Council ratifies HUD Continuum of Care HMIS grant and adopts related budget resolution

5969186 · October 21, 2025

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Summary

The council ratified the city manager’s signature on Grant documents for the 2023 HUD Continuum of Care award to support HMIS (WellSky) operations and appropriated funds so the grant can be expended for 10/1/2025–9/30/2026.

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.