Title
Amendment to State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program Local Housing Assistance Plan-State Fiscal Year 2016/2017 (B)
This item requests City Commission approval to fund a Rental Assistance Program for City residents who are homeless or have special needs; and to amend the City’s SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan covering State Fiscal Year 2016/2017.
Explanation
Since 1992, the City of Gainesville has participated in the SHIP Program, which provides Florida Cities and Counties with funds to implement programs to promote and preserve affordable housing and homeownership. State law requires Cities to adopt a Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) to receive SHIP funds. The LHAP describes program activities and management plans for the utilization of funds through public/private partnerships which expand the production and preservation of affordable housing within the city limits of the City of Gainesville. The LHAP addresses several affordable housing needs in the community, including homeownership, housing rehabilitation, new construction, downpayment assistance, mortgage foreclosure intervention, and rental housing. The goal of the plan is to provide affordable housing opportunities for income eligible residents within the incorporated areas of the City.
Recently, the State Legislature amended SHIP rules to allow Cities and Counties to use a portion of their SHIP funds for rent subsidies for households with special needs, including homelessness. In response to the amended SHIP rules, City and County Housing staffs propose amending their LHAPs to implement a joint Rental Assistance Program. Those funds will help complement Continuum of Care and other service provider funding in the community. The Rental Assistance Program provides funding to pay rental security and utility deposits, as well as ongoing monthly rent subsidies on behalf of eligible very low-income persons and/or households within the city limits of the City of Gainesville.
Fiscal Note
The proposed LHAP Amendment allows the City to reallocate up to $100,000 for rental assistance and $20,000 for a Case Manager, for a total of $120,000, of the City’s SHIP funds to a new Rental Assistance Program. The program would be jointly funded and operated by the Alachua County Community Support Services Department.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) Adopt the resolution approving the Amendment to the City’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program Local Housing Assistance Plan for State Fiscal Year 2016/2017; 2) authorize the submission of the amendment to the 2014-2017 Local Housing Assistance Plan to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation; 3) authorize the Mayor to execute the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Gainesville and Alachua County for the Rental Assistance Program; and 4) authorize the Mayor and/or City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents related to the amendment to the 2014-2017 Local Housing Assistance Plan, subject to review by the City Attorney as to form and legality.