67-48.014. HOME General Program Procedures and Restrictions

(1) Unless otherwise provided in a competitive solicitation, the Corporation shall utilize up to 10 percent of the HOME allocation for administrative costs pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92.

(2) The Corporation shall utilize at least 15 percent of the HOME allocation for CHDOs pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92. In order to apply under the CHDO set-aside, the CHDO must meet all CHDO requirements as defined by HUD in 24 CFR Part 92 and other Corporation requirements identified in a competitive solicitation.

(3) For any rental funding administered pursuant to rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C., the Corporation will distribute funds as provided in the applicable competitive solicitation.

(4) The maximum per-unit subsidy amount of HOME funds that the Corporation shall invest on a per-unit basis in affordable housing shall not exceed the per-unit dollar limits established by the Corporation as identified in the applicable competitive solicitation.

(5) The minimum amount of HOME funds that must be invested in a Rental Development is $1,000 times the number of HOME-Assisted Units in the Development.

(6) A Development qualifies as affordable housing and for HOME funds if, with respect to income and occupancy:

(a) 80 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units are occupied by families whose annual income does not exceed 60 percent of the median family income for the area, as determined by HUD, with adjustments for family size; and,

(b) 20 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units are occupied by families whose annual income does not exceed 50 percent of the median family income for the area, as determined by HUD, with adjustments for family size.

(c) When the income of a resident increases above 80 percent of area median income, the next unit that becomes available in the Development must be rented to a HOME income-eligible resident. If the income of a Very Low-Income household increases above the limits for a Very Low-Income household, then the Developer must rent the next available unit to a Very Low-Income household. The amount of rent the resident whose income has increased must pay is the lesser of the amount payable by resident under state or local law or 30 percent of the adjusted monthly income for rent and utilities.

(d) High HOME rent means 80 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units in a Development must have rents set at no more than the lesser of the Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMRs) or rents that are 30 percent of the gross income of a Family at 65 percent of median income limit, minus utility allowance. Low HOME rent means 20 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units in a Development must have rents set at no more than the lesser of the Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMRs), or 30 percent of the gross income of a Family at 50 percent of the area median income, minus utility allowance. The rent limits for a HOME Rent-Restricted Unit is the maximum gross rent that can be charged for a HOME Rent-Restricted Unit (FMRs, 30 percent of the gross income of a family at 65 percent of median income, or 30 percent of the gross income of a family at 50 percent of the area median income), less the applicable utility allowance. These rent limits are published in HUD periodically, HOME-Assisted Units with Section 8 subsidy must compare the Section 8 gross rent (resident rent, subsidy amount, and utility allowance) to the maximum applicable HOME high or low rent limit minus utilities. However, Developments with project-based rental assistance may utilize the project-based rents as compared to the HOME High and Low rents. Compliance with the HOME rent restrictions will take precedence over the Developer’s acceptance of a full Section 8 (resident-based) subsidy for the HOME-Assisted Units. However, if a HOME Rent-Restricted Unit receives federal or state project-based rental subsidy and the Family’s contribution toward rent does not exceed 30 percent of the Family’s adjusted income, then the maximum rent (i.e., tenant contribution plus project-based rental subsidy) is the rent allowable under the federal or state project-based rental subsidy program.

(e) The minimum Compliance Period for Rehabilitation Developments is 15 years from Project Completion as defined in 24 CFR §92.2.

The set-aside requirements apply beginning on the later of the first day on which any residential unit in the Development is occupied or the HOME loan closing date. The Compliance Period will be extended until the later of such longer term agreed to by the Applicant in its Application or the loan is repaid as enumerated in subsection 67-48.020(1), F.A.C.

(f) The minimum Compliance Period for newly-constructed rental housing is 20 years from Project Completion as defined in 24 CFR §92.2. The set-aside requirements apply beginning on the later of the first day on which any residential unit in the Development is occupied or the HOME loan closing date. The Compliance Period will be extended until the later of such longer term agreed to by the Applicant in its Application or the loan is repaid as enumerated in subsection 67-48.020(1), F.A.C.

(g) The minimum percentage of HOME-Assisted Units within a Development must be at least equal to the percentage (ratio) calculated by dividing the HOME loan amount by the Total Development Cost. This percentage will be utilized to determine the minimum number of HOME-Assisted Units required within a Development. HOME-Assisted Units must be identified at the time of Application. For purposes of meeting affordable housing requirements for a Development, the HOME-Assisted Units counted may be changed over the Compliance Period, so long as the total number of HOME-Assisted Units remains the same, and the substituted units are, at a minimum, comparable in terms of size, features, and number of bedrooms to the original HOME-Assisted Units.

(h) The Development will remain affordable, pursuant to commitments documented within the executed Land Use Restriction Agreement without regard to the term of the mortgage or to transfer of ownership.

(7) The Development must comply with all applicable provisions of 24 CFR Part 92, rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C., and any competitive solicitation process.

(8) A Development that is under construction may be eligible to apply for HOME funds only if the final building permit is dated no earlier than six (6) months prior to the submission deadline for the applicable competitive solicitation, the Development is able to provide evidence of compliance with federal labor standards (if 12 or more units are developed under a single contract) for any work already completed, and the Development is able to provide evidence of compliance with HUD environmental requirements as well as all other federal HOME regulations as listed in Rule 67-48.014, F.A.C., and 24 CFR Part 92. The federal requirements may require completion of activities prior to submission of an Application for HOME funding.

(9) Any single contract for the development (rehabilitation or new construction) of affordable housing with 12 or more units under the HOME Program must contain a provision requiring that not less than the wages prevailing in the locality, as predetermined by the United States Secretary of Labor pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act, 40 U.S.C. §§3142 – 3144, 3146 and 3147 (2002), 24 CFR §92.354, 24 CFR Part 70 (volunteers), and 40 U.S.C. §3145 (2002), will be paid to all laborers and mechanics employed for the construction or rehabilitation of the Development, and such contracts must also be subject to the overtime provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, 40 U.S.C. §§3701 – 3706 and 3708 (2002), the Copeland Act (Anti-Kickback Act), 40 U.S.C. §3145 (2002), and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (29 U.S.C. §201 et seq.).

(10) All HOME Developments must conform to the following federal requirements:

(a) Equal Opportunity and Fair Housing as enumerated in 24 CFR §92.202 and 92.251, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq.), Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§3601-3619), Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. §6101), Executive Order 11063 (amended by Executive Order 12259), and 24 CFR §5.105(a).

(b) Affirmative Marketing as enumerated in 24 CFR §92.351.

(c) Environmental Review as enumerated in 24 CFR §92.352, 24 CFR Part 58 and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

(d) Displacement, Relocation, and Acquisition as enumerated in 24 CFR §92.353, Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. §§4201-4655), 49 CFR Part 24, 24 CFR Part 42 (Subpart C), and Section 104(d) “Barney Frank Amendments.”

(e) Lead-based Paint as enumerated in 24 CFR §92.355 and 24 CFR Part 35.

(f) Conflict of Interest as enumerated in 24 CFR §92.356, 2 CFR §200.317 and 2 CFR §200.318.

(g) Debarment and Suspension as enumerated in 24 CFR Part 24.

(h) Handicapped Accessibility as enumerated in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (implemented in 24 CFR Part 8) and 24 CFR §100.205.

(i) Americans with Disabilities Act as enumerated in 42 U.S.C. §12131; and 47 U.S.C. §§155, 201, 218 and 225.

(j) Equal Opportunity Employment as enumerated in Executive Order 11246 (implemented in 41 CFR Part 60).

(k) Economic Opportunity for Low- and Very Low-Income Persons as implemented in 24 CFR Part 75.

(l) Minority/Women Employment as enumerated in 2 CFR §200.321 and Executive Orders 11625, 12432, and 12138.

(m) Site and Neighborhood Standards as enumerated in 24 CFR §92.202.

Rulemaking Authority 420.507, 420.508 FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(2) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.014, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, Amended 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08, 8-6-09, 11-22-11, 10-9-13, 10-8-14, 9-15-16, Repromulgated 5-24-17, 7-8-18, 7-11-19, 6-23-20, 5-18-21, Amended 7-6-22, Repromulgated 6-28-23.