Announcing AHSC Round 10 Draft Guidelines
Following the state’s $835 million investment in 21 integrated affordable housing and sustainable transportation projects statewide announced last week, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program is turning right around to release the Round 10 Draft Guidelines. The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is pursuing this accelerated timeframe for Round 10 to ensure the next funding round is completed in 2026.
The AHSC team is soliciting public comment on these Round 10 Draft Guidelines through Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. Please see our Summary of Changes and Round 10 Draft Guidelines for instructions on how to submit public comment.
Public Workshops
To ensure our program will meet the needs of all Californians, we will host three Public Workshops for our Draft Guidelines in January. These meetings are an important chance for us to hear from potential applicants and interested parties. We invite you, and any other potential partners, to attend these workshops.
Previous applicants will notice that the AHSC team is proposing fewer Guidelines changes than in previous rounds. This is to ensure that the program remains predictable and accessible for applicants while adhering to a December 2026 Round 10 funding cycle completion date. That said, the public workshops are an opportunity for interested parties to learn more about the application process, the requirements of a successful project, and a chance for dialogue with program staff on your proposals and projects.
There will be three public Draft Guidelines workshops held in the latter part of January: One virtual, one located in Southern California, and one located in Northern California. Stay tuned for further details about the public workshops and how to sign up.
Next Steps
Comments on the Round 10 Draft Guidelines are due by Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. AHSC staff expect Final Round 10 Guidelines to be adopted at the Council Meeting on Feb. 25, 2026. The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and application will be released soon thereafter, with a target Round 10 award date of December 2026.
And as always, the AHSC Program is proud to offer no-cost Capacity Building and Technical Assistance to eligible applicants. If you are considering applying to the program, please see our Technical Assistance Intake Form.
If you have any questions, please email ahsc@sgc.ca.gov.
Stay up to date by signing up for the AHSC listserv.
California Strategic Growth Council
The California Strategic Growth Council is part of the governor’s Cabinet, a team of state leaders who work closely with the governor to advance sustainability, equity, and quality of life across California—connecting housing, transportation, climate, and community investment.
The 10 distinguished members of the council include state-agency secretaries and directors, and three appointed members of the public. The Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation acts as its chair.
The collaborative structure of SGC provides a pathway for broad implementation across state agencies to prioritize uplifting community voices into the type of projects and resources to receive state funds.
Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities (AHSC)
The Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities program (AHSC) is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. AHSC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Invest, formerly known as Cap-and-Trade, dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.