Providing Housing Relief in the Aftermath of the Storm

With the damage and devastation caused by hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne Florida Housing is working to support housing relief efforts across the State. The Corporation has filed emergency rules relating to the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program; it has pledged $15 million to be available through the HOME Program; and it has compiled a list of vacant units that could be available for rent to individuals displaced by the storms.

SHIP

$5 million in SHIP disaster funding allocated to Charlotte, DeSoto and Hardee counties. The decision to fund these counties was made before the second and third hurricanes hit, and we do not have additional SHIP funds available to provide as disaster funding.

Florida Housing has published three emergency rules for SHIP, one following each of the 3 hurricanes, providing for wider use of SHIP funds along with a self-certification income qualification form for those without access to records or who have lost jobs due to either storm. The rule allows local governments that were declared disaster areas to use unencumbered SHIP funds from open fiscal years for disaster recovery. The rules include a simple disaster recovery strategy for local governments that have not adopted a plan as part of their SHIP housing assistance plan.

Florida Housing has begun accelerating disbursement of SHIP funds to affected counties – that is, providing the funding NOW that local governments would have received throughout the rest of this fiscal year. As of September 20, we will have provided $15.7 million in SHIP funds above what local governments would have normally received to date at this time in the year.

Low Income Housing Tax Credits

The U.S. Treasury has agreed to provide relief from income requirements in Section 42 of the IRC until 30 September 2005. This allows currently available tax credit apartments to be rented at restricted rents to those with AMIs higher than those specified in Section 42. Florida Housing has issued guidance for owners who intend to rent vacant units temporarily to individuals displaced because of damage to their residence by hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan or Jeanne.

A request is being developed to designate counties which are disaster areas as Difficult to Develop Areas (DDAs) on a temporary basis, thus allowing developments funded in these counties to receive an additional 30% in housing credits.

Asset Management

A list of vacancies by number of bedrooms and contact information has been developed and is on our website and has been provided to FEMA, HUD, Department of Elder Affairs and the state emergency operations center. This list has been updated.

HOME

Florida Housing will allocate up to $15 million from its federal HOME (Home Investment Partnership) program that can be used toward temporary rental assistance for emergency housing in areas devastated by the storm. The Corporation will also allocate up to $21 million from its federal HOME program for repair and replacement of owner occupied homes in disaster areas.

Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds

A request is being developed to provide temporary relief (2 years) from the requirement that those who use this mortgage program must be first time homebuyers, thus allowing this program to be used by those whose homes have been destroyed by the storms.

Additionally and also on a temporary basis, allow the use of the single family bond program to be used for home repair ABOVE the $15,000 limit currently in place.

Farmworker Housing

Florida Housing has allocated $1.5 million for emergency farmworker housing for individuals displaced in disaster areas to ensure housing for migrant and seasonal workers.

CDBG

As part of a federal aid request, the Governor’s Office has requested approximately $200 million in Community Development Block Grant funds through a supplemental appropriation to be used for housing, infrastructure, economic redevelopment, etc.

State Legislative Initiatives

Representative Leslie Waters (R-51), who is currently Chair of the Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee in the House, has been appointed to chair a Hurricane Preparedness Workgroup which will hold hearings some time after the organizational legislative session and the regular 2005 session. Housing issues will probably be included in the topics of discussion.

FEMA

FEMA assistance is available immediately to those who call 1-800-621-FEMA. They must call to get assistance. FEMA provides assistance to those who are uninsured or under-insured.