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Presentation, discussion, and possible action ratifying the decision of the Executive Director to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in response to its Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity, and if successfully awarded to operate such program
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
WHEREAS, on July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program (OAHMP) to enable applicants to make safety and functional home modification repairs and renovations to meet the needs of low-income seniors;
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA or the Department) currently operates the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) funded with Texas Housing Trust Fund that provides one-time grants of up to $22,500 for qualified households with Persons with Disabilities who need modifications to increase accessibility and eliminate hazardous conditions in their home;
WHEREAS, TDHCA’s existing AYBR Program operates successfully and serves as a model for how the OAHMP could be operated, and the Department has the appropriate expertise, partnerships and systems in place to pursue these funds and, if awarded to perform such work;
WHEREAS, the application deadline of August 31, 2026, prevented staff from obtaining Board authorization to pursue the application prior to submission, and the Executive Director granted staff the authority to proceed with a submission to HUD to apply for funds; and
WHEREAS, such application was submitted to HUD on August 31, 2026, staff is now seeking ratification of the decision to apply for such funds, and if the Department receives an award, to operate such program;
NOW, therefore, it is hereby
RESOLVED, that the submission of the application for the OAHMP is hereby authorized by the Board through ratification of the Executive Director’s decision to submit such application; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that if HUD makes an award from this NOFO to the Department, the Department is authorized to proceed with accepting such an award, including but not limited to releasing any needed Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) or Request for Application (RFA).
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BACKGROUND
On July 17, 2026, HUD released a NOFO announcing the availability of $64 million for the Older Adult Home Modification Grant Program (OAHMP). The OAHMP assists experienced nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modification repairs and renovations to meet the needs of low-income seniors. The goal of the home modification program is to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications to reduce older adults’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and to improve their functional abilities in their home. This will enable older adults to remain in their homes, that is, to "age in place," rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities.
HUD expects to make approximately 32 awards with award amounts ranging from $2 million to $3 million per award. The Department application was for $3 million.
Staff felt confident in applying for the OAHMP NOFO because the Department currently operates a similar program focused on making safety and accessibility home modifications for persons with disabilities, which includes elderly households. Operated out of the Single Family and Homeless Programs Division of the Department, the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) has a long history of successful operation with strong internal infrastructure for the contracts, system, and subrecipient network to perform such modifications.
Prior to submission of the application, the Department held a meeting with interested AYBR Administrators to provide information about the Department’s OAHMP application. As part of the application, the Department was required to identify potential subrecipients, and a total of 10 AYBR Administrators provided the information necessary for TDHCA to include them. While not a guarantee of funding in the event that the OAHMP funds are granted, these subrecipients will be invited to apply for an award of funds through a future Department NOFA or RFA.
If awarded, the Department would leverage the funds already being used to assist AYBR with the new funds. Currently the AYBR assistance is limited in what proportion of funds can be used to make repairs that relate to health and safety as opposed to accessibility modifications. Some households get turned away from receiving AYBR assistance because the amount of health and safety modifications they need exceed that proportion. We are hopeful that in addition to allowing the program to assist more households, that the new program would also be able to assist those households who may have otherwise been denied.