housing development.

Grant Application 

Project rezones four large strategic sites consisting of approximately 37.5 undeveloped acres within the City's Town Center. Sites are strategically located within 1/4 mile of the City's trolley station/mobility hub, near retail and services, employment centers, and along the City's planned multi-modal corridor. Rezoning of these sites will produce approximately 923 housing units, including 333 housing units affordable to low-income households.

Grant Application 

Create objective design standards to implement the Sixth Cycle Housing Element (Housing Element) and comply with State Law (SB 330, SB 35, and SB9). The grant will help facilitate the production of housing in unincorporated communities by establishing clear guidelines and decreasing plan review time for certain projects.

Grant Application 

Resources

Related Documents

HAP Cycle 2 Grant Details

HAP Cycle 1 Grant Details

Related Pages