The Ocala City Council ratified the city manager’s signature on the 2023 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care award for Marion County’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and adopted a budget resolution to appropriate grant funding for the program.

Community Development Services Director James Haines told the council the FY2023 award funds operation of the WellSky HMIS software, training and eligible personnel expenses for Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. The grant agreement was executed by City Manager Pete Lee on Aug. 29, 2025, to encumber funding prior to the end of the city fiscal year; council action on Oct. 21 ratified the manager’s signature and authorized the appropriation so the city can expend the funds.

At the public-comment period several speakers raised homelessness concerns. A public commenter, Jason Tolbert, described personal experiences of homelessness and urged the council to prioritize direct housing supports rather than other expenditures; staff offered to connect him with service providers and interagency coordination.

Council voted unanimously to ratify the grant execution and to adopt the accompanying budget resolution that places the grant funds into the city’s HUD account. Staff said expenses will be eligible beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and recommended approval.