HURRICANE HOUSING RECOVERY (HHR) PROGRAM, Definitions, Hurricane Housing Recovery Assistance Plans and Distribution of Funds, Uses of and Restrictions Upon Hurricane Housing Recovery Program Funds, Hurricane Housing Recovery Program Trust Fund, ...

FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
67ER08-01: HURRICANE HOUSING RECOVERY (HHR) PROGRAM
67ER08-02: Definitions
67ER08-03: Hurricane Housing Recovery Assistance Plans and Distribution of Funds
67ER08-04: Uses of and Restrictions Upon Hurricane Housing Recovery Program Funds
67ER08-05: Hurricane Housing Recovery Program Trust Fund
67ER08-06: Annual Reports
67ER08-07: Compliance Monitoring for Housing Developed With HHR Program Funds
SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FINDING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE: Florida experienced the destructive impact of four hurricanes in 2004. The hurricanes created both short-term and long-term housing needs for Floridians. To implement the February 2005 recommendations of the Governor’s Hurricane Housing Work Group, the Hurricane Housing Recovery program, hereafter referred to as the HHR program, is created for the purpose of providing funds to assist those areas of the state with the greatest housing damage from the hurricanes. Program funding is provided for eligible entities to implement a hurricane housing recovery assistance plan that may include grants and loans for homeownership and rental activities, including activities related to manufactured housing.
REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES: Florida experienced the destructive impact of four hurricanes in 2004. The hurricanes created both short-term and long-term housing needs for Floridians. To implement the February 2005 recommendations of the Governor’s Hurricane Housing Work Group, the Hurricane Housing Recovery program, hereafter referred to as the HHR program, is created for the purpose of providing funds to assist those areas of the state with the greatest housing damage from the hurricanes. Program funding is provided for eligible entities to implement a hurricane housing recovery assistance plan that may include grants and loans for homeownership and rental activities, including activities related to manufactured housing.
SUMMARY: The rule provides the strategy by which HHR program funds shall be utilized by eligible entities for affordable housing recovery efforts. Rules incorporated below replace Emergency Rules 67ER06-42 through 48.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS: Robert Dearduff, HHR Program Administrator, 227 North Bronough St., Suite 5000, Tallahassee, FL 32301 or call [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

67ER08-01 General.

This rule chapter is established to administer the implementation of the Hurricane Housing Recovery Program (HHRP). For the purposes of this rule chapter, all provisions in Chapter 67-37, F.A.C., and Sections 420.907-9079, F.S., are applicable except where described in the chapter herein.

Specific Authority s. 31, ch. 2006-69, L.O.F. Law Implemented s. 2 and 3, ch. 2005-92, L.O.F. History–New 12-30-08.

 

67ER08-02 Definitions.

(1) “Administrative Expenditures” means expenditures directly related to the implementation of the HHR funds as set forth in paragraphs 67-37.007(4)(a), (b), (c), (d), F.A.C.

(2) “Extremely low income household” or “ELI” means one or more natural persons or a family that has a total annual gross household income that does not exceed 30 percent of the area median income adjusted for family size for households within the metropolitan statistical area, the county, or the non-metropolitan median for the state, whichever is greatest.

(3) “Hurricane Housing Recovery Program” or “HHR” means the Hurricane Housing Recovery Program as recommended by the Hurricane Housing Work Group dated February, 2005.

(4) “Manufactured Home” is as defined in Section 320.01(2)(b), F.S.

(5) “Mobile Home” is as defined in Section 320.01(2)(a), F.S.

(6) “Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan” or “HHAP” means a detailed description of the planned activities to be undertaken by an eligible county and eligible municipalities and as set forth in Rule 67-37.005, F.A.C.

Specific Authority s. 31, ch. 2006-69, L.O.F. Law Implemented s. 2 and 3, ch. 2005-92, L. O. F. History–New 12-30-08.

 

67ER08-03 Hurricane Housing Assistance Plans and Distribution of Funds.

(1) To receive HHR program funding, an eligible county or eligible municipality must submit its Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan to and receive approval from the Corporation pursuant to Rule 67-37.005, F.A.C. Plans must be submitted to the Corporation by August 1, 2005. A local government may submit a written request to the Corporation to extend the deadline up to 45 days. No HHR program funds shall be distributed to any eligible county or eligible municipality unless and until an approved plan is in place.

(2) The effective period of the Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan is three years plus a one year extension which requires approval by Florida Housing Finance Corporation HHR Program Administrator as set forth in subparagraph 67-37.005(6)(f)2., F.A.C.

(3) Each Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan shall include a description of all activities to be undertaken in the HHR program. An eligible county or eligible municipality shall use the Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan Template in order to submit its HHAP. The Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan Template (07/05) is adopted and incorporated by reference with an effective date of 7/1/05. A copy of the Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan Template (07/05) may be obtained at http://www.floridahousing.org/Home/Disaster/HurricaneHousingRecoveryProgram.htmx or by contacting Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

(4) For each use of HHR program funds, the eligible county or municipality shall provide information as required in paragraphs 67-37.005(5)(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), F.A.C. The county or eligible municipality or its administrative representative shall advertise the notice of funding availability in a newspaper of general circulation and periodicals serving ethnic and diverse neighborhoods.

(5) A copy of the Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan shall be submitted to the Corporation, via U.S. Mail or electronic submission. If submitted electronically, a mailed copy shall be sent to the Corporation within three working days of the strategy being electronically transmitted. The mailed copy submitted to the Corporation shall bear the original signature of an authorized official or an authorized official’s designee.

(6) Once the HHAP is approved, an eligible county or eligible municipalities shall be eligible to draw funds for activities included in the approved strategies in the HHAP. The request for funds shall be submitted in writing and include the following information: Name of local government, amount of funds requested from the base allocation, ELI supplemental allocation and the community planning supplemental allocation as referenced in subsections 67ER06-4(3), (4) and (5), and a schedule of when the funds being requested are to be expended. Upon approval of the plan, each eligible county or eligible municipality as set forth in Section 420.9071(11), F.A.C., shall be eligible to request an initial amount not to exceed $100,000 to establish a balance in the HHRP account and begin to fund expenses incurred including Administrative Expenditures. The initial request shall include all information required above in addition to the HHRP account information.

Specific Authority s. 31, ch. 2006-69, L.O.F. Law Implemented s. 2 and 3, ch. 2005-92, L.O. F. History–New 12-30-08.

 

67ER08-04 Uses of and Restrictions Upon HHR Program Funds.

(1) HHR program funds shall be used to implement the Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan. The benefit of assistance provided through the HHR program must accrue to eligible persons occupying eligible housing. HHR program funds may be used for:

(a) Repair and replacement of site built housing;

(b) Land acquisition, through community land trusts or other means, for properties that may include scattered sites, community revitalization sites, and older manufactured home parks;

(c) Construction and development financing;

(d) Down payment, closing cost, and purchase price assistance for site-built and post-1994 Manufactured Homes where the wind load rating is sufficient for the location;

(e) Repair, replacement, and relocation assistance for post-1994 Manufactured Homes where the wind load rating is sufficient for the location, including those on leased land in stable park situations;

(f) Limited repair and relocation assistance on a case by case basis to pre-1994 Manufactured Homes and mobile homes;

(g) The acquisition of building materials for home repair and construction;

(h) Implementation of long-term recovery plans prepared through a locally initiated collaborative community partnership or in conjunction with the Department of Community Affairs and Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(i) Housing re-entry assistance, such as security deposits, utility deposits, and temporary storage of household furnishings;

(j) Foreclosure and eviction prevention, including monthly rental assistance for limited periods of time;

(k) Capital to leverage other private and public resources; or

(l) Hazard mitigation strategies and techniques to reduce or eliminate the exposure of people’s lives or property to harm from a disaster.

(2) Each county’s allocation shall be used to meet hurricane housing recovery needs throughout the county. In the event that an eligible county and an eligible municipality within the county vie separately for funding slated for a county, the Corporation shall make a final determination of how funds shall be awarded. Criteria used to make this determination shall include the following factors:

(a) Amount requested;

(b) Number of households being served; and

(c) Strategies to be employed;

(3) The base allocation limits for eligible counties are as follows:

Escambia	$17,862,236
Charlotte	$14,339,973
St. Lucie	$16,417,481
DeSoto	$8,147,644
Santa Rosa	$10,930,493
Indian River	$10,922,421
Hardee	$5,924,895
Brevard	$14,673,648
Polk	$13,284,043
Okeechobee	$5,380,098
Martin	$6,605,068
Osceola	$3,986,312
Palm Beach	$6,401,838
Highlands	$2,326,849
Volusia	$3,730,122
Lee	$2,502,896
Orange	$4,393,483
Putnam	$789,079
Marion	$1,045,924
Okaloosa	$1,004,135
Hendry	$487,199
Dixie	$451,839
Glades	$382,944
Seminole	$1,649,821
Lake	$773,192
Sumter	$434,729
Levy	$383,163
Bradford	$378,475

 

(4) ELI supplemental funds shall be made available to each county to provide funding to households earning 30% or below the area median income. These funds may be used on any of the approved strategies in the HHAP so long as they are serving ELI households. If an eligible county’s ELI supplement is not requested by the eligible county or eligible municipality by September 15, 2005, the funds shall be allocated through the issuance of a request for proposals by the Corporation. Nonprofit, community-based organizations with housing experience may apply for a county’s ELI allocation.  The amount of funding available for each county is as follows:

Escambia	$3,572,447
Charlotte	$2,867,995
St. Lucie	$3,283,496
DeSoto	$1,629,529
Santa Rosa	$2,186,099
Indian River	$2,184,484
Hardee	$1,184,979
Brevard	$2,934,728
Polk	$2,656,809
Okeechobee	$1,076,020
Martin	$1,321,014
Osceola	$797,262
Palm Beach	$1,280,368
Highlands	$465,370
Volusia	$746,024
Lee	$500,579
Orange	$878,697
Putnam	$157,816
Marion	$209,185
Okaloosa	$200,827
Hendry	$97,440
Dixie	$90,368
Glades	$76,589
Seminole	$329,964
Lake	$154,638
Sumter	$86,946
Levy	$76,632
Bradford	$75,695

 

(5) Community planning supplemental funds shall be distributed to each eligible county or eligible municipalities that submits as part of its HHAP, a summary of the collaborative efforts between it and other entities involved as part of the eligible county or eligible municipalities HHAP. Copies of interlocal agreements and contracts shall be submitted as attachments to the HHAP. The allocation of funds not requested prior to September 15, 2005 for the community planning supplemental allocation shall be determined through the issuance of a request for proposal by the Corporation. The funds shall be allocated based on the funding levels as follows:

Escambia	$2,381,632
Charlotte	$1,911,996
St. Lucie	$2,188,997
DeSoto	$1,086,353
Santa Rosa	$1,457,399
Indian River	$1,456,323
Hardee	$789,986
Brevard	$1,956,486
Polk	$1,771,206
Okeechobee	$717,346
Martin	$880,676
Osceola	$531,508
Palm Beach	$853,578
Highlands	$310,247
Volusia	$497,350
Lee	$333,719
Orange	$585,798
Putnam	$105,211
Marion	$139,457
Okaloosa	$133,885
Hendry	$64,960
Dixie	$60,245
Glades	$51,059
Seminole	$219,976
Lake	$103,092
Sumter	$57,964
Levy	$51,088
Bradford	$50,463

 

(6) No Administrative Expenditures may be used to pay for costs incurred prior to July 1, 2005. Eligible counties and eligible municipalities shall be allowed to use up to 15 percent of its allocation for costs to administer its program. An eligible county or eligible municipalities may subcontract their administrative functions, but in no case shall the administrative costs exceed 15 percent of the eligible county or eligible municipalities’ allocation.

(7) At least 65% of the base allocation and community planning supplemental funds allocated to a county shall be used for home ownership. An eligible county and eligible municipalities shall provide justification for the need to use a higher percentage of its allocation for rental housing. The separate funding allocated for ELI households is exempt from the 65% requirement.

(8) With the exception of the income requirements and home ownership requirements, eligible counties and eligible municipalities shall be allowed to apportion their funds across their housing strategies as dictated by local needs.

(9) Eligible counties and eligible municipalities shall have two years to encumber funds for their intended use, and an additional year to fully expend the funds. If a local entity shows that it has been unable to fully expend the funds after this period, it may request an extension to this timeframe pursuant to subparagraph 67-37.005(6)(f)2., F.A.C. The Corporation shall grant that local entity an extension to expend the funds upon receipt of the request.

(10) Eligible counties and eligible municipalities shall maintain the HHR program funds and any repayments, recoveries, or program income in a separate trust fund. The local entity shall use any such repayments, recoveries, or program income to further affordable housing objectives consistent with the HHR program, regardless of when such money is recycled. At the termination of the HHR Program, any such repayments, recoveries, or program income may be deposited into the local government’s Local Housing Trust Fund.

(11) Any funds that are not encumbered by eligible counties or eligible municipalities by June 30, 2007, shall be re-offered by the Corporation to eligible counties and eligible municipalities with remaining hurricane housing needs.

(12) The Corporation shall approve expenditures for administration of the HHR program in accordance with subsection 67-37. 007(4), F.A.C.

Specific Authority s. 31, ch. 2006-69, L.O.F. Law Implemented s. 2 and 3, ch. 2005-92, L.O. F. History–New 12-30-08.

 

67ER08-05 Hurricane Housing Recovery Program Trust Fund.

(1) The HHR program trust fund account shall be separately stated as a special revenue fund in an eligible county’s or eligible municipalities audited financial statements. Copies of such audited financial statements shall be forwarded annually to the Corporation no later than June 30th of the following fiscal year. In addition to providing audited financial statements, all participating jurisdictions must provide evidence of compliance with the Florida Single Audit Act, as referenced in Section 215.97(6), F.S.

(2) An eligible county and eligible municipalities which have had an audit, review or investigation involving HHR program funds shall send the Corporation a copy of any related report within 10 days of the issuance of such report.

Specific Authority s. 31, ch. 2006-69, L.O.F. Law Implemented s. 2 and 3, ch. 2005-92, L.O. F. History–New 12-30-08.

 

67ER08-06 Annual Reports.

(1) Except in 2005, by September 15 of each year each eligible county and eligible municipalities shall submit a report using the HHR Annual Report, form AR05-1 (07/05), herein incorporated by reference with an effective date of 7/1/05, of its Hurricane Housing Recovery Program and accomplishments through June 30, immediately preceding submittal of the report. A copy of HHR annual report, form AR05-1 may be obtained at http://www.floridahousing.org/Home/Disaster/HHRPAnReport.htm or by contacting Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

(2) In addition to the report mentioned in (1) above, counties and SHIP eligible municipalities utilizing any HHR program funds must provide a list of recipients by strategy including names, addresses, and zip codes to Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

Specific Authority s. 31, ch. 2006-69, L.O.F. Law Implemented s. 2 and 3, ch. 2005-92, L.O. F. History–New 12-30-08.

 

67ER08-07 Compliance Monitoring for Housing Developed With HHR Program Funds.

(1) The staff or entity with administrative authority for a Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan must develop a tracking system to ensure that the hurricane housing distribution funds disbursed from the hurricane housing assistance trust fund are at all times expended in accordance with the set-aside requirements in subsection 67-37.007(2), F.A.C., and time restraints detailed at subsection 67-37.005(6), F.A.C.

(2) The combined household annual gross income of an applicant who is applying as an owner/occupant of a residence must be verified and certified by the local Hurricane Housing Recovery Program administrator or his/her designee using income verification and certification procedures as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 (05/03), Chapter 5, Appendix 3, and Appendix 15-C, hereby incorporated by reference. Copies of these materials may be obtained by contacting Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida or obtained at http://www.floridahousing.org/Home/Disaster/HUDOccHndbk.htm. Whichever verification and certification method is used, annual gross income must be used and the HHR program income limits cannot be exceeded.

(3) The staff or entity with administrative authority for a Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan assisting rental developments shall monitor and determine tenant eligibility and the amount of subsidy using the same guidelines as specified at subsection (2) above, for the term of the HHR Program. The Corporation shall monitor the activities of the local governments to determine compliance with program requirements. To ensure that communities are capable of addressing rental housing needs for hurricane recovery, eligible counties and eligible municipalities are required to perform only an initial certification of income upon move-in of the first household into a rental unit, as long as no more than $10,000 has been provided for assistance to the unit, and the housing unit is located in a census block group in which more than 51 percent of the households have incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income. No continuing compliance monitoring shall be required on these units.

(4) The Corporation, or its designated monitoring agent, shall be permitted to inspect the Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan, advertisements, applications, income verifications and certifications, plan participation contracts, financial records, plan tracking records, construction cost verification including receipts and contracts, and any other applicable documents at any reasonable time with or without notice. Such records must be maintained within the participating county or eligible municipality at a place accessible to the Corporation staff or its designated monitoring agent.

(5) If the Corporation staff or its designated monitoring agent determines that an eligible jurisdiction has established a pattern of violation by not complying with the criteria of its Hurricane Housing Assistance Plan established under these rules or Sections 420.907-.9079, F.S., or that an eligible sponsor has established a pattern of violation by not complying with the applicable award conditions, the Corporation shall report such pattern of violation to the Executive Office of the Governor at which time the distribution of program funds to the county or eligible municipality will be suspended. The eligible jurisdiction shall develop a corrective action plan (CAP). The CAP shall be submitted to the Corporation within 60 days of the date of a letter from the Corporation, pursuant to Section 420.9075 (12), F.S. notifying the eligible jurisdiction of the pattern of violation. The CAP must describe the proposed corrective action for each violation and how the correction actions will be implemented within 3 months of the CAP’s approval by the Corporation. Upon receipt of the CAP, the Corporation shall have 30 days to review and approve or recommend changes to the CAP. Upon approval of the CAP and correction of the violation, program funds will be distributed.

(6) If the Corporation’s staff or its designated monitoring agent determines that the corrective actions have not been implemented, the Corporation shall report such pattern of violation of criteria or violation of award conditions to the Executive Office of the Governor. The distribution of program funds to the eligible county or eligible municipality will be suspended until such time as the corrective plan of action has been implemented, at which time funds will be distributed.

Specific Authority s. 31, ch. 2006-69, L.O.F. Law Implemented s.2 and 3, ch. 2005-92, L.O. F. History–New 12-30-08.

THIS RULE TAKES EFFECT UPON BEING FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE UNLESS A LATER TIME AND DATE IS SPECIFIED IN THE RULE.
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 30, 2008