Sec. 555.103. - Jacksonville Housing Assistance Plan authorized and described; partnerships authorized.

There is hereby authorized the Jacksonville Housing Assistance Plan. A. (1) In order to participate in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program, the Administrator shall develop, submit to the Council for approval and implement a local Housing Assistance Plan created to make affordable residential units available to persons of very low income, low income, or moderate income and to persons who have special housing needs, including, but not limited to, homeless people, the elderly, and migrant farmworkers. The plan is intended to increase the availability of affordable residential units by combining local resources and cost saving measures into a local housing partnership and using private and public funds to reduce the cost of housing. (2) The Jacksonville Housing Assistance Plan may allocate funds to: (a) Implement housing assistance strategies for the provision of affordable housing. (b) Supplement funds available to the Corporation to provide enhanced funding of State housing programs within the City. (c) Provide the local matching share of federal affordable housing grants or programs. (d) Fund emergency repairs, including, but not limited to, repairs performed by existing service providers under weatherization assistance programs under F.S. §§ 409.509—409.5093. (e) Further the housing element of the City's comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to F.S. § 163.3184, specific to affordable housing. B. (1) In order to participate in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program, the Administrator, with cooperation from the City, shall encourage the involvement of appropriate public sector and private sector entities as partners in order to combine resources to reduce housing costs for the targeted population. This partnership process should involve: (a) Lending institutions, (b) Housing builders and developers, (c) Nonprofit and other community-based housing and service organizations, (d) Providers of professional services relating to affordable housing, (e) Advocates for low-income persons, (f) Real estate professionals, (g) Other persons or entities who can assist in providing housing or related support services. (2) The specific participants in partnership activities may vary according to the community's resources and the nature of the Housing Assistance Plan. C. The Housing Assistance Plan is governed by the following criteria and administrative procedures: The Administrator shall develop a qualification system and selection criteria for applications for awards by eligible sponsors, adopt criteria for the selection of eligible persons and households and adopt a maximum award schedule or system of amounts consistent with the intent and budget of the Housing Assistance Plan, with F.S. §§ 420.907—420.9079, and with Corporation rule. (Ord. 98-570-E, § 2)