Question & AnswerQ&A (SHFC CORPORATE CIRCULAR HDH NO. 14-004)
The purpose is to prescribe and clarify the accreditation process of SHFC CSO Partners in the High Density Housing Program.
Accreditation refers to the process of giving official authorization to an organization/group whose qualifications meet the standards of the HDH Program.
A CSO refers to people's organizations (POs) or non-government organizations (NGOs) whose principal role is to assist community associations (Cooperatives/Homeowners Association) in organization, project completion, and post-occupancy activities.
The CSO Partner must be a registered stock or non-stock corporation, have no unfavorable records with SHFC or KSAs, have at least 2 years experience in community development, possess physical and financial capabilities, have a well-defined organizational structure with experienced officers, a good record assisting community associations, and no violations unless suspension sanctions have been lifted.
A CSO Partner must be accredited prior to the submission of loan applications under HDH financing.
They assist in developing community governance structures, people’s plans, technical, legal and financial requirements, selection of contractors/developers, conduct technical workshops, and prepare and submit loan documents.
Sanctions include suspension for up to six months for certain violations such as bad track record or direct negotiation with landowners, and disqualification for serious offenses like fraud, misrepresentation, abandonment, or pursuing personal business using the HDH Program.
The performance of a CSO Partner is reviewed every three years for renewal of accreditation.
Criteria include the number of completed and occupied projects, collection efficiency rate, performance of enumerated functions, existence of valid complaints, pending cases, and other necessary factors.
The Accreditation Team for the Community Mortgage Program/Localized Community Mortgage Program is responsible for the accreditation of CSO Partners for HDH projects.