[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6062124,"mediaKeyId","3280731-a06d040607b04de43f887a87e1863524","parentId",3280731,"title","Clearwater proposes shifting HOME‑ARP funds from rental assistance to affordable rental development","audioSeconds",319,"startMs",1053000,"endMs",1372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280731-a06d040607b04de43f887a87e1863524&start=1053&end=1372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280731-a06d040607b04de43f887a87e1863524/thumbnail_1053000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6062124/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Clearwater-proposes-shifting-HOMEARP-funds-from-rental-assistance-to-affordable-rental-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062124-6ead264dad836c787576e0572d384302/orig.mp4?Expires=1775866156&Signature=b5Gb6XbKtKrV4hwT9Q8MQet2H28jIs9HXeqC8XtpNPM8HdIfk3GQL1dK5mU~wqNP0ITjCYoXuih8Vc-ukrxOp-qWjn4mcKo5aPhkjyVUGT0hBsEfgI8FMmeR0X6qnjGK2UCgMUp-5Wkz11fBwf2mjhOSTMh~9TysIBmOpuo~x6L8ZzKVIEvAa9MFocFWvaalxe9wo1Ni~uLqNLgOebDcBKLVCcVTfp0lgmq41k4A8csoo6bUCoYAuTwOR2Usd8SmJGEi08ypq4DzOL8Nksr7Xks5fqhG6Y~yK9oDlTqCD-GM9imne86XDiBopnsKstIa3OIiuHPCozy~F9vqE2TFYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Clearwater, FL","date","2025-05-13T12:47:15Z","article","Phil Mayhew, acting housing manager for the City of Clearwater, told the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board that staff is proposing a substantial amendment to the city’s HOME‑ARP strategy to shift a larger share of funds into development of affordable rental housing.

Mayhew said the city received a one‑time HOME‑ARP allocation of $1,637,005.67 and HUD requires a formal “substantial amendment” process if the city moves more than 25% of funding from one use category to another. “This change would shift funds away from the tenant‑based rental assistance and supportive services and instead fund the development of affordable, rental housing,” he said.

City staff said the intent is to increase long‑term housing stability by producing permanent affordable units that serve people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The staff proposal would use HOME‑ARP funds as part of a larger financing stack; staff and board members discussed leveraging SHIP, CRA, county funds, the Pinellas County land trust and state tax‑credit financing for larger projects such as the Indigo development referenced by staff.

Dania Perez, the city’s HOME‑ARP specialist, told the board that HUD already defines eligible HOME‑ARP populations and income limits. “As of right now, there’s gonna be for people’s income as 30% or below AMI, and then there’s a category that they can do 50% of AMI, but they have to qualify under that specific definition,” Perez said. She confirmed rents would be set according to bedroom size and household income under HOME rules.

Board members asked how the shift would affect programs or applicants who expected rental assistance. Staff said funds that had been planned for service or rental assistance were not yet officially awarded and that recipients would be notified only after council action. “Once this is approved by council, we would send that out,” Mayhew said; until council approval, staff said they could not deny funds.

Mayhew said the city has until Sept. 30, 2030, to spend HOME‑ARP funds and that two public hearings will be held to solicit comment on the proposed amendment before it moves to city council for final action on June 5. The board voted to forward the proposed reallocation for public hearings and council review.

Less critical details: staff estimated the net HOME‑ARP balance after administration at roughly 85% available for programming, noted that about 15% of HOME‑ARP can be used for administration, and said staff would notify awardees and provide follow‑up meetings for applicants after council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Clearwater – Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board - 5/13/25","oneSentenceSummary","Staff proposed a substantial amendment to redirect $1.637 million in HOME‑ARP funds away from tenant‑based rental assistance and supportive services toward development of affordable rental units targeted to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness; the advisory board voted to forward the amendment to council for action and public hearings.","taxTitle","Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",4656,"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},6062129,"Clearwater staff propose FY2025–26 allocations emphasizing more, smaller public-service grants and facilities repairs",146,546000,692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280731-a06d040607b04de43f887a87e1863524&start=546&end=692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280731-a06d040607b04de43f887a87e1863524/thumbnail_546000.jpg","/articles/6062129/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Clearwater-staff-propose-FY202526-allocations-emphasizing-more-smaller-public-service-grants-and-facilities-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062129-67abef56b5cc87c3b3e18b0e8fa5fd41/orig.mp4?Expires=1775866156&Signature=d56mxczcaVFb-3TD5v0KGIAGIldqze2bhc8oq9KOSDBI6bgFL872H981tM~NWN5CtPlNXWaHaunb80ttVdQ4KzTHIssJSFOaGCGbE-OKyShngAC6gRYLdiiGpOpsR0XC87uGvOLWC6jR34VYb4Tt98kALdmjOki70IZivBGopeZvec9HdYi6AN5KtDvGYP3MEdBpFlXZPFyUiudahTKOiZt-vj74Jv0OvqYJWpyW6SpGjXSCCaMS34~be5RKNRXpEmcDF81P5AhGwosvJdZ-tv8H-r731IEOlH9~0pKVP8-uEJ43-cGKLjMH55V7oa5DOw1ovhU6CzTWOkRiYhgT9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dylan May, acting housing manager for the City of Clearwater, presented a proposed fiscal-year 2025–26 spending plan that would allocate federal housing and community development funds across seven categories and prioritize funding a larger number of public-service providers at reduced award levels.

The proposed allocations, which the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board voted to approve for public comment, are intended to align with the city’s 2025–2029 strategic plan and to balance housing, homelessness prevention, special-needs services and neighborhood investments.

May told the board the annual action plan directs how Clearwater will use federal entitlement funds each year and that staff scored more than 20 applications with input from a Technical Review Committee. “We took into account those scores and provide equitable distribution of funds based on the scores, feasibility, and past performance,” May said. He said the city is constrained by program caps and HUD guidelines when setting amounts.

Under the proposal, public services funding would be constrained by the CDBG public-service cap and spread more widely at lower dollar amounts so more organizations receive grants. May named six service providers included in the public-services slate: Hispanic Outreach Center (youth leadership program), WestCare, Gulf Coast Legal, Metropolitan Ministries, Pinellas Opportunity Council and Hope Villages of America. He said the organizations have confirmed they will accept reduced awards.

Staff proposed four public‑facilities projects totaling $540,874: heating/ventilation/air‑conditioning work and food storage upgrades for Hope Villages of America, interior and exterior door and safety improvements at Directions for Living, an emergency generator for Maddie Williams, and campus upgrades (including air‑conditioning replacement and parking repairs) for SBDP. May said facility projects were funded at the amounts requested plus inspection fees.

The draft AAP would also budget $189,096 for administration (the CDBG administration cap), $60,000 for homebuyer education and $750,000 for down payment assistance servicing and awards. May said a majority of HOME and SHIP funds are proposed for creation and preservation of rental and owner‑occupied housing and that several projects are in predevelopment.

May cautioned the board that the city has not yet received its final entitlement amounts from HUD and that staff will adjust allocations when those numbers arrive. He outlined next steps: a 30‑day public comment period beginning June 8 and ending July 7, 2025; NAHAB review and recommendation July 8; and city council review in August as part of the consolidated plan process.

Board members asked how many applicants would be funded; May said roughly 11 projects across facilities and services were on the proposed slate and that most qualifying service applicants were accepted. He said staff plans to notify applicants after council adopts the final plan and to provide feedback meetings on how organizations can improve future applications.

The board voted to move the draft annual action plan forward for public comment by voice vote with no opposition.

Less critical details: May said staff produced two printed budget formats for review and that staff relied on historic budgets and projected upcoming projects to set facility funding. He also noted the city is “sifting through” seven applications for a commercial façade program and expects to continue coordinating funding stacks across CDBG, HOME, SHIP and other local sources.","City staff recommended a proposed fiscal-year funding plan that shifts toward funding more public-service projects at lower amounts, budgets $540,874 for four public-facilities projects, and preserves down-payment and homebuyer-education funding; the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board voted to approve the plan for public comment.","actionData","errors"]

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Clearwater proposes shifting HOME‑ARP funds from rental assistance to affordable rental development

Clearwater staff propose FY2025–26 allocations emphasizing more, smaller public-service grants and facilities repairs