Agenda

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Special BCC Meeting

Meeting Date:	02/25/2016
Issue: SHIP Disaster Funding Request
From:	Jack Brown
Department:	County Administrator's Office
CAO Approval:

Information

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning SHIP Disaster Funding Request - Jack R. Brown, County Administrator

That the Board take the following action concerning the SHIP Disaster Funding Request:

A. Authorize the Board Chairman to sign a letter to Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) requesting State Disaster Funding;

B. Approve submission to FHFC of a technical revision request to the 2014-2016 Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP);

C. Authorize staff to revise SHIP budgetary allocations within the LHAP to reflect actual funding distributions provided by FHFC; and

D. Authorize the Chairman or County Administrator, as appropriate, to execute all documents required to submit, receive, and implement the SHIP Disaster Funding and related activities.

BACKGROUND:

Due to the recent Executive Orders issued by the Governor declaring a disaster in Escambia County in reference to the recent tornado events, the County may request disaster recovery funding from Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC), which administers the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program. A request letter (Exhibit I) must be submitted to FHFC requesting the funds, detailing current SHIP funding available, and listing strategies to be employed with the funds. The attached request will make funding available for Housing Repair assistance, Replacement Housing assistance, and Disaster/Mitigation Assistance (including security deposit and rental assistance for displaced residents during the term of the Executive Order). Florida Housing will review the request and determine what funds can be released to the County. Funds must meet all regular SHIP requirements.

Local SHIP Program policy states that assistance will be provided on a first come/first served basis. Since the County and City currently have waiting lists for the Housing Repair and Replacement Housing strategies, a technical revision to the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) is needed in order to give priority to disaster survivors. The Replacement Housing strategy is also being modified to allow for non-County or City staff to implement if desired by the local governments. Clarification is also needed in the Disaster/Mitigation Assistance strategy regarding the income categories to be served. A redline version of the three impacted strategies is incorporated in Exhibit II.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

If allocated by FHFC, disaster funds will be appropriated to SHIP 2016, Cost Center 370202.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

N/A

PERSONNEL:

N/A

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Neighborhood Enterprise Division staff will submit the letter, LHAP technical revision request, and other related documents to FHFC.

Attachments
Exhibit 1 - Letter
Exhibit II - Excerpt from LHAP