CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: July 24, 2024.
Agenda Date: August 13, 2024.
Prepared By: Marcia Markham, Housing Program Coordinator
Through: Charlene Neuterman, Community Services Director
Requested Action:
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Council approval to open the City’s repair/rehabilitation program application funded by the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) and place the application on the City’s website and promote it through social media and the City’s newsletter.
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BACKGROUND:
For Fiscal Year 2024, the City was awarded $228,460 in State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP), funded through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The City has an estimated $7,240 in carryforward funds to add to its rehabilitation and administrative strategies.
The use of SHIP funds must meet one of three (3) National Objectives: benefit low/moderate income persons, eliminate or prevent health and security issues and/or meet urgent needs. The SHIP Program is established in accordance with Section 420.907-9079, Florida Statutes and Chapter 67-37, Florida Administrative Code. Cities and Counties must be in compliance with these applicable statutes, rules and any additional requirements as established through the Legislative process. The City has an approved Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) that is effective through 2025. This LHAP details the housing strategies and incentive strategies the City is approved to implement using the funds allocated each year.
The SHIP Program encourages building active partnerships between government and local builders/developers to advocate for low-income persons, providing housing or support services to the residents of a community. The City of Cocoa utilizes SHIP funding to conduct owner occupied repair/rehabilitation projects to residents in the following categories: very low income, low income, moderate income and special needs. Additionally, the LHAP supports disaster assistance following a declared disaster in the City/County to complete emergency repairs and other activities as appropriate by Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC). The State awards the funds on an annual basis beginning in July of each year (the State’s fiscal year)
The funds are allocated in the following manner: 10% of the allocation is allowed for administration of the program, while the remaining allocation is expended for the purposes of meeting the City’s LHAP initiatives. The allocation for FY24 of approximately $171,345 for owner occupied repair/rehabilitation will serve approximately 8-10 homeowners currently on the waiting list. With the increased allocation by the State of Florida in FY24, the City is able to assist more homeowners than any other fiscal year previously. Historically, the City has not received funding at this level. Below are the last seven (7) years of funding from SHIP for the City’s program.
• 2018 - $81,175
• 2019 - $27,919
• 2020 - $35,096
• 2021 - $0 (no SHIP funds were allocated statewide)
• 2022 - $128,147
• 2023 - $188,916
• 2024 - $228,460
In August 2023, the wait list for the repair/rehabilitation program was 74. The wait list for the City’s owner-occupied repair/rehabilitation program has been closed since 2020 due to the list being over 100 applicants. Staff requalify the homeowners on the list to verify interest in remaining in the program, income levels, number of family members in the household, and those who have dropped out for various reasons (death, moving, etc.). The City’s wait list has been reduced from 74 to 37 due to the reasons mentioned above. In FY 2024, the City has completed three (3) owner occupied rehabilitation projects. The average cost for owner-occupied repair/rehabilitation is approximately $70,000. This is due in part to the age of the home and the increased environmental rehabilitation activities required (mold removal, lead based paint removal).
With the list now reduced to 37 and the funding remaining fairly consistent, Staff is able to complete approximately 3-5 homes per year with the funds allocated. The wait list will be capped at 50 participants to keep it manageable for Staff to maintain and monitor. Each year, Staff will update the list and continue to complete projects with the funds allocated.
As part of this opening of the waiting list an ad was placed in Florida Today as required by FHFC, noting the list will open in September to accept new applications for the program. The application has been updated to meet the requirements of FHFC and our LHAP and will be available on the City’s website, through the Housing Program Coordinator in Community Services and will be advertised on the various social media platforms and the City’s Newsletter.
Staff is requesting approval to open the waiting list and advertise the application for new/eligible homeowners.
PRIORITY AREA CONNECTION:
Community Outreach and Engagement.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
Budgeted Yes
If not budgeted, is amendment/transfer attached? N/A
PREVIOUS ACTION:
N/A
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Recommendation
Council approval to open the City’s repair/rehabilitation program application funded by the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) and place the application on the City’s website and promote it through social media and the City’s newsletter.