Title
GCRA Housing Initiatives Update
Explanation
The GCRA is releasing five new housing programs in late summer/early fall of 2021. Each of these programs is a piece of a comprehensive strategy towards the objectives to implement housing initiatives to meet the GCRA’s goal of maintaining the culture and population of District neighborhoods.
The Programs’ offerings are as follows:
1. My Neighborhood Grant Program: Offers $25,000 to former neighborhood residents to welcome them back to purchase a home or lot. Eligible neighborhoods include: Cedar Grove II, Duval, Fifth Avenue, North Lincoln Heights, Pleasant Street, Porters, Springhill and Sugarhill.
2. Neighborhood Paint Program: Provides free pressure washing and painting services to the exterior of single-family residential homes. Eligible neighborhoods include: Duval, Fifth Avenue, Pleasant Street, Porters, Springhill and Sugarhill.
3. Heirs Property Program: Offers free probate legal assistance to heirs’ property owners to clear the title to their homes. The program is offered district-wide.
4. GCRA/CWC Partnership: The GCRA and Community Weatherization Coalition are partnering to offer home energy tune-ups and more permanent home energy upgrades to homeowners, renters, and lessors. The program is offered district-wide and awards are based on needs identified through the CWC’s Home Energy Tune-Up Program.
5. Historic Home Stabilization Program: Proposed program offers funding for structural improvements to historic homes to resolve code violations and dangerous conditions. The Program is offered for contributing structures to Gainesville’s historic districts within the GCRA District boundary.
GCRA staff is preparing a marketing plan to educate District Neighbors about these opportunities. To inform the community, GCRA staff will attend neighborhood association meetings and host community workshops to help interested applicants apply. Neighborhood members will be sent postcards through the mail, and brochures will be distributed at community centers. A press release will be sent out to news outlets, information will be posted online and through social media, and an advertisement will be broadcasted through TV and radio.
Fiscal Note
As these are all pilot programs, the GCRA has committed to reviewing the efficacy of the program and any suggested changes will be brought back prior to the first year anniversary of the program.
The My Neighborhood Grant and Heirs Property Programs have $400,000 budgeted for FY21 from Unit W001 - Model Block and Attainable Housing Strategies. The Neighborhood Paint Program and GCRA/CWC Partnership have $72,000 budgeted for FY21 from Unit W022 - Residential Improvement Programs. The proposed Historic Home Stabilization Grant Program will also use funds from Unit W022 unless the approved application is located in the former College Park/University Heights CRA District where TIF funds remain. Budget adjustments to these units will be made for FY22.
Recommendation
GCRA Director to GCRA Advisory Board: Receive update from Staff