MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 21, 2025
TO: Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic & Community Development Director SUBJECT: Affordable Housing Trust Fund – Notice of Funding Availability Award Recommendations
Background: On July 14, 2021, the Bakersfield City Council adopted Resolution No. 124‐2021 to establish the Bakersfield Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). The intent of the AHTF was to use local funds to leverage and draw in additional outside resources to increase the pool of financing to support the construction of affordable housing.
On April 18, 2025, the City of Bakersfield released its Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to solicit proposals from qualified applicants to construct quality, affordable housing. The NOFA included the following sources of funding:
Affordable Housing Program Allocation
Public Safety and Vital Service $4,056,591
FY 2021/22 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Local Housing Trust Fund Match $1,653,295 FY 2022/23 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Local Housing Trust Fund Match $2,780,467 Total $8,490,353
NOFA Results: Cumulatively, the NOFA was open for 34 days. Eleven applications were submitted by six applicants requesting $18,123,510 to build/rehabilitate approximately 482 housing units. Consistent with the NOFA, applications were reviewed and scored by three internal staff members using the following criteria:
‐ The experience and financial capability of the development team; ‐ The relationship of the proposed development to the surrounding community, its quality, configuration, appearance, and service of community needs; ‐ Market conditions, project feasibility, and level of current funding commitment to begin the Project;
‐ Project readiness;
‐ Consistency with the goals and objectives of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; ‐ Application completeness as it relates to the requirements of this NOFA.
Recommendations: Staff have prepared the attached application summary and recommendations for funding.
After today’s meeting, staff will be contacting the proposed applicants to discuss the next steps. Each project receiving a reserved allocation of funding will be subject to further underwriting and funding approval by the Bakersfield City Council prior to officially executing a funding agreement.
Attachments: A. 2025‐2026 Bakersfield Affordable Housing Trust Fund Funding Recommendations
Funding Request Funding Recommendation Source Comments Ward 1 1302 Eye Street*
Housing
Authority of
the County of
Kern
$2,630,000 $2,630,000 HOME* 16
16‐units of 1‐bedroom new
construction of affordable rental
housing for very low and low income
residents located at 1303 Eye Street.
2 2
Victory Family
Services
Columbus Apts.
Victory
Family
Services
$1,000,000 $1,000,000 PSVS 10
For the purchase of 10 1‐bedroom
rental units of affordable housing for
foster youth located at 4400 Columbus
Street.
3 2
Victory Family
Services F Street
Apts.
Victory
Family
Services
$1,000,000 $0 NA 8
For the purchase of 8 1‐bedroom rental
units of affordable housing for foster
youth located at 1709 F Street.
2 2 301 Northrup
Avenue
Pacific
Engineering $1,043,510 $0 NA 5
5 1‐bedroom units of new construction
for very‐low, low, and moderate
income affordable rental housing
located at 301 Northrup Avenue.
2 3
Pathway Union
Terrace
Affordable
Housing
Pathway
Union
Terrace
$800,000 $0 NA 42
Rehabilitation of existing halfway
housing structure for 42‐units of
affordable rental housing for very low
and low income individuals with
substance issues, recently released
from prison, difficult individuals to
find housing located at 1101 Union
Avenue. Located behind the Ramkabir
Motel.
2 4
Village Park
Senior
Apartments
(Rehab)
Golden
Empire
Affordable
Housing Inc.
$1,500,000 $1,500,000 PSVS 60
60‐unit rehabilitation of existing 1‐
bedrooms of affordable rental housing
for very low and low income seniors
located at 2300 R street. Including
HVAC system replacement and new
flooring in all units. The facility's
affordability covenants are nearing
expiration.
2 4 Elevate Apts. CityServe
Kern, Lp $1,500,000.00 $880,900 HHAP 3* 126
126‐units of new construction of
affordable rental housing for very low
and low income individuals. Including
interim housing for homeless youth or
at risk of homelessness located at 3201
F Street.
2 4
Pinewood Glen
Retirement
Community
(Rehab)
Golden
Empire
Affordable
Housing Inc.
$1,000,000 $0 NA 100
100‐ units of 1‐bedroom affordable
housing rehabilitation of existing
senior living facility. Project is
proposing to upgrade floors in rooms
and common areas, differed HVAC
maintenance, new security gates, and
new asphalt for the parking lot.
Previous affordability restrictions have
expired for this facility.
1 5
Bakersfield
Senior Center
and Affordable
Housing
Housing
Authority of
the County of
Kern
$3,500,000 $3,500,000 LHTF/PSVS Match 36
36‐units 1‐bedroom of new
construction of affordable rental
housing for very low and low income
affordable housing for seniors located
at 530 4th Street. This project also
includes a new senior center located
on the first floor of the facility.
2 6
BCLT Down
Payment
Assistance
Program
Self Help
Enterprises $1,650,000 $0 NA 20
20‐ Down payment assistance for
approximately 20‐families purchasing
Bakersfield Community Land Trust
(BCLT) homes.
Multiple
7 Washington &
Potomac
Cesar Chavez
Foundation $2,500,000 $933,762 LHTF/PSVS Match** 59
59‐ units of new construction of
affordable rental housing for very low
and low income families and veterans
located at 1002 Washington Street.
County
$18,123,510 $10,444,662 482Total
* Staff considering alternative funding sources.
** Contingent on project property annexation to the City.
FY 25‐26
Contingent
2025‐2026 Bakersfield Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) Funding Recommendations Rank Project Name Applicant Units