Title
Voucher Program for Housing (NB)
explanation
The City Commission referred this item to the Community Development Committee on August 9, 2004. The Community Development Committee continued this item twice due to full agendas, and discussed the item on November 15, 2004. Kevin Claney had raised the issue during citizen comment originally, and attended the November 15, 2004 Community Development Committee to present his questions and interests on the topic.
Mr. Claney recommended that the City move to a voucher program for affordable housing in order to allow recipients the flexibility to choose their housing location. Housing Division representatives attended and explained that SHIP down payment assistance for first time homebuyers, mortgage foreclosure intervention and other programs allow flexibility as to where the houses are for the recipients receiving assistance; those programs are based on client need and allow choice as to housing location. The Down Payment Assistance program allows the homebuyer to purchase a home located anywhere in the City as long as income and purchase limits are met. Also, under the Mortgage Foreclosure Intervention program, assistance can be provided to residents of any neighborhood in the City that meet program requirements and income limits.
However, the Committee discussed that some State programs such as Florida Housing Finance Corporation's tax credit program are geared toward developments with a low-income mix rather than a priority of a broad mix of incomes, and that the City may wish to take a position on such State programs.
Fiscal Note
None
Recommendation
Community Development Committee to the City Commission: 1) The City continue providing financial support for housing choice through down payment assistance and other programs; 2) the City include in the State agenda a statement that concerns State programs, if there is a State program that has a real problem as far as income mix priorities; and 3) remove this item from the referral list.