The Spring Street Brief

Episode 115: Ohio OHFA Opens 9% LIHTC QAP Technical Amendment Comment

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The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) has opened a public comment period on the first draft of its 2026–2027 9% LIHTC Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) Technical Amendment, alongside updated opportunity area data and maps from the Urban Institute. For developers, syndicators, and investors with active Ohio pipeline, this mid-cycle amendment has direct implications for site scoring, geographic eligibility, and additional credit allocation strategies heading into the next competitive round.

Key Takeaways:

  • OHFA has posted the first draft of its 2026–2027 9% LIHTC QAP Technical Amendment for public comment — a mid-cycle revision with potential scoring implications across the state.
  • Updated Urban Institute data and maps have been published alongside the draft, directly affecting how OHFA defines opportunity areas and eligible geographies for competitive scoring.
  • The comment period also covers OHFA's additional credits policy, which governs how allocations beyond standard awards are handled — a key lever for deals with above-average credit need.
  • The comment deadline is 5 p.m. on the date published on OHFA's website; written submissions must be received by that time.
  • Developers should cross-reference active Ohio sites against revised Urban Institute maps immediately — a change in opportunity area designation can materially alter a deal's competitive scoring position.
  • Ohio operates one of the most active 9% LIHTC programs in the Midwest, making QAP amendments consequential for a large share of regional affordable housing pipeline.
  • Substantive public comment during this window is the last point of real leverage to influence final QAP language before the amendment is locked for the cycle.

    • Mid-cycle QAP technical amendments don't happen in a vacuum — when an agency like OHFA updates its underlying opportunity mapping through a partner like the Urban Institute, the ripple effects on deal competitiveness can be significant. Teams with Ohio pipeline should treat this comment period as an active workstream, not a passive notification. Review the maps, assess your sites, and engage with the additional credits policy language if it touches your capital stack. The window is open now.

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    The Spring Street BriefBy Spring Street Management Group