April 11, 2025 Grant Writing and Funding

Building housing that is affordable for all takes more than good intentions—it takes expertise. Financing mixed-income and workforce housing often requires piecing together an “alphabet soup” of loans, grants, federal and state tax credits, soft loans, bond programs, local subsidies and specialized programs. Each comes with its own eligibility criteria, compliance requirements, and financial implications. Knowing how to combine them into a fundable project is both a skill and an art.

ECHO partners and consults with communities and nonprofits to make their housing goals a reality. From assessing local housing needs to identifying funding opportunities, we help projects move from concept to construction. Our consulting services include housing needs assessments, project feasibility analysis, funding identifications, and development planning. By synthesizing market data with available financing tools, and with data-driven insights and practical strategies, ECHO guides teams through the complexity of housing development that can secure approval and investment —ensuring that ideas on paper become housing in the community.

ECHO’s experienced staff write and manage grants to fund housing initiatives. We work with a variety of programs including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Small Cities funds, Local Entitlements, the Housing Tax Credit Contribution program, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), the Connecticut Department of Housing, and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).

ECHO receives funding to acquire The Village Apartments – Uncasville – “DOH granted $8.2 million to Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities, Inc. to acquire two existing residential buildings in Uncasville. The two buildings consist of 54 units of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments serving households earning between 50-120% AMI. The acquisition of this property will ensure the preservation of long-term affordability for its current and future residents in the New London Area.”