Eligibility and Criteria
Minimum Eligibility for Submission
The following minimum criteria must be met in order for a development to be eligible for the Jack Kemp Awards:
- The development must provide housing affordable to those earning 60-120% AMI. Therefore, two-thirds of the building’s units should target households earning 60-120% AMI. (Developments that target greater affordability should apply to the Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation.)
- Development should leverage innovative financing to provide housing to those who do not qualify for federal housing subsidies (available to those earning 60% AMI or less), yet cannot afford for market rate rents.
- The development must be located in the U.S.
- Development must be completed and occupied by residents at time of submission. No part of the development should remain under construction.
*Please note: you do not need to be a ULI member to apply.*
Evaluation Factors
In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements, the following provides some context for how the jury reviews and evaluates our awards:
- Attainability:
- Degree to which the development provides housing for middle-income earners (those not eligible for subsidized housing because they earn more than 60% AMI, but still not able to afford market rate).
- Community: How does this development fit into and / or meet the existing community and its needs:
- Is this development providing greater attainability in a neighborhood experiencing increasing rents or displacement; or did this development add greater attainability in a traditionally high-cost/unaffordable neighborhood?
- Has this project had some other positive impact on the community?
- Equity and Impact:
- Degree to which the project has prioritized equity in its hiring and contracting goals.
- How did the development team engage community members, including neighborhood residents and businesses, and stakeholders? What efforts were made to ensure inclusion (e.g. language translation, accessibility, opportunities at different times of the days, etc.)?
- Amenities and Residential Livability:
- Does the development offer a healthy balance of unit sizes (not just studio or 1-bedrooms) to accommodate families?
- If there are amenities or services attached to the building, are they being utilized? Are they available to all residents regardless of income?
- If there is a retail component, has it been leased? Is it retail that is appropriate for the residents (e.g. not a high-end restaurant)
- Construction and Design: While this is not a design award, the jury does appreciate any innovations in construction and design, particularly if they lower costs.
- Sustainability: Does the building design incorporate any innovative features that reduce water waste, improve energy efficiency, or enhance the project’s resiliency?
- Financing: What financing tools enable the development to focus primarily on serving households earning more than 60% AMI but less than enough to afford market rate housing.
- Innovation: Degree to which some component of the development (e.g. financing, construction technologies, affordability structure) are moving the needle for the industry
Have a question on the eligibility and criteria of the award? Email us at [email protected].