Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
Can you apply?
This grant is for nonprofit organizations that develop affordable housing through sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs. Eligible applicants are national and regional nonprofits and consortia able to operate in at least two states. The program supports land acquisition and infrastructure development for homes sold to low-income homebuyers, including veterans, persons with disabilities, first responders, and homeless persons. SHOP homes must be sold below market price and buyers must contribute significant sweat equity.
Geographic scope is nationwide, with requirement that grantees use SHOP funds across at least two states. Organizations must have capacity to partner with other funders, as construction/rehabilitation costs require leveraged funds. Administrative costs are limited to 10% of the grant award.
Key dates
- Apr 28, 2026 Applications open
- Jun 25, 2026 Application deadline in 24 days
- Aug 3, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 29, 2026 Project start
This grant is for nonprofit organizations that develop affordable housing through sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs. Eligible applicants are national and regional nonprofits and consortia able to operate in at least two states. The program supports land acquisition and infrastructure development for homes sold to low-income homebuyers, including veterans, persons with disabilities, first responders, and homeless persons. SHOP homes must be sold below market price and buyers must contribute significant sweat equity.
Geographic scope is nationwide, with requirement that grantees use SHOP funds across at least two states. Organizations must have capacity to partner with other funders, as construction/rehabilitation costs require leveraged funds. Administrative costs are limited to 10% of the grant award.
Program description
This NOFO solicits applications for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP). This grant awards funds to eligible national and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs. The SHOP program is a tool to promote the production of affordable housing for low-income persons and families, including first-responders, veterans, and persons with disabilities, while fostering safe, stable neighborhoods in communities nationwide.
The SHOP grant program provides competitive awards to national and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs and to promote the production of affordable housing for low-income persons and families, including veterans, homeless persons , first responders, and persons with disabilities . The SHOP units must:
- Be sold to homebuyers at below market prices;
- Homebuyers must be low-income and contribute a significant amount of sweat equity towards the development of their SHOP home; and
- SHOP homes must be non-luxury units that comply with state and local codes, ordinances, and zoning requirements, and with all other SHOP requirements.
Applicants must also:
- Propose to use a significant amount of SHOP grant funds in at least two states.
- Use the SHOP grant funds for only land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and reasonable and necessary planning and administration costs (not to exceed 10 percent).
- The average SHOP expense for the combined cost of land acquisition and infrastructure improvements cannot exceed $25,000 per SHOP unit.
- Applicants must leverage other public and private funds to pay for the construction or rehabilitation costs of every SHOP unit.
- Leveraged funds may also be used for other program costs not covered by SHOP grant funds.
All communications between HUD, SHOP applicants, SHOP awardees, and SHOP beneficiaries must be in English. The application must be received through Grants.gov in English.
This NOFO makes available $24,000,000 ($12,000,000 in FY2025 and $12,000,000 in FY2024) to carry out eligible activities of the SHOP program.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for nonprofit organizations that develop affordable housing through sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs. Eligible applicants are national and regional nonprofits and consortia able to operate in at least two states. The program supports land acquisition and infrastructure development for homes sold to low-income homebuyers, including veterans, persons with disabilities, first responders, and homeless persons. SHOP homes must be sold below market price and buyers must contribute significant sweat equity.
Geographic scope is nationwide, with requirement that grantees use SHOP funds across at least two states. Organizations must have capacity to partner with other funders, as construction/rehabilitation costs require leveraged funds. Administrative costs are limited to 10% of the grant award.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative/proposal
- Budget and budget narrative
- Evidence of nonprofit status (IRS determination letter)
- Multi-state implementation plan
- Letters of commitment from construction/financing partners
- Organizational capacity documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Jovette G. Bryant
- 📧 RHED@hud.gov
- 📞 1-877-787-2526
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 14.247 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$5,851,767
-
$5,250,000
-
$4,750,000
-
$4,000,000
-
$3,500,000
-
$2,942,228
-
$2,500,000
-
$2,137,233
-
$2,057,772
-
$1,000,000
Top States by Funding
- GA 3 awards $12.7M
- WA 2 awards $8.8M
- DC 2 awards $6.5M
- NM 2 awards $3.1M
- CO 1 awards $2.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 14.247). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $26,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $28,010,400 |
FAQ
Who can apply for SHOP funding?
National and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia can apply. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to operate in at least two states and facilitate sweat equity homeownership programs.
What geographic areas are eligible?
The program is nationwide. Applicants must commit to using SHOP funds in at least two states within their project areas.
What costs can SHOP funds cover?
SHOP funds can only pay for land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and planning/administration costs (max 10%). Construction and rehabilitation costs must come from other sources.
How much funding is available?
$24 million total ($12 million FY2025, $12 million FY2024). Individual awards range from approximately $1.1 million to $12 million.
What's the deadline for applications?
The deadline is June 25, 2026. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov in English.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Plan to leverage multiple funding sources early. SHOP funds alone won't cover home construction, so identify construction financing partners before applying.
- Calculate land and infrastructure costs carefully. The $25,000 per-unit average cap on combined land/infrastructure costs is a hard ceiling—plan conservatively.
- Document your multi-state strategy clearly. Show how you'll operate across at least two states and why that geographic diversity makes sense for your organization.
- Build partnerships with local nonprofits and builders in your target states. HUD wants to see strong ground-level relationships and community support.
- Budget realistic sweat equity hours. Be clear about how many volunteer hours homebuyers will contribute and how you'll coordinate and track that work.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating the cost of securing construction financing for every unit. Applying without clear multi-state operational capacity or partnerships. Exceeding the 10% administrative cost cap or the $25,000 per-unit infrastructure ceiling.
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