DEP Requirements and Instructions
REQUIREMENTS and INSTRUCTIONS
for the Fall 2026 Development Engagement Process
and Completing the Profile Using the Preliminary Submission
Opportunities for Affordable Housing Funding
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Housing (DOH), in collaboration with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), recently issued a Notice for the Development Engagement Process Fall 2026 (DEP Fall 2026).
Please note that the DEP Fall 2026 assumes the potential of State bond, Federal resources, or a combination of both to fund projects whose applications are invited. Projects should therefore consider all applicable Federal requirements.
Projects interested in CHFA funding are encouraged to also contact Terry Nash Giovannucci, CHFA’s Assistant Director, Housing Policy & Community Finance, at terry.nash@chfa.org for additional information and eligibility criteria.
Participation in the DEP does not constitute a commitment of any DOH or CHFA financing or other assistance and matters outside the control of DOH or CHFA could affect expectations and representations made during the Development Engagement Process (DEP).
Interested parties should monitor https://portal.ct.gov/doh/doh-1/housing/funding-opportunities for updates and additional information.
ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS:
Projects that have submitted to a DEP round previously and have not yet submitted a full Consolidated Application may be required to participate in this or a future DEP round before continuing DOH discussions. Returning Projects must contact the DEP team at DOH-DevelEngage@ct.gov and next steps will be communicated.
The DEP is not a NOFA nor competitive funding round, there are no requirements to engage a consultant, prepare formal documentation, obtain local approvals, or expend funds to complete and submit the DEP Preliminary Submission. Please refer to the exhibits described below for more details. Sponsors or parent organizations should be an existing enterprise able to, upon request, submit audited financial statements.
All respondents to the DEP Fall 2026 should review the current Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). Please visit chfa.org for additional information on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program and the LIHTC 2027 and 2028 QAP. Projects seeking 9% LIHTC Application participation in 2027 must submit to the DEP this calendar year and utilize the 2027 and 2028 QAP.
A prior commitment of DOH financial assistance is not a requirement of making an application to CHFA for 4% LIHTC, but if DOH funds are also sought, an Invite to Apply and overall readiness to proceed is a critical component of CHFA application evaluation. Responding parties must be eligible under Section 8-37pp of the Connecticut General Statutes to apply for DOH financial assistance and the subject activity must be an eligible project as defined in that statute. Please see statutory requirements on page 8.
SUBMISSION LIMITATION:
Organizations and their affiliates are limited to three (3) DEP total submissions for distinct projects in the DEP Fall 2026 submission period. Consultants and their organizations are also limited to three (3) DEP submissions for unique projects. Those acting in the role of owner or developer on one or more projects and consultants on a different project are limited to a total of three (3) DEP submissions. The agencies will consider capacity of teams to advance projects quickly, if supported, including projects still to be closed with the Agencies.
• DOH is finalizing its guidance on how assistance will be targeted and more details will be available soon.
• Please refer to the published DOH rent limits.
• Submissions seeking SHARE assistance will be reviewed as part of the DEP but see below for any questions on the initiative.
The Department reserves the right to consider greater or less targeted investments based on the underwriting of the proposal, development team capacity, specialty population to be served, and other relevant factors on a case-by-case basis.
ELIGIBILITY CONCERNS:
If you have a project concept you want to discuss with DOH prior to completing the DEP Preliminary Submission, please send an email describing your project and requesting a conversation to DOH-DevelEngage@ct.gov. The Agencies support services for persons with limited English language proficiency. For assistance with access to materials in any language other than English, please email chfa-lap@chfa.org in your primary language. For further assistance concerning anything related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, please contact customerservice@chfa.org.
EXCLUSIONS:
This process is not intended for the following activities:
Proposals for the funding of programs for administration.
Middle-income proposals or Build For CT
Projects anticipating applying to CHFA for 9% LIHTC in any application round later than January 2027.
Representatives of properties currently included in the State Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP). Representatives of such projects should contact their
CHFA Asset Manager to discuss opportunities for assistance. The only exception is new construction/expansion of current unit count, which should be submitted through the DEP.
Projects that have received, been approved for, or are in active discussion with DOH for predevelopment loan assistance should determine readiness before participating in DEP Fall 2026 and contact your current DOH project manager.
THE PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION AND DEVELOPMENT ENGAGEMENT PROCESS Fall 2026
Submission Process Details.
The online form is estimated to take 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Upon completion, respondents will receive an email confirmation that includes a .pdf copy of the submission. While completing the DEP form, partial work can be saved and a link will be provided via email to re-access and complete the submission.
DEADLINE:
Submissions will be accepted until 5:00 PM November 13th, 2026. If you have any technical difficulties, please contact DOH-DevelEngage@ct.gov.
INQUIRIES:
Please direct any inquiries regarding this process or in general to the DOH-DevelEngage@ct.gov.
SUMMARY:
Eligible projects are those presenting new construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable multifamily housing developments who are well established, able to provide Audited Financial Statements, and eligible under Section 8-37pp of the Connecticut General Statutes.
DO NOT SUBMIT if you are working on a rehab of a State Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP/SSHIP) project without discussing with CHFA; contemplating a workforce/middle income development; have more than three developments currently in the funding pipeline that have not closed or will not by the above deadline.
The following outlines the steps in the DEP process:
• Read everything! - Be familiar with information on DOH and CHFA websites. Be familiar with CEPA/NEPA and Procurement requirements, the QAP, and State and CHFA priorities.
• Submit DEP Preliminary Submission - complete and submit by the due date.
• Be prepared for a Teams meeting - Participate in subsequent conversations to discuss the development proposal with the DEP team of DOH and CHFA staff.
• Gather missing information - Respond to follow-up communications from the reviewing staff.
• DEP team meets with DOH and CHFA senior staff and management to discuss DEP responses.
• DEP responses will be sorted by readiness to proceed and capacity to complete. Submissions are sorted first by potential funding: DOH-only; CHFA-only; or DOH and CHFA jointly. All received are further assigned statuses after review: Invite to Apply; Preliminary Stage; Continue Conversation; and Decline. Projects can also be assigned Closed status upon successful completion of the DEP process, removal due to some unforeseen issue, or other reason that does not enable a full decision to be reached by the Agencies in the round or subsequently.
• All respondents to the DEP will receive communication from the DEP team providing the submission’s disposition, wherein the determination is explained and next steps outlined. A summary will also be posted to the DEP website that lists the results, with the information available at that time. These statuses may be amended at the discretion of DOH & CHFA.
• Invite to Apply - DEP responses meeting DOH and CHFA priorities that receive an “Invite to Apply” letter will be expected to complete and submit a ConApp with 90% drawings and associated costs within a stated deadline for review and preliminary underwriting. Be aware that preliminary underwriting may reflect a need for additional information and resources that the applicant will be expected to provide. This “Invite to Apply” letter is not a guarantee or approval of funding.
• Preliminary Stage (Invite within 60-90 days possible) or Continue Conversation (Agencies are favorable, but additional predevelopment steps outstanding), the DEP team will follow-up with next steps, and status relies on further progress made towards a feasible full Consolidated Application’s receipt.
• Decline - applicants may receive feedback on the reasoning and areas in the proposal that would benefit from improvement, as possible, based on specific review elements, including following up with DOH and CHFA staff as warranted.
• Closed - this designation indicates that the request is no longer being considered as active in the Agencies’ Development Engagement Process pipeline and constitutes a default status for requests that successfully submit applications once invited; withdraw; or are unable to proceed with a submission for any reason, etc., for further information please contact the DEP team.
• Upon completion of preliminary underwriting, an Invite to Apply applicant will receive communication indicating the feasibility determination and next steps will come from the CHFA Underwriter assigned and/or Project Manager at DOH.
POLICIES:
DOH published Interim Policies for Housing Development in April 2022. Please review and consider the comprehensive information in this document before your preparation or submittal to this DEP round.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) / National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):
DOH must complete CEPA or NEPA process prior to awarding financial assistance to a project. CEPA and NEPA are broad reviews that include assessments such as flood zone impacts, historic implications and requirements, and environmental reviews.
In your DEP submission, please describe efforts to date regarding each of these reviews and the expected timing of these approvals.
CEPA Intake Form
CEPA questions should be directed to: DOH.CEPA@ct.gov
TECHNICAL RESOURCES:
CHFA & DOH encourage energy efficiency, high-performance buildings, and renewable energy strategies which can be technically and financially supported by Agency and other State resources. See CT DEEP program resource information linked at the end of this document.
CONSOLIDATED APPLICATION:
If invited to apply, all applicants are required to use the most recent published version of the Consolidated Application (ConApp), which will be available on both CHFA and DOH websites.
The submission of 90% drawings and specifications is a minimum threshold requirement for the ConApp.
All DEP respondents should have sufficient capacity and preparation to anticipate delivering a completed CHFA / DOH ConApp by 4/31/2027, which will be communicated via an Invite to Apply. For Applicants seeking 9% LIHTC, an invitation to apply is not required.
FILE UPLOADS:
Supporting Exhibits and Financials:
The DEP submission form supports the upload of specific exhibits which, if the information is available, should be included for best consideration of the project’s readiness to proceed:
o PROJECT NARRATIVE (PJNAR) according to the requirements of the Consolidated Application
o CEPA INTAKE (CEPA) form if you have the signed DOH response only
o SITE CONTROL (STCTR) document showing evidence of status
o SITE PLAN (STPLN) approved or proposed to your town
o UNIT MATRIX (UNMTX) if preliminary information is known
o SOURCES AND USES (SRCUS) for the project as available at this time
o PROCUREMENT PLAN (PRPLN) for all major project team participants if available
o ZONING APPROVAL (ZONE) with any conditions
Supplemental materials in addition to the above may be emailed directly to DOH-DevelEngage@ct.gov referencing your project submission’s Short name or other identifier.
Please be aware that evaluation of project financial and other exhibits is a cursory review only and a full underwriting review and approval will still be required when the ConApp is submitted.
Project Narrative for Upload:
If you are preparing your own narrative as an exhibit in addition to the response in the Preliminary Submission itself, please include: the type of housing; population to be served; number of buildings/units; and other significant site characteristics or amenities. Or you may choose to follow the form from the Consolidated Application.
Planning and Zoning Approval:
Please provide information regarding the status of the Planning and Zoning site plan or full approval and if not approved, a timeframe. If your project has approval, address meeting any conditions.
Procurement:
While the DEP does not require you to have your team in place, DOH requires proper procurement of General Contractor or Construction Manager, Development Consultant, Project Architect, and other major professional service providers on the team. This may include professionals involved in your predevelopment activities. Current requirements can be found here.
SITE CONTROL:
Prospective property owners must, at a minimum, have an active option on the proposed development property. Prospective developers should be in partnership with an owner or prospective owner and prospective consultants should be representing an owner or developer. A speculative interest only in a project is not a sufficient relationship to participate.
RELOCATION:
If the property is the dwelling for individuals or households, Sponsors should at the time they are contemplating DOH funding also prepare to comply with the Connecticut Uniform Relocation Assistance Act and regulations, CGS 8-266, or the Federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (URA) or Section 104(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (Barney Frank), as applicable. Please provide an outline of the plan at DEP submission. Projects selected for financial assistance must comply with all acts and regulations and the approved costs of such compliance are eligible project expenses.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE:
If the proposed development anticipates the need for DDS, RAP, or Section 8 rental assistance subsidy, or if an occupied property seeking rehabilitation funding currently has rental subsidies, please include this in the project description. Please also confirm any state contacts already engaged with to date so that we may include our colleagues as well.
GENERAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES:
If the proposed development anticipates offering supportive services to tenants outside of agency-specific programs, please include a full description of the services to be offered, an estimated budget (with source), and the proposed service plan provider.
QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN (QAP):
All respondents to the DEP Fall 2026 should review the CHFA QAP, its LIHTC Glossary of Terms, and other Guidelines and Policies found on CHFA’s website.
These sections of the QAP are relevant to all DEP respondents:
State Housing Plans
Basic Threshold Requirements
Financial Feasibility
Housing Location and Need
Rental affordability – (for DEP Fall 2026, ”affordable housing” is at or below 80% AMI only)
Hard Costs, Experience of the sponsor/applicant and development team
DEVELOPMENT OF HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS:
Developers wishing to initiate discussion with DOH on the development of units for Homeownership will also use the Development Engagement Process. DOH funding programs can provide financial assistance to support developers based on an analysis of the difference between the cost to develop and bring homeownership units to market, and the sales price that is affordable to a household at 80% of Area Median Income.
Before completing the preliminary application of the Development Engagement Process, potential applicants should contact DOH Development Engagement at DOH-DevelEngage@ct.gov and CC Joseph Vazquez at Joseph.Vazquez@ct.gov to set up a brief call to introduce their project and to hear more about the DOH Initiative.
RESOURCES:
The Connecticut Affordable Housing Statute:
Connecticut General Statutes, Affordable Housing, Section 8-37pp (2019)
a(4) “Eligible applicant” means: (A) A nonprofit entity; (B) a municipality; (C) a housing authority; (D) a business corporation incorporated pursuant to chapter 601 or any predecessor statutes thereto or authorized to do business pursuant to said chapter 601 having as one of its purposes the construction, financing, acquisition, rehabilitation or operation of affordable housing, and having a certificate or articles of incorporation approved by the commissioner; (E) any partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust or association having as one of its purposes the construction, financing, acquisition, rehabilitation or operation of affordable housing, and having basic documents of organization approved by the commissioner; or (F) any combination thereof;
a(6) “Eligible project” means a project designed for the purpose of providing affordable housing, and shall include, but not be limited to, (A) acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair and maintenance of residential or mixed use structures, (B) acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair and maintenance of related infrastructure, facilities and amenities incidental and pertinent to the provision of affordable housing and intended primarily to serve the residents of the affordable housing project, that may include, but not be limited to, a community room, laundry, day care space, computer center, management office or playground, or (C) demolition, renovation or redevelopment of vacant buildings or related infrastructure.
(c) An application for financial assistance shall be in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. In determining whether and to what extent to fund an application received from eligible applicants, the commissioner may consider relevant factors including, but not limited to, the following: (A) The ability of the project to affirmatively further racial and economic integration, including expanding multifamily rental housing opportunities in suburban and rural communities; (B) the ability of the project to meet the housing needs of the lowest income populations; (C) the ability of the project to revitalize urban neighborhoods, including expanding homeownership and increasing multifamily rehabilitation in the central cities; (D) the ability of the project to provide a full range of
housing options for people with special needs or who are at risk of becoming homeless; (E) impact of the project on the local neighborhood, region and the state; (F) short-term and long-term benefits of the project; (G) impact on affordable housing needs of the neighborhood, community, municipality and region; (H) project feasibility; (I) potential for leveraging other public and private investments; (J) applicant's ability to implement the project in a timely manner; (K) the relative need for the project; (L) the applicant's financial commitment to the project, except in the case of a nonprofit entity or a housing authority created pursuant to section 8-40; and (M) the extent to which the project will advance the public purposes set forth in this subdivision.
LINKS:
DOH HOME (and National Housing Trust Fund) Compliance Manual
2026-2027 Draft Action Plan for Housing and Community Development
5-Yr Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority
CHFA 2027 and 2028 Qualified Allocation Plan
CHFA Multifamily Standards and Guidelines of Design, Construction and Sustainability
Connecticut Plan of Conservation and Development
HUD Environmental Review Information
CEPA
CT DECD Historic Properties Requirements Approvals and Incentives
DEEP Housing Energy Programs
New England Heat Pump Accelerator