[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6311224,"mediaKeyId","2396490-b3c5a75925cf9a3daa9ecfe5343883c8","parentId",2396490,"title","Citrus County housing director details grants, vouchers and new grant applications","audioSeconds",981,"startMs",715000,"endMs",1696000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396490-b3c5a75925cf9a3daa9ecfe5343883c8&start=715&end=1696","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396490-b3c5a75925cf9a3daa9ecfe5343883c8/thumbnail_715000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6311224/Citrus-County/Florida/Citrus-County-housing-director-details-grants-vouchers-and-new-grant-applications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311224-256cf487d1a362b9c5b6ac29cc79db4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200415&Signature=F~00l0D3WfOwQCPQHrzqjN~zcB9txu8boqtejPnq80gsFmYx2B5nZKRWLO7EgQm2XAfDGgkpbOsbfl67TuwjOOekrfGphy~Vo4D2AI4pvIGHCuLu6~EzIKUmhjAyNqz5kRkvVXBfFWgU6LTZBN2tr0tlccRhj5A6q0m4ZFOhip3k7rRMTG72MlOMWYp9jEoWSxNTV7paLJs6fPwU5bUQNRGazsYVo3px6r6Frzkk87uixs5J30n6bBk6Ra9DPyYyTpTbWIbxcyCQTeMylblCq20Os8tinYKvsARsJcYpFFYDxVfZNNXGJtmL-Xa1JtY9ARI9Zw8C3D2S-kspu8kvNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Citrus County, FL","date","2025-02-26T07:55:26Z","article","Michelle Alford, Citrus County housing services director, told the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 20 that Housing Services is entirely grant-funded and spent roughly $4.5 million in grants during fiscal year 2024 to support county residents.

The presentation summarized multiple programs the division administers, how they are funded and what the county has recently awarded or applied for. \"We are a fully grant funded division,\" Alford said, and described the department’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funding, which the county receives from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and which is paid for from documentary stamp taxes on real‑estate transactions.

Alford said SHIP strategies include emergency home repair (roofs, HVAC, failed wells or septic), home rehabilitation and rental development support, including local match funding for affordable housing tax‑credit projects. She said the county recently awarded Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County $600,000 to assist about 30 low‑income families through a first‑time homebuyers program. Alford said the Bridal Oaks project in Homosassa is expected to break ground soon and will provide 160 affordable units.

The director gave quantitative program details: Citrus County has 18 affordable‑housing developments, 12 of which provide USDA subsidies; last year SHIP disbursed roughly $1.3 million; the county’s LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helped 922 families with $727,000 in fiscal year 2024; the Housing Choice Voucher program has 153 active voucher holders and 231 people on the waiting list; and about 75% of current voucher holders are disabled.

Alford also discussed veteran‑specific VASH vouchers (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing), saying the county administers 97 vouchers and recently received 10 additional VASH vouchers. She described the county’s disaster assistance and a rental strategy that includes a special‑needs component and local match assistance so affordable developments can qualify for federal tax credits.

Alford outlined state and federal grant opportunities. She said the county’s septic incentive/upgrade grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection currently totals $3,900,000 and will assist approximately 511 Citrus County residents in priority springs focus areas. Citrus County received a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award to support low‑ and moderate‑income home rehabilitation, and Alford said staff expects that award to help “at least a dozen” households with larger items, such as hurricane‑impact windows and doors.

Alford said she will seek Board approval on March 25 to apply for a housing stability grant aimed at families with school‑age children experiencing homelessness; that program would provide up to 24 months of time‑limited rental assistance with required case management and would require memorandums of understanding with the school district and a nonprofit to provide referrals and ongoing case management. She said it was her understanding only three communities statewide would receive the grant this year and that the county had spoken with the school district about referrals for the program.

On flood and mitigation assistance, Alford said Elevate Florida (the federal/state disaster assistance effort) is working with families and that the county expects to continue assisting residents through flood mitigation programs. She also noted efforts to coordinate with the Tampa VA on VASH voucher case management for veterans.

Commissioners asked when Elevate Florida awards would be notified; Alford said families already working with case managers were being asked for documents and that notifications could come within about a month after application in many cases. She also said SHIP strategy limits include per‑household caps (emergency repair up to $25,000; rehabilitation up to $35,000 under the local housing assistance plan) and provided the numerical program totals above.

Alford closed by reiterating program scale: \"Last fiscal year 2024 housing services expended a total of $4,500,000 in grant funding that directly assisted our citizens of Citrus County,\" she said.

The board did not take formal action on grants during the presentation, but Alford said she would return March 25 to request authorization to apply for the housing‑stability grant if the Board wants staff to pursue it.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Citrus County Board of County Commissioners - February 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Michelle Alford, Citrus County housing services director, told the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 20 that Housing Services is entirely grant‑funded and spent roughly $4.5 million in grants during fiscal year 2024 to support county residents.","taxTitle","Citrus County, Florida","taxId",12756,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6311217,"Votes at a glance: Citrus County BOCC actions, Feb. 20, 2025",1891,0,1891000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396490-b3c5a75925cf9a3daa9ecfe5343883c8&start=0&end=1891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396490-b3c5a75925cf9a3daa9ecfe5343883c8/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6311217/Citrus-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Citrus-County-BOCC-actions-Feb-20-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311217-f3e86627fb422e748d08bbd71bffc387/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200415&Signature=QocMQ~imA-LAE-N87ZSOJfaGIwdJ6TcylPuajdBM6IvJdHRPdBUZFJnLZbI4fNxJzCgqrcdwMqCQXlld2TwSJfMxeghd~w32WFqZw3U2-OJ5F5NPNN3oP6UPIxm8NQZnN6Nz6srP8pHgvu~14MqU4JS2LLxCqdFEgGLlWOvadG1oasemwWSnRXaHTVyiFNTLZ8CnNbJKil8eP9mxcQkg8G5vpRfQzcmJprfZCWWy1mYavtZkPVEYz8vQ83UYhyNrUl7VSZKQVTaB~xQVfG-gzzm~OS0B21wLJ~RKOdyt8m9wqTCNEs-N5rxj9z9cqM2txGnqv8M08oL3u7AuX5P5jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners took a series of formal actions on Feb. 20. Most motions passed unanimously (5‑0). Key outcomes:

Agenda and procedural items
The Board approved the meeting agenda as amended (corrections to minutes, changes to workshop timing and additions/pulls identified by county staff). Motion carried 5‑0.

Proclamations and awards
The Board approved proclamations recognizing Newspaper and Education Week (March 3–7, 2025), a Keep Citrus County Beautiful Pride Award presented to the Rotary Club of Central Citrus County, and March 2025 as Irish American Heritage Month. Motions carried 5‑0.

Public hearing and land use
The Board approved SV‑2024‑00005 (Campbell), vacating a 20‑foot alley in Block 180, Unit 4, Homosassa. Staff recommended approval; utilities and environmental health expressed no concerns. Motion carried 5‑0.

Consent and routine items
The Board approved multiple consent and agenda items in a series of motions during the meeting. Specific motions recorded on the transcript include approval of grouped consent items and discrete agenda items identified on the county agenda (examples as stated on record):
- Consent agenda approved with C10 pulled for later discussion/time certain (motion carried 5‑0).
- Multiple line‑item motions approving E‑series items (E1A through E17 and subparts) were made and carried, each recorded on the transcript as passing 5‑0. (Transcript identifies motions and seconders for each E item; no recorded negative votes.)

Direction and staff follow‑up
The Board directed staff to bring the PACE (property assessed clean energy) discussion back as a time certain for the March 25 meeting and to invite PACE providers for a presentation; the Board agreed to schedule it as a time certain. The Board asked staff to prepare a package with details for a property‑lien matter (public speaker request) and to return with the specifics for Board consideration.

Policy advocacy
Commissioner Jeff Kennard moved and Commissioner Holly Davis seconded a resolution supporting state legislation to require hands‑free cellphone use while driving; the Board voted 5‑0 to send the resolution to the county’s state legislative delegation.

Other actions
The Board approved a letter of support for Jesse’s Place’s building expansion appropriations request and set a capital improvement program (CIP) presentation for April 22, 2025, at 1:15 p.m. in the courthouse. Several other administrative motions and approvals on the agenda were recorded as passing 5‑0.

Vote practice
Most motions were recorded as \"motion by\" one commissioner with a named seconder; votes on the record were unanimous for the items recorded in the transcript. Individual roll‑call votes by name were not read aloud for each motion in the transcript; clerks recorded the tally as 5‑0.

A full, itemized record of the meeting’s consent and E‑series approvals is available in the meeting materials and official minutes.","The Board approved the agenda and a series of proclamations and consent items, voted to vacate an alley (SV‑2024‑00005) and passed a resolution supporting hands‑free cellphone use while operating a vehicle; multiple routine consent and agenda items were approved by 5‑0 votes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":80,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6311221,"Commissioners approve vacation of 20‑foot alley in Homosassa",217,1674000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396490-b3c5a75925cf9a3daa9ecfe5343883c8&start=1674&end=1891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396490-b3c5a75925cf9a3daa9ecfe5343883c8/thumbnail_1674000.jpg","/articles/6311221/Citrus-County/Florida/Commissioners-approve-vacation-of-20foot-alley-in-Homosassa","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311221-e35a5658148680d2f454b4d59c10565f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200415&Signature=aRc-sCiI6PhjUChWsWyhqy~PgOyIxWWJyg255OYB3duS-BWcgnGmSvbFFCxZj1YJXqtlJh~5WaLSadq08AEXtqIbm70gm32EKyWojk2C0Uhx6tflfiDa8yHWRodBdRzItqYGd2cJ~gWxMqPfqJ21LueDEFU2f7kuncCessZQGDT3aphEw5sutPJuTMJeVCWQ~U-B2y1wKnvxeRiOrsBDY75mgJnUgost5vB3jllppTNRzZ0YmzmN0Sbu5nBfMS4KtILzIMAvqbu-md5WBuL1cTLFZi4JNMxMZ5F4JgAsNrpYyh2xMS0qUJxqQ7eaw7soRI6qpEJOQcVr472KCfx32A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners voted 5‑0 on Feb. 20 to approve an applicant’s request to vacate a 20‑foot alley in Block 180, Unit 4 of Homosassa (SV‑2024‑00005).

Planning staff described the alley as a 20‑foot right‑of‑way that dead‑ends between Acacia and Bavarian streets and said the applicant owns property on both sides. \"Utility companies have provided letters; they have no concern about this application,\" the presenter said. Staff reported environmental‑health review found no objections and recommended approval.

Applicant Mary (Ms.) Campbell told commissioners she owned the parcels on both sides and wanted the alley vacated so she could use the land. Board discussion clarified that where multiple property owners are involved, the alley area divides in half by statute and each owner may then use the portion assigned to them.

Commissioner Diana Finnegan moved to approve SV‑2024‑00005; Commissioner Holly Davis seconded. With no public comment on the item, the motion carried 5‑0.

No additional conditions or follow‑up tasks were stated during the meeting.","The Board approved a request to vacate a 20‑foot alley in Unit 4 of Homosassa (SV‑2024‑00005). Staff said utilities had no objections and environmental health flagged no concerns; the motion passed 5‑0.","actionData","errors"]

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Citrus County housing director details grants, vouchers and new grant applications

Votes at a glance: Citrus County BOCC actions, Feb. 20, 2025

Commissioners approve vacation of 20‑foot alley in Homosassa