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Florida Housing Coalition <br />1367 E. Lafayette Street, Suite C, Tallahassee, FL, 32301 I FLhousing.org <br />Phone: (850) 878-4219 or (800) 677-4548 1 Fax: (850) 942-6312 ) Email: info@Rhousing.org <br />Ei00 <br />Using HUD HOME: Benefits, AFFH and Local Land Use Authority <br />This memo outlines benefits of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME <br />Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) program, details the obligation to affirmatively further fair <br />housing (AFFH), and verifies local authority over local land use and zoning decisions while using HOME <br />funds. <br />What are the benefits of using HOME funds? <br />• HOME funds are a much-needed source of subsidy for workforce housing. Private market <br />developers across the country, and particularly in Florida, struggle to supply the demand for <br />housing affordable to low- and moderate -income families. HOME funds are an importance <br />source of subsidy to help make housing affordable for these families. <br />• HOME funds are a highly flexible source of subsidy for workforce housing. HOME Consortium <br />members have authority to allocate HOME funds to address the most pressing local need <br />according to local priorities. Many Consortium members in Florida use HOME funds for <br />homeowner acquisition and rehabilitation. [Eligible Activities - 24 CFR §92.205] <br />• HOME funds enable leveraging of other resources. The HOME program requires a 25% match <br />from non -Federal sources. This encourages multiple layers of subsidy, and leverages local funds <br />for a maximum return on investment. In Florida, local jurisdictions are able to leverage SHIP <br />funds to great effect using Federal sources of financing, including HOME funds. [Match <br />Requirement - 24 CFR §92.218] <br />• HOME funds help Florida jurisdictions meet state Housing Element requirements. Florida's 1985 <br />Growth Management Act requires every local government in the state adopt a housing element <br />that addresses adequate and affordable housing for all its current and anticipated populations. <br />HOME funds help local jurisdictions meet this requirement by offering flexible subsidy for <br />workforce housing. [Florida Statute, Chapter 163.3177) <br />What are the benefits of participation In a HOME Consortium? <br />• Participating in a Consortium may enable a jurisdiction to access HOME funds it would not otherwise <br />be eligible to receive. Because the HOME program is allocated on a formula basis with mandatory <br />threshold criteria for eligibility, some jurisdictions may not be eligible to directly participate in the <br />HOME program. By participating in a Consortium, jurisdictions may still receive HOME allocation <br />because the aggregate score of all Consortium members meets threshold criteria. <br />• Depending on the Consortium Agreement, some members may realize administrative cost savings. A <br />lead entity must be designated in the Consortium Agreement - required for formation of and <br />member ship in a Consortium. The Lead entity is responsible for administration and program <br />compliance, a role which may reduce administrative burdens for participating Consortium members. <br />[Consortia Lead — 24 CFR §92.101(2)(ii)] <br />P224 <br />