Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has updated the Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) and is launching two new programs through the ORCA:

  • Older Adult Housing Program
  • Permanent Loan Program (formerly Direct Lending)

The ORCA is one of the primary ways OHCS funds affordable rental housing development throughout the state. The following program guidance and manuals have been revised to incorporate new programs, new requirements, partner feedback, and better align OHCS requirements with industry standards.

Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) Manual

The ORCA manual update includes but is not limited:

  • Incorporating new programs (listed below)
  • Revising existing language to better align with updated programs and agency direction
  • Establishing new requirements for projects on the waitlist

General Policy and Guideline Manual (GPGM)

The General Policy and Guideline Manual has been updated to account for new OHCS programs and to document minor changes to project requirements and processes including but not limited to:

  • Appraisal requirements
  • Construction monitoring
  • Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) standards
  • Closing requirements

Architectural Standards: OHCS Architectural Standards (OAS) and Architectural Index (Ai)

Formerly known as the Core-Development Manual (CDM), architectural standards and guidance have been updated and can be found in:

  • OHCS Architectural Standards (OAS)
  • Architectural Index

The OAS is comprised of newly updated interactive checklist forms that define the agency’s architectural standards and will take the place of the current CDM forms.

The Architectural Index is a highly slimmed down and simplified version of the CDM. It will function primarily as a supporting reference manual to the OAS, including detailed guidance around architecture and construction policy.

Both documents will be available to ORCA-funded partners through their project Procorem WorkCenters.

Prequalification

Updates to the Prequalification Guidelines include:

  • Adding architects and Capital Needs Assessment (CNA) vendors
  • Expanding guidance and policy clarifications to improve consistency and transparency in the review process
  • Enhancing nonprofit qualification criteria
  • New financial performance and occupancy reporting requirements for certain entity types
  • Collecting voluntary demographic and Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) status information

Older Adult Housing Program (OAHP)

OHCS is launching the Older Adult Housing Program. $23.5M in resources are now available through the ORCA.

This program was established by House Bill 3589 (2025) to support the new construction of affordable multifamily rental housing for older adults and older adults with disabilities.

The program incorporates enhanced accessibility requirements designed to help older residents age in place. For more information about this new resource, review the program manual on the Older Adult Housing Program webpage.

Permanent Loan Program

OHCS is launching the Permanent Loan Program (formerly Direct Lending), available through the ORCA. Senate Bill 684 (2025) directed OHCS to develop and implement lending strategies by January 1, 2027.

Permanent loans are a way for OHCS to offer permanent financing to construct, acquire, rehabilitate, or refinance affordable multifamily rental housing. For additional information review the program manual on the Permanent Loan Program webpage.

Moderate-Income Revolving Loan (MIRL) Project Application Analysis in the ORCA

MIRL is a loan program intended to support and expand low-to-moderate income housing production in cities and counties (known as Sponsoring Jurisdictions) across the state.

OHCS can now support active MIRL Sponsoring Jurisdictions (SJs) by qualitatively reviewing potential housing developments (MIRL Project Application Analysis) through the ORCA. An active SJ means a city or county that has adopted a local MIRL program, through a Master Agreement with OHCS, in which developers can apply for to build affordable housing.

For the MIRL Project Application Analysis, OHCS will review applications against existing ORCA standards and provide a report to the SJ detailing the alignment between the applicant and agency standards. For more information, please see the ORCA manual and MIRL webpage.

HUD 811 Project Rental Assistance

The HUD Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) is now available through the ORCA for eligible affordable housing property owners and developers. Affordable rental housing portfolio properties and applicants seeking ORCA funding for affordable multifamily developments may apply.

Additional Support

OHCS is hosting office hours throughout the summer to support partners with implementing updated program requirements and answer questions. Register and learn more about upcoming office hours.

You can submit any questions you have in the meantime through the ORCA Questions and Feedback Portal.

For project specific questions, email [email protected].