Equitable Path Forward (EPF) is our five-year, $3.5 billion nationwide initiative targeted to help dismantle the deeply-rooted legacy of racism in housing – from the types of homes that are built, where they’re built, who builds them, who has access to them, and the wealth that is generated from them.
EPF approaches this work by investing capital, grants, advisory services, and program support to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led affordable housing developers around the country.
Equitable Path Forward: Advisory Services (EPF AS) is launching in Southern California to help up to five BIPOC-led organizations to accelerate their housing development capabilities and strengthen their operations through consulting services.
About the Program
The 12-month program will provide advisory services or consulting support of $25,000 for up to five BIPOC-led organizations in the greater Los Angeles region. With improved housing development capacity and stronger operations, BIPOC-led organizations will be better positioned to develop and preserve affordable housing.
Advisory services participation includes but is not limited to:
- An organizational capacity and leadership goal assessment to identify areas or priorities for the organization, including financial position, real estate development capabilities, fundraising, and asset management, and any leadership development support needs for the executive director/CEO such as trainings and coaching.
- Matching consultant(s) with the organization and the executive director/CEO to provide comprehensive services and deliverables to address priorities identified through the assessment phase. Technical support workplans will be tailored to the unique needs and goals of the organization, including but not limited to accessing capital, accessing training, diversifying funding streams, and advancing affordable housing projects. The support will also include actionable strategies, deliverables, and a timeline for the organization to reach its operational, development, and financial goals.
- Ongoing meetings with Enterprise staff to discuss progress toward workplan goals and ongoing need for organizational and project support.
- Connection with mission-driven capital products.
- Connections to funder networks.
Eligibility
Enterprise will select up to five affordable housing organizations (Applicants) in the greater Los Angeles region (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino and Ventura counties). EPF AS will focus on affordable housing organizations whose leaders are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) or represent other historically marginalized groups.
Development entities targeted for EPF AS are defined as:
- A nonprofit entity in which the Chief Executive Officer or Executive Director is BIPOC or represents other historically marginalized groups.
- A for-profit entity in which the Chief Executive Officer, general partner or managing member is BIPOC or represents other historically marginalized groups.
Applicants must meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements in order to be considered.
- Applicant owns between 20 and 500 affordable housing units or a minimum of two affordable multifamily buildings.
- Applicant is a newer developer (five years or less) engaged in affordable housing development and can demonstrate that affordable housing development is a key activity of the organization.
- Applicant is an experienced developer and can demonstrate the organization is at an inflection point, i.e., new leadership, new strategic/business plan, doubling down on development goals, and could benefit from consulting support to reach its goals.
How to Apply
Review the full request for applications. Applicants must register for a SlideRoom account and submit applications here.
Applications are due by Feb. 13, 2023, at 8:59 p.m. PT.
For technical support with SlideRoom, contact support@slideroom.com. For questions regarding EPF or this RFA, please contact Ruby Harris, senior director, at rharris@enterprisecommunity.org.
