Title XXX, Social Welfare

(1) An applicant, a sponsor, or an affiliate of an applicant or a sponsor may be precluded from participation in any corporation program if the applicant or affiliate of the applicant has:(a) Made a material misrepresentation or engaged in fraudulent actions in connection with an…

Sections 420.521-420.529 may be cited as the “Predevelopment Loan Program Act.”History.—s. 13, ch. 88-376; s. 2, ch. 89-121; s. 1, ch. 93-181.Note.—Former s. 420.303.

It is hereby found by the Legislature that:(1) There continues to exist a serious shortage of affordable housing for farmworkers, very-low-income persons and families, and low-income persons and families throughout the state.(2) Existing private, local, state, and federal resourc…

The purpose of the Predevelopment Loan Program is to:(1) Provide for financial and technical assistance to local governments, housing authorities, and not-for-profit organizations who will provide for the sponsorship of housing for the target population in the state, such housing…

For the purpose of ss. 420.521-420.529, the term:(1) “Community-based organization” or “not-for-profit organization” means any group incorporated under chapter 617 to provide housing and other services on a not-for-profit basis, and which is acceptable to federal and state agenci…

(1) There is authorized to be established by the corporation with a qualified public depository meeting the requirements of chapter 280 a separate fund to be named the “Housing Predevelopment Fund” which shall be administered by the corporation according to the provisions of ss. …

(1) The corporation is authorized to make loans and grants from the Housing Predevelopment Fund to eligible sponsors when it determines that:(a) A need for housing for the target population exists in the area described in the application; and(b) Federal, state, or local public fu…

(1) The corporation shall establish the criteria for determining threshold compliance with corporation objectives. Final decisions regarding funding shall be approved by the corporation board. The corporation board shall determine the tentative loan or grant amount available to e…

(1) The corporation may adopt rules necessary to implement ss. 420.521-420.529 and to further specify the purposes for which loan and grant funds may be expended, the required content of applications, the procedure for evaluating and competitively ranking all applications, and re…

If a default on a loan occurs, the corporation may foreclose on any mortgage or security interest or commence any legal action to protect the interest of the corporation or the fund and recover the amount of the unpaid principal, accrued interest, and fees on behalf of the fund. …

To the extent that provisions of this part are not inconsistent with contract provisions under the Rural Land Acquisition and Site Development Act, the Farmworker Housing Assistance Act, and the Community-Based Organization Loan Program, the provisions of this part shall apply to…

(1) The corporation shall operate the Affordable Housing Catalyst Program for the purpose of securing the expertise necessary to provide specialized technical support to local governments and community-based organizations to implement the HOME Investment Partnership Program, Stat…

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation is authorized to provide funds to eligible entities for affordable housing recovery in those areas of the state which sustained housing damage due to hurricanes during 2004 and 2005. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation shall utilize dat…

Sections 420.601-420.609 may be cited as the “Affordable Housing Planning and Community Assistance Act.”History.—s. 2, ch. 86-192; s. 27, ch. 92-317.

In addition to the findings and declarations in ss. 420.0002, 420.502, 421.02, 422.02, and 423.01, which are hereby reaffirmed, the Legislature finds that:(1) Decent, safe, and sanitary housing for persons of very low income, low income, and moderate income are a critical need in…

As used in this part, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Adjusted for family size” means adjusted in a manner which results in an income eligibility level which is lower for households with fewer than four people, or …

(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.—In addition to the legislative findings set forth in s. 420.6015, the Legislature finds and declares that:(a) Housing in economically declining or distressed areas is frequently substandard and is often unaffordable or unavailable to homeless persons, ve…

(1) The research and planning functions of the department shall include the collection of data on the need for affordable housing in this state and the extent to which that need is being met through federal, state, and local programs, in order to facilitate planning to meet the h…

Because the Legislature firmly supports affordable housing in Florida for all economic classes:(1) There is created the Affordable Housing Study Commission, which shall be composed of 21 members to be appointed by the Governor:(a) One citizen actively engaged in the residential h…

(1) A local government may provide density bonus incentives pursuant to this section to any landowner who voluntarily donates fee simple interest in real property to the local government for the purpose of assisting the local government in providing affordable housing, including …

As used in ss. 420.621-420.628, the term:(1) “Continuum of care” means a group organized to carry out the responsibilities imposed under ss. 420.621-420.628 to coordinate, plan, and pursue ending homelessness in a designated catchment area. Such a group shall be composed of repre…

(1) The State Office on Homelessness is created within the Department of Children and Families to provide interagency, council, and other related coordination on issues relating to homelessness.(2) The Council on Homelessness is created to consist of 19 representatives of public …

(1) The purpose of a continuum of care, as defined in s. 420.621, is to coordinate community efforts to prevent and end homelessness in its catchment area designated as provided in subsection (3) and to fulfill the responsibilities set forth in this chapter.(2) Under the federal …

(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.—The Legislature finds and declares that many services for households experiencing homelessness have been provided by local communities through voluntary private agencies and religious organizations and that those resources have not been sufficient to pre…

(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Individual identifying information” means information that directly or indirectly identifies a specific person, can be manipulated to identify a specific person, or can be linked with other available information to identify a specific pe…

(1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—The Legislature finds that the ability to provide adequate homeless services is limited due to a shortage of professionals and paraprofessionals in the field. Persons with lived experience of homelessness are uniquely qualified to provide effective support…

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature, to encourage mental health facilities or institutions under contract with, operated, licensed, or regulated by the state and local governments to ensure that persons leaving their care or custody are not discharged into homelessness.(2) Th…

(1) The Rapid ReHousing response to homelessness differs from traditional approaches to addressing homelessness by focusing on each individual’s or family’s barriers to housing. By using this approach, communities can significantly reduce the amount of time that individuals and f…

(1) The Housing First approach to homelessness provides permanent housing assistance, followed by support services responsive to individual or family needs once housing is obtained. By using this approach, communities can significantly reduce the amount of time that individuals a…

(1)(a) The Legislature finds that there are many young adults who, through no fault of their own, live in foster families, group homes, and institutions, and face numerous barriers to a successful transition to adulthood. Young adults who are leaving the child welfare system may …

Sections 420.630-420.635 may be cited as the “Urban Homesteading Act.”History.—s. 23, ch. 99-378.

As used in ss. 420.630-420.635:(1) “Authority” or “housing authority” means any of the public corporations created under s. 421.04.(2) “Homestead agreement” means a written contract between a local government or its designee and a qualified buyer which contains the terms under wh…

By resolution, subject to federal and state law, and in consultation with the Office of Urban Opportunity, a local government or its designee may operate a program that makes foreclosed single-family housing properties available to qualified buyers to purchase. This urban homeste…

An applicant is eligible to enter into a homestead agreement to acquire single-family housing property as a qualified buyer under ss. 420.630-420.635 if:(1) The applicant or his or her spouse is employed and has been employed for the immediately preceding 12 months;(2) The applic…

(1) A qualified buyer may apply to a local government or its designee to acquire single-family housing property. The application must be in a form and in a manner provided by the local government or its designee. If the application is approved, the qualified buyer and the local g…

Contingent upon an appropriation, the Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Office of Urban Opportunity, shall provide loans to qualified buyers who are required to pay the pro rata portion of the bonded debt on single-family housing pursuant to s. 420.634. Loans provi…

Sections 420.907-420.9079 may be cited as the “State Housing Initiatives Partnership Act.”History.—s. 32, ch. 92-317.

As used in ss. 420.907-420.9079, the term:(1) “Adjusted for family size” means adjusted in a manner that results in an income eligibility level that is lower for households having fewer than four people, or higher for households having more than four people, than the base income …

The State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program is created for the purpose of providing funds to counties and eligible municipalities as an incentive for the creation of local housing partnerships, to expand production of and preserve affordable housing, to further the housing …

(1) Distributions calculated in this section shall be disbursed on a quarterly or more frequent basis by the corporation pursuant to s. 420.9072, subject to availability of funds. Each county’s share of the funds to be distributed from the portion of the funds in the Local Govern…

(1)(a) Each county or eligible municipality participating in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program shall develop and implement a local housing assistance plan created to make affordable residential units available to persons of very low income, low income, or moderate…

(1) Each county or eligible municipality participating in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program, including a municipality receiving program funds through the county, or an eligible municipality must, within 12 months after the original adoption of the local housing as…

(1) There is created in the State Treasury the Local Government Housing Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the corporation on behalf of the department according to the provisions of ss. 420.907-420.9076 and this section. There shall be deposited into the fund a portion of…

The Legislature finds that more funding for housing to assist individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness is needed and encourages the state entity designated to administer funds made available to the state from the National Housi…