Multifamily Rental Housing

The Commerce Contract Management System (CMS) portal allows you to submit requests for reimbursement (A19 forms). You can attach backup documentation, see up-to-date balances and monitor the approval of your invoice on-line. The electronic reimbursement system is not yet available for all Commerce programs. Please contact your program manager for more information.

Set up an account

Take the following steps to set-up your Commerce CMS account:

1. Register for a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account
2. Submit a CMS Access Request Form (Word) to your program manager

Upon approval, you will receive an email from “CMS-noreply@www.commerce.wa.gov” with a registration code, how-to guide and instructions for login.

Additionally, you can review the following resources for additional assistance:

• Contract Management System (CMS) User Manual (Word)
• Reportable Expenses Training Video
• Find an Organization’s UBI Number
• SAW Technical Assistance

2025 Presentations & Public Input Sessions

• Affordable Housing Construction Review Solicitation Pre-Proposal Conference (on Box): This webinar was held on April 23, 2025 to provide an overview of RFQQ #MHU-2025-1, a contract solicitation for services related to construction review.
  • View the RFQQ #MHU-20250-1 presentation slides (PDF).
  • View the RFQQ #MHU-20250-1 webinar recording (on Box).
• New Awardees Orientation materials (on Box): This webinar was held on March 5, 2025 to inform awardees of our most recent round of state funds in response to NOFA #MHU-2024-02 (PDF) and federal funds in response to NOFA #MHU-2024-03 (PDF) about the process of affordable housing development under contract guidelines.
  • View the 2025 new awardee presentation slides (PDF).
  • View the 2025 new awardee webinar recording (on Box).

2024 Presentations & Public Input Sessions

• Housing Trust Fund Repair Fund Program Guidelines (PDF): The 2024 Supplemental Capital Budget (2023-2025) appropriated funding for “Affordable housing urgent repair grants to be provided on an ongoing basis.” This funding aims to address nonrecurring repair projects such as the repair of units or buildings, the abatement of potentially hazardous materials, and safety-related structural improvements for affordable housing. Please review the July 31, 2024 meeting recording and presentations slides for more information.
• 2024 Application Workshop Trainings: Virtual workshops are now available for guidance on how to complete a 2024 application and the criteria used to evaluate applications for multifamily/rental housing projects seeking capital funding. See recordings and FAQ sheets below.
  • Apple Health and Homes Webinar, June 20, 2024 – Recording & Presentation Slides
  • State Housing Trust Fund Application Webinar, July 11, 2024 – Recording & Presentation Slides
  • ALTSA Webinar, July 18, 2024 – Recording & Presentation Slides
  • 2024 Multifamily Rental Funding Round Office Hours – July 24, 2024 – Q&A Document (PDF)
  • HOME & NHTF Application Webinar – Aug 1, 2024 – Recording & Presentation Slides
  • 2024 Multifamily Rental Funding Round Office Hours – Aug 7, 2024 – Q&A Document (PDF)
  • IDD Webinar – Aug 8, 2024 – Recording & Presentation Slides
• HTF Handbook Review: Over the course of 2024, the Housing Trust Fund provided multiple opportunities to get oriented to and provide input on the updates to the HTF Handbook (view on Box), as we engage in a multi-part chapter-by-chapter public review process. See below for newly revised chapters, public forum recordings, and presentation materials.
  • HTF Handbook Chapter 1 (PDF)
  • HTF Handbook Chapter 2 & 3
  • HTF Handbook Chapter 4
  • HTF Handbook Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6 – to be released
  • HTF Handbook Chapter 7

2023 Presentations & Public Input Sessions

• 2023 Housing Preservation Application Questions and Answers: Questions & answers regarding the Housing Preservation Program NOFA #MHU-2023-04.
  • HPP Questions and Answers Document – Number 1 (PDF)
  • HPP Questions and Answers Document – Number 2 (PDF)
• Commerce Loan Management by the Multifamily Housing Unit – FAQ (PDF): Questions & answers regarding loan management and deferred payments.
• 2023 Multifamily Rental Application Questions & Answers: Questions & answers regarding the HTF Multifamily Rental NOFA #MHU-2023-02.
  • MFR Questions and Answers Document – Number 1 (PDF)
  • MFR Questions and Answers Document – Number 2 (PDF)
• 2023 HOME and NHTF Application Questions & Answers: Questions & answers regarding the HOME & NHTF NOFA #MHU-2023-03.
  • HOME and NHTF — Questions and Answers Document – Number 1 (PDF)
  • HOME and NHTF — Questions and Answers Document – Number 2 (PDF)
• Presentation to new awardees from the Housing Trust Fund – held on March 8th, 2023.

• Frequently Asked Questions – End of Loan Deferral (PDF)
• Loan and Grant Policy for Affordable Housing Development (PDF)
• TDC Guidelines and Materials (PDF)

• Emergency Housing Assistance Following a Disaster (PDF)
• Procedure for Emergency/Disaster Waiver (PDF)
• Emergency/Disaster Waiver (PDF)
• Displaced Household Certification (PDF)

• Housing Assistance Program RCW 43.185
• Affordable Housing Program RCW 43.185A

• Multifamily Housing Unit Fact Sheet – 2025 (PDF): This publication provides a snapshot of our unit’s purpose, populations served, details of the Housing Trust Fund, and opportunities for future investment.
• Transit-Oriented Development Partnership Match – 2025 (PDF): This report details the funding guidelines, investment methodology, results, and conclusions stemming from a $50,000,000 appropriation to invest in high density housing projects in transit-rich environments, as established by the 2023-25 Capital Budget.
• Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Handbook – updated on January 30th, 2025: The most recently revised edition of the HTF Handbook, which outline guidelines pertaining to all Housing Trust Fund affordable housing properties.
• Housing Trust Fund Vision and Strategic Priorities – 2022 (PDF): Guiding principles for the purpose of anchoring community-driven values and priorities into all multifamily housing unit projects.
• Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice – 2020 (PDF): The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice examines various sources related to furthering fair housing, the fair housing delivery system and housing transactions that affect people protected under fair housing law.
• Analyzing Development Costs for Low-Income Housing – 2019 (PDF): In 2017, the Legislature directed JLARC to analyze the costs of developing low-income housing. JLARC reviewed the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs. A Joint Legislative and Audit Review Committee (JLARC) Report.
• Ultra-Efficient Affordable Housing Demonstration – 2018 (PDF): This report satisfies the reporting requirements of the 2016 supplemental capital budget (2EHB 1115, Section 1033(5) and includes:
  • Project costs compared to costs of traditional design and construction
  • Life-cycle costs
  • Use of sustainable resources
  • Energy savings and reduction of carbon footprint
  • Lessons learned
• Washington State Affordable Housing Portfolio Study – 2015 (PDF): The study examined the need for additional capital investments in rental properties funded by the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs.
• Increasing the Cost-Effectiveness of Housing Trust Fund Investments – 2012 (PDF): A report of recommendations by the Department of Commerce for awarding Housing Trust Fund dollars in a cost-effective manner.
• Washington State Affordable Housing Inventory – 2010 (PDF): In 2007, the Washington State Legislature instructed the Department of Commerce, then the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, to prepare an inventory of housing assistance programs. See the 2007 capital budget (ESHB-1092, Sec 1031(11)) for more detail. The inventory includes the following:
  • All state-funded programs
  • Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs
  • All programs funded by local governments
  • Housing authorities
• Affordable Housing Cost Study – 2009 (PDF): Department of Commerce, then the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, evaluated the development costs associated with building affordable housing funded by the Housing Trust Fund. See the 2008 supplemental capital budget (Chapter 328, Laws of 2008, Sec. 1005) for more detail.
• Comparing Costs & Characteristics of Housing Assistance Programs – 2009 (PDF): In the 2007 operating budget, the Legislature directed JLARC to evaluate and compare the cost efficiency of rental housing voucher programs versus other approaches to providing housing assistance. See the 2008 operating budget (SHB 1128 Sec. 103(3)) for more detail. A Joint Legislative and Audit Review Committee (JLARC) Report.
• Farmworker Housing Program Reports: The Farmworker Housing Program, formerly a separate program, has ceased operations. During its operation, the program produced reports in 2005 and 2007.
  • Farmworker Housing in Washington State: Progress to Date, December 2007 (PDF)
  • Farmworker Housing in Washington State: Safe, Decent and Affordable, March 2005 (PDF)