[Call to order at 3:00 pm]
[00:00:09]
SLIGHT TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES FOR A FEW MOMENTS. WE ARE GOING TO CARRY ON THE MEETING JUST AS WE NORMALLY DO. JUST A COUPLE THINGS WE HAVE NOTICED HERE MAKING THE ADJUSMENTS TO THE CHAMBER QUARTERS IS IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEAK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE SITTING IN THE ROOM HERE, IF YOU COULD BRING UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
THERE IS A BUTTON THAT SHOULD TURN GREEN IN THE EVENT YOU NEED TO USE THE MICROPHONE.
YOU CAN TURN IT OFF. OKAY. IS IT ON?
>> I WILL REMIND EVERYONE WE ARE TELEVISED TODAY. AGAIN, IF YOU ARE ON THE CONFERENCE CALL IF YOU CAN MUTE YOUR PHONE, WE HAVE A COUPLE COUPLE PEOPLE WHO CALLED IN THROUGH A LANDLINE. YOU SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO HEAR US AND TAKE YOURSELF OFF MUTE PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING. OTHER THAN THAT, I WILL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO THE
CHAIRMAN AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING TODAY. >> CAN HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES. BILL, WITH YOUR PERMISSION I HAVE TO DO ROLLCALL.
[1) Introduction of AHAC Members and SJC staff]
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU HOW YOU WANTED TO DO THATFOR SECTION 1.
>> BRITTANY? >> HERE. >> AND JERRY .
AND JERRY SENDS HIS REGRETS, HE CAN'T ATTEND TODAY. TRACY?
>> STEVE?>> I THINK STEVE WILL BE HERE. IS JUST LATE.
BILL? >> HELLO. >> ALEX?>> PRESENT.
>> HARRY MAXWELL. >> PRESENT. >> MEGAN PERKINS.
AND CARL. >> HERE. >> THAT'S IT.
STEVE? >> STEVE JUST DIALED IN. >> DO WE HAVE QUORUM?
IT LOOKS LIKE IT? >> YES, YOU DO. >> HIP, HIP HOORAY.THE FIRST THING, DO YOU WANT TO APPROVE MINUTES AND GET IT OUT OF THE WAY OR DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE
NEW MEMBER RECOMMENDATION? >> THAT IS YOUR CALL. WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT
EITHER WAY. >> LET'S GET MINUTES OUT OF THE WAY.
>> I CAN'T HEAR YOU. >> CHAIRMAN, IT IS COMPLETELY UP TO YOU IF SOMEONE WANTS TO
[3) Approve Minutes - May, 2020]
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AND ADJUST THE AGENDA. STAFF HAS NO ISSUES WITH THATFOR IN. >> EVERYBODY I ASSUME HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES.
DO WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE AND WE CAN DISCUSS IT? >> I HAD A QUESTION ON THE
MINUTES. WHAT WAS THAT SECTION IN YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED.>> THAT WAS A QUESTION FROM JOE ALEX. THEY ARE NOT HIGHLIGHTED HERE IN PERSON BUT I THINK THEY WERE
WHEN THEY GOT THEM SENT ELECTRONICALLY. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES. >> HARRY MAXWELL SECOND. ARE YOU GUYS HEARING ME.
>> I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING. >> ALL THOSE IN FLAVOR PLEASE
SAY AYE. >> MARY, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT?
[2) Recommendation - New Member]
>> YES, I AM HAPPY WITH THAT. THANKS, BILL. >> THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS WE ARE RECOMMENDING A NEW MEMBER OR A NEW MEMBER HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED TO US BY THE
COMMISSIONERS. HOW ARE WE HANDLING THIS? >> CHAIRMAN, SINCE WE ARE ON T.V. BEING BROADCAST, IF HE COULD DO ITEM NUMBER ONE WHICH IS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AHAC STAFF. I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE APPROPRIATE.
MAYBE TALK SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR BACKGROUND FOR A FEW MOMENTS? >> MY NAME IS CARL, AHAC MEMBER
ON THE RST COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND REAL ESTATE F. >> BRITTANY, DO YOU WANT TO GO
AHEAD AND CHECK IN? >> DO WHAT NOW? >> JUST INTRODUCING.
[00:05:07]
WE ARE HAVING ALL MEMBERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. >> BRITTANY CORONADO.
>> STEVE, BANKER AND VICE CHAI . >> THANKS, STEVE.
TRACY, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.> TRACY, AHAC MEMBER FROM THE MORTGAGE
LENDING SIDE 15 YEARS IN THE MORTGAGE LENDING INDUSTRY. >> MR. CHAIR?
BILL? >> BILL LAZAR WITH THE ST. JOHN'S HOUSING PARTNERSHIP.
>> ALEX? >> ALEX, AHAC MEMBER. >> HARRY MAXWELL?
>> HARRY MAXWELL, AHAC MEMBER. >> OKAY. AND THAT DOES IT.
DID I MISS ANYONE? J? >> HOUSING FINANCE.
>> OKAY. JOE, I AM HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU, BUT WE MISSED SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEW MEMBER. WE RECOMMENDED SOMEBODY BUT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE APPROVED OR ARE SENDING SOMEONE TO US TO RECOMMEND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHICH.
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE MS. GARCIA ADDRESS IT BRIEFLY. >> THE COMMISSIONERS ACTUALLY APPROVED A MR. JAY BRAXTON. HE IS A BANKER WITH WELLS FARG .
THE REASON HE IS NOT HERE TODAY IS THE COMMISSION OFFICE IS STILL WAITING ON ALL THE DOCUMENTS HE NEEDS TO SIGN TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE.SO WE HOPE TO HAVE THEM AT NEXT MONTH'S
MEETING. >> OKAY. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE
HIM, HE HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY. SO OUTSIDE WELCOME HIM IN ABUSING HIM THE MINUTES OF THIS
YEAR WE CATCHES UP WITH US. >> I WILL IN ADVANCE OF NEXT MONTH'S MEETING ONCE WE RECEIVE PAPERWORK AS I SAID, WE HOPE TO HAVE HIM NEXT MONTH. WE WILL INUNDATE HIM WITH LOTS
OF DOCUMENTS. >> THIS WILL PROBABLY MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL, BUT CAN YOU SEND ME HIS PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL AND I WILL CONTACT HIM BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO GIVE THEM AN UPDATE
ON WHAT THE COMMITTEE DOES. >> THINK JOE FORWARDED YOU THIS APPLICATION.
[4) LHAP]
>> NEXT IS JOE WILL GIVE AN OVERVIEW IS THE CURRENT L HAPPENSTANCE FOR LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR OUR COMMITTEE IS SET BY STATUTE TO LOOK AT HOW FUNDS ARE SPENT IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN A VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAYS.
JOE HAS THE TASK OF EVERY THREE YEARS OR TWO? PUTTING TOGETHER HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN FOR HOW THEY ANTICIPATE THE FUNDS BEING SPENT IF THEY ARE PROPERLY FUNDED. SO I'M GOING TO LET JOE GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT ONE THAT WAS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.
>> JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION, STUFF PUTS TOGETHER. I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL IT.
EVERY THREE YEARS. ESSENTIALLY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW, I'M CLOSING IN ON MY FOURTH YEAR. IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY. BUT WE DID ONE WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED HERE AND NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING THIS TO FLORIDA HOUSING.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE BOARD APPROVES A DRAFT OF THE AND THEN HOUSING HAS ABOUT 35 DAYS TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENT AND SEND THIS BACK ANY FEEDBACK. I DON'T ANTICIPATE GETTING MUCH FEEDBACK THIS YEAR.THEY HAVE BEEN FLOCKED WITH COVID ISSUES JUST LIKE WE HAVE HERE INCLUDING RECEIVING CARES FUNDS, WHICH I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO SORT THROUGH.
EVERY THREE YEARS WE PUT THIS TOGETHER. ODDLY ENOUGH OUR LHAP HAVE REALLY BEEN AFFECTED. AT LEAST OUR LAST LHAP WAS AFFECTED.
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY SOMEWHAT NEGATIVELY FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
ONE, SOME OF THE FUNDING DOLLARS WE HOPED TO RECEIVE WERE LITERALLY CUT IN HALF AND EVEN THREE QUARTERS. WE SHIPPED DOLLARS TO HURRICANE RELATED ISSUES, HURRICANE MATTHEW AND IRMA. WE HAVE HAD TO DO A LOT OF REARRANGING OF THE PLAN AND HOW
[00:10:05]
WE ALLOCATE FUNDS. I THINK TRADITIONALLY, BILL, COURTNEY LAMONT.FOR 15 YEARS GUYS WERE DOING REHAB FOR MORE THAN ANYTHING WITH PURCHASES THROWN IN.
THAT HAS ALL CHANGED BECAUSE DISASTERS RIGHT NOW. WE CAN REALLOCATE MOVE FUNDS AROUND. IN AN EFFORT TO RESPOND TO THE COVID DISASTER.
WE HAVE BEEN USING A LOT OF OUR DOLLARS AS A SPOKE ABOUT LAST MONTH TO PROVIDE RENTAL AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR FOLKS HERE IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS TO RETRIEVE EXPANDED STAFF FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, PRIMARILY THE AMPHITHEATER.
AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT ALL THE WORK STAFF IS DONE ON THAT.
WILL UPDATE YOU WITH NUMBERS IN A FEW MOMENTS. BUT REALLY, IT IS SOMETHING IN AN IDEAL WORLD WE WOULD SPEND NINE MONTHS TRYING TO FORMULATE AND THINK ABOUT QUITE A BIT AND REALLY PUT IT TOGETHER. AGAIN, KIND OF AS WE CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE WE WERE HIT WITH COVID FOR THE SAME AS WE WERE WITH MATTHEW THE FIRST TIME IT WAS DUE WHEN I WALK IN THE DOOR AT ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. AND IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE.
HE DID A LOT OF THE WORK YEAR. HE'S DONE A TERRIFIC JOB, PROBABLY HER FIRST TRY TRYING TO PUT THIS DOCUMENT TOGETHER. AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS A LOT OF CUTTING AND PASTING, BUT IT'S NOT FROM THE WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.
THIS DOCUMENT HAS TO BE REVISED WHENEVER THERE IS A STATUTORY CHANGE OR IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN HOW WE OPERATE PROCEDURALLY. AS A TALK BEFORE, THE HOUSING STAFF USED TO BE A LOT LARGER THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW. WE RUN A CLEAN AND EFFICIENT MACHINE SO WE TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES WE CAN PROCEDURALLY WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 2 THERE, WHICH IS THE TABLE OF CONTEXT WE HAVE HARD COPIES UPFRONT I THINK MARY EMAILED EVERYONE A COPY. YOU CAN SEE BASICALLY A THROUGH F ARE REALLY WHAT OUR PRIMARY STRATEGIES ARE. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT THINGS WE DO ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAD TO PURCHASE ASSISTANCE WITH REHAB THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THE DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND THE IMPACT FEES AS WELL AS THE LAND ACQUISITION RENTAL.I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THOSE VERY BRIEFLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. WHAT I WAS THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COC. AND BILLS ORGANIZATION RECENTLY RECEIVED A GRANT TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED TENANT SERVICES OR MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE JUST TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. WE VIRGINIA CAMPBELL WHO IS IN HER OFFICE THAT ALSO PROVIDES A SUPPORT FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING IN THE HOMES.
JENNY HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. GETTING ANOTHER GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.AND KEEPING THE PROGRAM GOING. . IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING THE COC AND ALL THE THINGS, THE SERVICES THEY ARE PROVIDING IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID DISASTER. PAGE 6S, WE HAVE OUR PROJECT DELIVERY COSTS. IN AN EFFORT TO BE IMPARTIAL, AS FAR AS OUR INSPECTIONS GO, BILLS ORGANIZATION HAS SUCCESSFULLY BID FOR YEARS ON MANAGING THE FRONT END OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES INTAKE. INITIAL WALK-THROUGH INSPECTIONS AND DETERMINING WHAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON IN THE HOUSE WITH A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.
AND BASICALLY COUNSELING WITH CLIENTS AS THEY GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
STAFF DOESN'T GET TOO INVOLVED WITH THE CLIENTS UNLESS A CLIENT HAS QUESTIONS WHERE THERE MAY BE SOME CONCERNS OR THINGS WE NEED TO WORK OUT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE USING THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING YEARS. SO I THINK I HAVE THAT RIGHT. THOSE ARE YOUR PRIMARY DUTIES AS FAR AS RUNNING THE PROGRAM. BUT WE DO USE 1/3 PARTY INSPECTOR, UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING HAS BEEN ON THE PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY OVER THE LAST 3 TO 6 YEARS AND PROBABLY
[00:15:12]
BEFORE THAT SINCE WE HAVE BEEN HERE AND THEY CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM BETWEEN ÃTHEY DID TYPICALLY THREE INSPECTIONS. ONE KIND OF A STARTER INSPECTION WORKING WITH THE PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE DETERMINING WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.THEY DO AN INTERMEDIATE EXPECTION AND THEN ULTIMATELY THEY ARE THE FINAL DECIDER, IF YOU WILL, ON THE PROJECT DELIVERY, MAKING SURE IT WAS SUCCESSFULLY REHABBED THE WAY EVERYONE AGREED TO END THE BEGINNING. AND STAFF DOES WORK IN BETWEEN LOOKING AT ALL THE INSPECTIONS WORKING WITH HOUSING PARTNERSHIP ON IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT MAY BE ENTAILED WITH A PARTICULAR RESIDENT.
GOING INTO OUR SHIP STRATEGY. THE PROGRAM HAS NOT DONE YEARS. I WAS REALLY HOPEFUL THAT BEFORE COVID HIT AS WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO PURCHASE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT I THINK ARE OUTTHERE AND WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO THOSE . RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT GOING DOWN PAINT ASSISTANCE FOR THE REGIONS AND IT IS CALLED PURCHASE ASSISTANCE WITH REHAB IS ESSENTIALLY SHIP HAS A RULE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF REPAIR ASSOCIATED WITH ANY TYPE OF BUILDING YOU WORK ON YOU SPEND MONEY ON.IT IS KIND OF AN INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.
WHERE I CAME FROM WE DID A LOT OF PURCHASE ASSISTANCE WITH REHAB AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD DO MINOR COSMETIC FIXER-UPPER ITEMS ON A HOUSE OR MAYBE SOMEBODY NEEDED A NEW GARAGE DOOR WE WOULD PAY FOR THAT REPAIR. THAT'S WHAT CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE REHAB. WE HAD DOWN HERE ART MAXIMUM REWARD ABOUT $40,000 THIS IS SOMETHING I HOPE TO IMPLEMENT THIS YEAR AND IT DID NOT ÃI DON'T FORESEE IT WORKING OUT.
AT LEAST IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH THE STATE RESPONDING TO THE COVID DISASTER, I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES. THE SECOND ONE, THIS IS OUR PRIMARY ACTIVITY.
ARE OWNER OCCUPIED REHAB. IS THE ACTIVITY BILL IS MOST INVOLVED IN OR HIS FIRM IS WITH THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP. WE TALK ABOUT AND DESIGNED TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS WIT REPAIRS. WE PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON HELPING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS , AS WELL AS WHAT WE CALL LOW INCOME. WHICH IS 80 PERCENT LESS THAN THE AMI. AND TYPICALLY THE AVERAGE REHAB TIME IS ANYWHERE FROM A MONTH, THREE MONTHS? DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT? I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE WITH
ANOTHER ACTIVITY WE HAD HOPED TO IMPLEMENT THIS YEAR WAS OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS PAGE 11 C. WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING KIND OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NOW MORE THROUGH THE DISASTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE.E HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE HERE IN THE COUNTY AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE WAYS WE HOPE TO ADDRESS IT.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE HAVING A COVID RESPONSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ÃWE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AT THIS PARTICULARLY YEAR THE WAY WE HAD HOPED.
THE GOAL WAS TO HELP SOMEONE UP TO $6000 GET IN A PLACE, GET A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, GET THEM STABILIZED AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM. ON PAGE 11, DISASTER ASSISTANCE. ALONG WITH OUR REHAB ACTIVITY THIS IS BECOME OUR PRIMARY ACTIVITY LAST FEW YEARS IT SEEMS, UNFORTUNATELY. THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY IS OFTEN. IF YOU LOK ON PAGE 12 AT ONE THROUGH 10, YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS IS SET UP TO ADDRESS HURRICANES. IN RESPONSE TO COVID HAD TO GO IN AND MODIFY BECAUSE WE ARE STILL OPERATING ON LAST YEARS DOCUMENT YOU TO MODIFY THIS ENTIRE DISASTER ACTIVITY FOR THE SAKE OF THE BUREAUCRACY AND DEALING WITH THIS IN A FISCALLY SOUND WAY. AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE DOING THIS LHAP, IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME GOING INTO THE NEXT YEAR YOU PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO REVISE THIS AGAIN PRETTY QUICKLY IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS COVID. AS YOU CAN SEE ON 13, IMPACT FEES WHICH ARE ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT OF DISCUSSION HERE WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE COUNTY. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES I HAD HOPED TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME ON, BUT WE WORKED GRANTED THAT PRIVILEGE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A MAXIMUM AWARD OF $7500. I THINK BILL, YOU TOLD ME HER IMPACT FEES ARE SOMEWHERE IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 12,000, IS THAT CORRECT? >> I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN?
[00:20:03]
! WHEN OUR CURRENT IMPACT FEES ON A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, BILL.>> IF YOU ARE UNDER 1200 SQUARE FEET, IT IS ABOUT 11,000. AND THEN IT GOES UP TO 12 OR
15,000 IF YOU GET CLOSE TO 1800 SQUARE FEET. >> SO IN FACT FEES ARE SOMETHING WE MAY GO BACK AND LOOK AT AT A LATER TIME. BUT AGAIN, THIS WAS AN ACTIVITY THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN OUR LHAP FOR YEARS. AND I WANTED TO PUT IT BACK IN THEIR. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME THINGS CALM DOWN WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD. THE LAST ONE IS REALLY IN THE PAST WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES IT IS BASICALLY A LAND ACTIVITY THAT ALLOWS FOR SOME TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. AS HE CAN SEE HERE, THE MAXIMUM IS $100,000 PER PROJECT, WHICH MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH. BUT IN A LOT OF CASES, WHAT COMMUNITIES WOULD DO WOULD PUT DIFFERENT FUNDING YEARS TOGETHER. IF YOU NEEDED TO ADDRESS PREDEVELOPMENT COSTS, HE OULD DO IT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FIRST ALLOCATION AND THEN AS PART OF YOUR CONSTRUCTION COSTS, MAYBE YOU HAVE A SECOND AWARD.
BUT AGAIN, OUR FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT DRASTICALLY. ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS FEASIBLE.
I THINK MOST OF US WOULD RECOGNIZE THE CAN'T DO TOO MUCH WITH $100,000 UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO OFFSET FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES AND MAYBE YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUILD A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.SO IT IS THERE. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO OVER THE YEARS BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ADDRESS IT. >> MOVING ALONG TO PAGE 16. YOU CAN SEE, AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR LHAP FOR THE LAST YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT INCENTIVE STRATEGIES THAT ARE LISTED. OUR BOARD HAD SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 14 THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD LAST DECEMBER. THESE THREE ARE MANDATORY IN ORDER TO HAVE FUNDS. ALL THESE THINGS ARE THINGS WE OFFER AND WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT. SOME OF THEM ARE ALL ROCKY THAN OTHERS AND SOME OF THEM THE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH OUR DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND AND HOW WE CAN BEST IMPLEMENT THESE THINGS. WHEN I SAY THAT, I'M TALKING SPECIFICALLY OF PAGE 17 C WHICH IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
AND A BILL HAS A PROJECT RIGHT NOW AND IS WORKING WITH THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IN AN EFFORT TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG STATE ROAD 16. AS WE MOVED TO PAGE 18 IT IS NOT MARKED AS SUC THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE BUDGET FOR THE PROGRAM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE IN HOPES OF GETTING 2.$7 MILLION THIS YEAR AS PART OF OUR ALLOCATION TO THAT WAS TO GO BACK TO THE COUNTY AND TO THE COUNTY FOR HOUSING ACTIVITIES.
AGAIN, AND THE BUDGET CAME THROUGH THE DOORS, THE GOVERNORS OFFICE THERE IN JULY I DON'T GET IS A VETO THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO DO GO BACK AND REVISIT SOME OF THESE ITEMS. I THINKSEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER. THE HOPE IS WE WILL RECEIVE SOME SORT OF FUNDING AT THAT TIME. AT THE PRESENT TIME IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE WILL RECEIVE MUCH OF ANYTHING. I'M NOT TRYING TO SOUND PESSIMISTIC, AND TRY TO LET YOU KNOW THE LAND SCAPE IS. AS YOU CAN SEE, TO HAVE OUR MONEY ALLOCATED IN DIFFERENT WAYS FROM YEAR TO YEAR, IN SOME WAYS TO UNDERSTAND THE DILEMMAS THE LAWMAKERS DEAL WITH, BUT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO ANY TYPE OF PLANNING.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAND ACTIVITY. WOULD HATE TO TELL A DEVELOPER WE WILL GIVE YOU $100,000 AND NEXT YEAR WHEN WE GET OUR ALLOCATION I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. AND THAT IS EXTREMELY HARD. I UNDERSTAND THIS FOR A DEVELOPER TO PLAN AND DO A LARGER PROJECT WHEN THAT IS THE CASE WITH THESE PARTICULAR DOLLARS.GOING THROUGH 19 AND 20 THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT KEY DEADLINES.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE EXPENDITURES. SOME OF THE THING THAT RELATES TO STAFF TO KEEP AN EYE ON TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SPENDING OUR ANNUAL REPORTS, WE ARE GETTING THINGS BEFORE THE BOARD WHEN IT IS NECESSARY. AND THEN ON PAGE 20 AND CAN SEE HOW WE HANDLE DIFFERENT AWARD AMOUNTS FOR EACH INCOME AT A CATEGORY.
[00:25:03]
I WILL GO TO THE OWNER OCCUPIE REHAB BECAUSE IT IS THE ONE THING OUR STUFF AND I ARE THE MOST FAMILIAR WITH . WE DO IN ALLOCATION FOR AN AWARD OF UP TO $40,000 PER THEREFORE THE INDIVIDUAL REHAB UNIT THAT NEED THEM, A INCREASE THAT PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.I THINK WE INCREASED BY $10,000 WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE. JUST KNOWING AT THE TIME $30,000 IN SOME OUR OLDER HOMES WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GIVE HIM THE REHAB WORK DATE NEEDED.
THINK LOOKING FROM THE OTHER DOCUMENTS, A LOT OF IT IS RESOLUTIONS.
IT IS REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS WE HAVE TO GET UP TO HOUSING, HAVE THE BOARD SIGN.
BUT THAT IS PRETTY MUCH OUR LHAP IN A KNOT SHOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.
>> ARE YOU DONE? >> YES, SIR. >> TWO THINGS I WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT JOE SAID TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW COMPLICATED THIS JOB IS BESIDE THE 18 PAGES OF REPORTS WE HAVE TO DO. THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS REQUIRE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY LISTS STRATEGIES TO READ THAT'S WHAT HE HAS ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE FUNDE EVERY YEAR, BUT IT GIVES HIM A TOOLBOX THAT IF HE DECIDES THEY WANT TO HELP WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HE HAS AN APPROVED STRATEGY, THEY CAN ALLOCATE FUNDS AND DO THAT. IF THEY DON'T HAVE A STRATEGY LIKE THAT WRITTEN, THEN WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS SAY OKAY, WE HAD TO WRITE A STRATEGY, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION, WE ARE TO GET THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE IT AND THEN YOU SET IT OFF TO THE STATE AND THEN YOU EVENTUALLY GET THE STATE TO IMPROVE IT ALSO.
SO BY HAVING ALL THE STRATEGIES, THERE ARE VARIOUS TOOLS THEY CAN USE WHEN FUNDING IS GREAT. THE MOST COMPLICATED PART ABOUT WHAT THEY DO IS THAT BY STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS THERE ARE PERCENTAGES THAT HAVE TO BE SPENT.
70 PERCENT HAS TO BE SPENT ON CONSTRUCTION. THINK IT IS 60 OR 70 PERCENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDS HAVE THE BENEFIT, LOW INCOME PEOPLE. THAT MAKES IT TOUGH TO DO A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHEN A LOT OF THE FUNDS HAVE TO BE DIRECTED TO LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BEING BUILT ANYWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SOMETHING THAT IF SOMEONE HAD $20,000 IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE I CAN BUY A HOME.
THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THE END OF SPENDING SO MUCH ON REHAB. BECAUSE IT IS RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND LOW INCOME SENIORS WHO OWN THEIR HOME OR ARE LIVING ON LIMITED INCOME AND NEED HELP FIXING IT UP. AND MAKES IT HARDER TO GET LOW INCOME FAMILIES INTO A BRAND-NEW HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME HOME WHEN IT HOUSING MARKET.
ON THE RENTAL SIDE, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SPEND MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THE WHOLE YEARS ALLOCATION ON ANY KIND RENTAL ACTIVITY. THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CHANGED WITH ALL THE PANDEMIC STUFF THEY HAVE HAD TO DO, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IN THE PAST, IT HASN'T BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE FOR HELPING WITH RENTAL STUFF BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO PUT IT INTO RENTAL PROGRAMS AND DEVELOP NEW RENTAL HOUSING OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO JUST REALIZED EVERY TIME THEY DO THE STRATEGIES, THEY HAVE TO SIT THERE AND SAY OKAY, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE PUTTING INTO EACH AND IN EACH ONE OF THE STRATEGIES, THEY HAVE TO NOT JUST PROJECT BUT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THE X NUMBER OF DOLLARS WENT TO A VERY LOW INCOME. NOT A LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD.
SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR IT ALL TOTALS UP PROPERLY WITH WHAT THE STATE EXPECTS THEM TO DO.O REALLY ENDS UP IN A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS ON THE OUTSIDE JUST THINK GIVE US $100,000 AND WE WILL CREATE SOME HOUSING. WELL KNOW, IT WILL BE DEPENDENT ON WHO YOU SELL IT TO AND WHAT THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS BY FAMILY SIZE AS TO HOW THOSE FUNDS CAN GET ALLOCATED. SO AS WE ALL THINK ABOUT PROJECTS GOING FORWARD, ALWAYS KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND THAT IT IS NOT JUST AS SIMPLE AS SPENDING THE DOLLARS, PIS TARGETED FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS. AND THAT SOMETIMES MAKES THAT SUBSIDY REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE CLOSE TO 80 PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME.>> THIS IS HARRY MAXWELL. HOW ABOUT THE 60 PERCENT?
>> I'M SORRY? >> HOW ABOUT 60 PERCENT? OF MEDIAN INCOME.
ARE EIGHT-DAY IN THAT POOL AS WELL? >> I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, HARRY. I'M SORRY. CAN SOMEONE REPEAT WHAT HE IS
SAYING. >> I'M SORRY. 60 PERCENT OF MEDIAN INCOME,
[00:30:02]
ARE THEY IN THAT FUNDING AS WELL? >> I THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT
THE EXTREME LOWS, BILL.>> HE IS ACTING ASKING ABOUT 60 PERCENT.
INCOME LEVEL OF 60 PERCENT. >> 50 PERCENT ARE CONSIDERED Ã THAT IS YOUR VERY LOW INCOME
POPULATION. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. >> YES, THEY ARE ACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR ALLOCATION.
>> I AM HEARING ABOUT EVERY OTHER WORD. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? >> GIVE YOU A BREAK FOR JUST A SECOND.
[5) HHS COVID-19 Response]
DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT COVID RESPONSE AND WHAT IS GOING ON?>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LHAP? WE WILL MOVE ALONG. WE ARE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES BUT THAT IS FINE.
WE WILL GET THROUGH IT. YES, SO RIGHT NOW GOING BACK TO LAST THURSDAY, WE HAVE ASSISTED ABOUT 185 HOUSEHOLDS AND $465,000. ROUGHLY, GIVE OR TAKE.
IT IS PROBABLY $466,000 IS A BETTER NUMBER.AGAIN, THOSE ACTIVITIES RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY ARE FUNDED WITH SHIP DOLLARS AND AGAIN, THAT IS FOR MORTGAGE OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS UTILITY ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE OUR BACK TO BUSINESS PROGRAM THAT IS REALLY ROARING RIGHT NOW IN THIS LAST WEEK. AND LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS RIGHT BEFORE I CAME OVER, IT LOOKS LIKE AS OF TOMORROW MORNING WE WILL HAVE ASSISTED 19 BUSINESSES, UP TO $10,000 IN THE CURRENT AMOUNT OF FUNDS WE WILL EXPECTED TO HAVE BEEN FUNDED THAT WILL BE $308,000 AND THAT WILL BE TOMORROW MORNING. WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT PROCESS. AND I HOPE WITH THE CARES FUNDS THAT SOME YOU MAY HAVE SEEN PRESENTED TO THE BOARD YESTERDAY, THE PRESENTATION WAS VERY SHORT, SWEET AND SIMPLE.
WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THE POWERPOINT FROM YESTERDAY, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE THING THAT WAS MOST EXCITING FOR ME AS OUR HOUSING ADVOCATE IS IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO UTILIZE ABOUT 3 MILLION MORE DOLLARS TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH INDIVIDUAL OR RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE.
RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM.
WE ARE CURRENTLY FULLY ENCUMBERED WITH THE SHIP FUNDS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE.
INSTEAD OF UTILIZING MORE SHIP FUNDS, WE CAN GO BACK AND START ASSISTING WITH REHAB OR MAYBE EVEN ANOTHER ACTIVITY. THEN WE CAN START TO USE THESE CRES FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE COUNTY FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE. WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO FURTHER THE BACK TO BUSINESS PROGRAM TO ANOTHER $10 MILLION. AND AGAIN, ALTHOUGH IT WAS BUMPY TO START WITH, IT IS REALLY GOING QUITE RAPIDLY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WE ARE STILL HEARING FROM DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT THEY STILL NEED ASSISTANCE.
SO THOSE ARE TWO THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, PRIMARILY OUT OF OUR OFFICES. THINK SOME OF THAT STUFF MAY SHIFT A LITTLE BIT.BUT THOSE ARE OUR TWO BIGGEST ACTIVITIES AS FAR AS THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT GOES IN THE CURRENT COVID RESPONSE.
>> AND I WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING. YOU ALL UNDERSTAND PART OF WHAT JOE HAS, EVERY SO OFTEN I HEAR FROM SOMEONE POINTING OUT THAT ESPECIALLY SMALL LANDLORDS HAVE TENANTS WHO ARE NOT PAYING BECAUSE THEY GOT LAID OFF FOR HOURS GOT SHORTER SOMETHING ELSE. THOSE LANDLORDS MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAMS JOE IS TALKING ABOUT. BUT ALEX CAN YOU AND STEVE AND OTHER FOLKS WORKING IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY, IF YOU HEAR THOSE LANDLORDS, THEY NEED TO GET THE TENANTS TO CALL AND TRY TO APPLY BECAUSE THE RENT MORATORIUM OUT THERE IS FOR TENANTS NOT HAVING TO PAY WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.UT THE LANDLORD STILL HAVE A MORTGAGE AND STILL OF EXPENSES, LANDLORDS ARE TO BE THE FIRST ONES THAT START EVICTING SOME PEOPLE WHEN MORATORIUM IS LIFTED. IF THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SOMEONE TO APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS AND GET CAUGHT UP, I DON'T KOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT IT.I DON'T THINK THE LANDLORDS THINKABOUT REFERRING THEM TO THE COUNTIES HOTLINE .
IF YOU ARE HEARING PEOPLE GROUSING ABOUT IT, THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SAY GET THERE TENANTS TO CALL TO THE SAD PART IS IF THERE ARE EVICTIONS, IS NOT LIKE THESE PEOPLE WILL HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO AND THEY ARE TOTALLY HOSED WHEN THEY GET AN EVICTION.
WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET A DECENT PLACE TO RENT IN THIS TOWN.
[00:35:02]
>> I SHOULD ALSO MENTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF OUR FUNDS ARE FULLY ENCUMBERED WITH THE DOLLARS, THE HOTLINE IS CURRENTLY ENACTED. WE ARE REFERRING EVERYONE BACK TO THE COC HOTLINE WITH THE CARE CONNECT, I SHOULD SAY. SO IF YOU CAN ÃMAYBE BRITNEY HAS A NUMBER HANDY. I DO NOT UNFORTUNATELY. BUT IF SHE CAN GET OUT THE NUMBER, WE CAN CONTINUE TO REFER PEOPLE TO THE CARE CONNECT HOTLINE AND THEY WORK WITH US COLLABORATIVELY.ILL THE RESORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO TROUBLESHOOT SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS. IF I HAD TO GUESS WITH THE NEW FUNDS RECEIVING FROM THE CARES DOLLARS, WOULD PROBABLY BE OPENING UP ANOTHER HOTLINE.
AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT BECAUSE WE PRESENTED THIS TO THE BOARD ON TUESDAY, I DON'T
QUITE KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THIS TIME. >> I DIDN'T REALIZE, BRITNEY, ANY RATE REGARDLESS OF INCOME AND THEY ARE BEHIND ON RENT AND MORTGAGE THEY CAN BE REFERRED TO ALL?> THEY CAN. WE ARE ACTING AS A HUB OF ALL NEEDS.
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO SEEK SERVICES, BUT WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH SOME OF THE PROVIDERS IS BUILT IN ELIGIBILITY TERMS TO TRY TO NARROW DOWN WHERE THE FOLKS ARE BEING NAVIGATED SO WE UNDERSTAND EACH PROGRAM SO WE ARE SENDING THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ANYONE CAN CALL AND THE PHONE NUMBER IS 904 HATE 193070. OR THEY CAN ALSO GO ONLINE TO ST. JOHN'S CARE CONNECT.COM AND GET CONNECTED FORM. THOSE AUTOMATICALLY COME OVER TO US AS WELL. WE OURSELVES ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LANDLORDS TO GIVE THEM OPTIONS ASSISTANCE SOME SORT AWAY THE CLIENT IS STILL TECHNICALLY PAST THE STATE OF THE CONTRACT. TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THAT WITH THE LANDLORDS ON WHAT
ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE. >> TO THE CLIENTS HAVE TO APPLY?
>> IT CAN BE ANYBODY. IF THE LANDLORD, SOMETIMES IT IS MORE OF AN EDUCATION THING FOR THE LANDLORDS NOT REALIZIN . WE REALLY DON'T SEE A LOT OF LANDLORDS COMING THROUGH ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE BUT WE HAVE HAD CLIENTS WILL BE MADE THAT COMMUNICATION TO ASK THE CLIENT ARE YOU OKAY WITH ME COMMUNICATING WHO IS THE LENDER AS OF THINGS CLIENTS, TENANTS REALLY DON'T KNOW. SO YES, ANYBODY SEEKING ANY TYPE OF SERVICE RELATED TO COVID OR IN GENERAL CAN CALL CARE CONNECT.
>> MARY, CAN I BUG YOU TO SEND THAT INFORMATION OUT TO ALL OUR MEMBERS?>> I HAVE A NOTE YEAR
TO DO THAT, BILL. >> ONE QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO THAT, WOULD IT BE OKAY IF WE SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH OUR LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGERS? THE CONVERSATION KEEPS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE IN A HARD SPOT THE HELP THEY NEED RIGHT NOW. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO DISTRIBUTE THAT INFORMATION TO THE PROPERTY MANAGERS IN THE LOCAL AREA. BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, THERE'S
A HANDFUL F THEM THAT DO A FAIR AMOUNT OF BUSINESS. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS TOO. BY FUNNELING EVERYTHING THROUGH CARE CONNECT, UNABLE TO CREATE A DASHBOARD OF NEEDS THROUGH OUR ENTIRE COUNTY.
LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE IS AT 2.9 PERCENT OF THE NEED THAT WE ARE SEEING.NOTICE 579 SCREENINGS. WE KNOW IT IS A LOT HIGHER THAN THAT, BUT OF COURSE WHEN THE LANDLORDS ARE COMMUNICATING AND SAYING THEY NEED SOME FORM OF ASSISTANCE AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET BY WE ARE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION AGENCIES ARE GOING OUT SEEKING FUNDING AND BEING ABLE TO SHOW THE NEED EXISTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU GUYS.
>> I SHOULD ALSO MENTION SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE'VE BEEN GETTING OUT OF THE OFFICE IN
[00:40:04]
SOME OF THESE FOLKS HAVE REALLY BEEN DOING THEIR DARNDEST TO HANG ON FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN. AND AS WE HAVE TO START BREAKING THE NEWS WITH THE FUNDS WE ARE KIND OF RUNNING OUT OF FUNDS WITH THIS MATTER IN THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, A LOT OF THEM ARE STARTING TO ASK WHAT DO I DO NEXT. WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE OUT THERE. AGAIN, WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE FUNDS FOR THE CARESAT .A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE REALLY BEEN TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST TO HOLD ONTO THIS PROCESS.
I THINK WE ARE ALL HOPEFUL THIS WOULD GO AWAY AFTER THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AND UNFORTUNATELY
IT SEEMS TO STILL BE WITH US. >> ARE WE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC? >> SURE.
>> MARY SENT OUT A COUPLE FLYERS TODAY. IT IS JUST SOMETHING I WANTED
[6) HOP Down Payment Program]
TO SHARE WITH YOU OVER IN FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HAS A DOWN PAYMENT PROGRAM THAT ESSENTIALLY IS DESIGNED FOR BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS TO USE.AND DOESN'T GO THROUGH THE COUNTY HOUSING STUFF. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BOTHER THEM WITH ANYTHING. BUT A BUILDER CAN SIGN UP THROUGH FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE FOR THIS PROGRAM ON THEIRS UP TO $25,000 IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE OR 35 THOUSAND IF THE APPLICANT HAS A DEVELOP MENTAL DISABILITY. THE BUILDER IS TO BUILD A HOME THAT IS GREEN CERTIFIED, WHICH IS NOT THAT HARD. AND IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED, I CAN EASILY SHOW THEM HOW TO DO IT. BUT THE ADVANTAGES THAT THEY $180,000 AND SAYING THERE IS $25,000 IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR THE QUALIFIED BUYERS. IT IS SOMETHING FOR BUILDERS TO THINK ABOUT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GUYS OUT THERE BUILDING IN THAT $200,000 PRICERANGE AND THEY ARE SELLING THEM. AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE A NEED FOR IT, BUT IF YOU ARE RUNNING INTO BUYERS WHO NEED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, THERE IS A PROGRAM AVAILABLE AND THE INFORMATION WE SENT YOU ALL , THERE'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE ATTACHMENTS WE SENT YOU IS A LIST OF THE THREE OR FOUR BUILDERS HERE IN TOWN NOW.
AND THEY CAN BUILD IN ANY COUNTY. ANY OTHER BUILDERS YOU SEE ON THE LIST CAN BUILD ANYWHERE. SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY AND THEY ARE APPROVED IN DUE BALL, THEY CAN COME DOWN HERE AND BUILD IF YOU WERE TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR THEM.
>> IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S NOT PROBABLY GOING TO RING A LOT OF BILLS WITH ANY OF THE BIG BUILDERS, BUT YOU MAY FIND A SMALL BUILDER OR TWO THAT IS INTERESTED THAT WOULD WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT. AND IT IS A RELATIVELY PAINLESS PROCESS ONCE THEY GET THAT LITTLE GREEN BUILDING DETAILS DOWN.
IT IS NOT HARD AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO SHARE WITH THEM HOW WE DO IT.
WE HAVE TWO HOUSES GOING UP NOW THAT WILL BE PART OF THAT. >> WAS HAPPY TO HEAR ABUT THAT, BILL. I'M TWO QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THAT.
FIRST QUESTION IS WITH THE BUILDERS CURRENTLY ON THE LIST, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ARRANGE FOR THEM TO TALK A LITTLE BIT AT OUR NEXT MEETING. I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO KNOW THEM. AND THINK IT WOULD HELP THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE TO GET TO
KNOW THEM AND KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE. >> I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO
INVITE THEM. >> I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT. AND THEN SECOND ONE ÃAND I THINK YOU JUST ALLUDED TO IT. S CONTACTING THEM IF YOU HAVE A BUILDER WHO WANTS TO SIGN UP
TO GET APPROVED IS THAT INFORMATION ON THE HANDOUT. >> IT IS ON ONE OF THE HANDOUTS
MARY SENT YOU ALL EARLIER TODAY. >> SORRY, I MUST'VE OVERLOOKED
IT. >> AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE INTERESTED, IF YOU WANT TO TELL THEM TO CALL ME, I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT I DID AND THEY CAN CONTACT ÃHE REGISTERED WITH THE STATE. FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS A REGISTERED WITH. AND THE WAY IT WORKS IS YOU CAN GET A RESERVATION FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS THE FOOTER IS POURED THEY CAN GET A RESERVATION IF THERE'S A SALES CONTRACT WITH THAT HOUSE. SO IF A BUILDER IS DOING A COUPLE SPEC HOMES AND THEY CAN GET A CONTRACT SIGNED ÃAS SOON AS THAT FOOTER IS IMPORTANT, THERE COULD BE A RESERVATION FOR UP TO SIX OR NINE MONTHS FOR THE HOUSE TO BE CONSTRUCTED AND THOSE DOWN PAYMENT FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE. AND THEY WILL WORK WITH ANY LENDER.
IS NOT LENDER SPECIFIC. >> THANK YOU. >> I WANTED TO BRING UP THE
[00:45:08]
EMAIL YOU SENT US THIS MORNING. IT TIES BACK TO THE COVID RESPONSE WITH REGARDS TO THE GRANT YOUR ORGANIZATION RECEIVED CONCERNING RENTAL AND MORTGAGE AND FINANCIALCOUNSELING. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? >> WE ARE A CERTIFIED COUNSELING AGENCY AND HAD GOT A MAJOR GRANT FROM WELLS VARGAS FOUNDATION AND THEY DIVIDED UP ACROSS THEIR DIFFERENT AGENCIES. SO ESSENTIALLY WE GOT $10,000 TO HELP WITH ANY KIND COVID RESPONSE. WHETHER IT IS HELPING PEOPLE GET A MODIFICATION IF WE ARE FALLING BEHIND ON THE MORTGAGE OR FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE HELPING SOMEONE FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUDGET AND MANAGE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
IT IS JUST ONE OF THOSE SORT OF SMALL WINDOW OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE TO USE IT AND SPEND IT BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF AUGUST. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT IS NOT USED FOR RENTAL OR MORTGAGE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, BUT IT IS DESIGNED AND COUNSELORS WORK WITH SOMEONE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE. OF THE BIG CONCERNS WE ARE SEEING IS WEAK THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FALLING BEHIND ON THEIR MORTGAGE.
BECAUSE THEREIS A MORATORIUM OR HAVE BEEN GIVING FORBEARANCE NOTICE FROM THE BANK, THEY ARE REALIZING COME THREE, FOUR, FIVE, 68 MONTHS FORBEARANCE MAY COME DUE IN AND THEY ARE IN CRISIS. WILL BE ARE TRYING TO DO NOW IS SEND THEM INFORMATION AND SAY START TALKING TO US NOW. EVEN IF YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO AT SIX MONTHS. ISSUE WE ALWAYS GET IS WE GET THE PEOPLE'S NOTICES AFTER THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE LIST. AND AT THAT POINT THEY HAVE ALREADY FALLEN BEHIND ON THEIR PAYMENTS. AND IS ALWAYS DEEMED THEIR CREDIT REPORT AND WHEN YOU TRY TO NEGOTIATE A MODIFICATION OR ANYTHING WITH THE LENDER, THEY'RE GOING TO GO YOUR CREDIT IS NOT THAT GOOD. AND SO IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THE MODIFICATION WITH THE BANKS THAT ARE WILLING BEFORE THEY GET TO THE POINT, IT MIGHT PRESERVE THEIR SANITY AND KEEP PEOPLE FROM FALLING APART IN A CRISIS.
>> WHAT IS THE BEST NUMBER FOR SOMEBODY TO REACH OUT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AT?
>> THEY CAN CALL OUR COUNSELING OFFICE ON ORANGE STREET. THE NUMBER IS 819 1266.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. AND I THINK WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES. ANYBODY HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH FOLKS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT, ISSUES WE HAVE TO BE DIGGING UP INFORMATION ON? I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT WAS. DID SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. >> SOMEBODY ASKING A QUESTION? WE CAN HEAR IT.
>> WE DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYONE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY CALLS OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> OKAY. DOES ANYBODY OF ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANT TO SHARE OR ARE WE DONE FOR THE DAY? JOE, ANYTHING YOU OR JERRY WANT
TO ADD? >> NO SIR. >> ALL RIGHT.
I ASSUME THAT IS IT. WE CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN. THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING THE
MEETING. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU.> AND Q.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.