Our Mission:
Providing adequate, safe and affordable housing to very low, low and moderate income residents, while supporting the City of Lakeland's redevelopment efforts and promoting self-sufficiency.
The City of Lakeland's Housing Office administers a number of Federal and State grant programs designed for the preservation and development of affordable housing, and expended economic opportunities for persons of low to moderate income.
Funding is generally restricted to benefit very low, low and moderate income residents and families. See Income Chart or contact the Housing Office for additional details.
What is Affordable Housing?
Housing is affordable if it costs no more than 30% of one’s income. People who pay more than this are considered “cost-burdened.” Those who pay more than 50% are “severely cost-burdened.” High housing prices can slow down a local economy, leaving jobs unfilled and siphoning spending power away from local goods and services.
The City of Lakeland is committed to partnering with developers to encourage the construction of safe, affordable, high-quality housing. The following table shows units constructed or planned from October 2019 to present.
PUBLIC NOTICE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER)
The City of Lakeland prepared the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPER) for the 2022-2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program year. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development must receive the CAPER reports in the Jacksonville area office by December 29, 2023. The public may review and submit comments on the reports prior to submission to HUD.
The CAPER reports contain information on the status of all CDBG and HOME funded projects underway or completed during the program year October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. These reports document the City's performance in meeting the various requirements for the expenditure of CDBG and HOME funds.
The CAPER and accompanying narrative statements are available for review. Interested parties may also obtain a copy at no charge or receive information about the reports by calling the Planning and Housing Division at 863.834.3360.
Comments should be addressed to: Michael Smith, Housing Programs Manager, Community & Economic Development Department, Housing Division, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33805, on or before Monday, December 21, 2023.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Lakeland prepared its Annual Performance Reports for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program. These reports contain information on the status of all SHIP funded projects completed before June 30, 2023. Included is the SHIP Close Out Report for 2020-2021, SHIP Interim Report for 2021-2022. The Annual Performance Report shall be submitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) in Tallahassee, Florida, to be received by the FHFC on or before September 15, 2023.
The Annual Performance Reports are available for review by contacting the Housing Division at housing@lakelandgov.net, where interested parties may obtain a free copy or receive information about the reports.
Anyone wishing to comment on the reports must do so prior to September 4, 2023. Written public comments shall identify the author by name, address, and interest affected. Comments should be addressed to Michael B. Smith, Housing Programs Manager, Planning and Housing Division, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33805, or housing@lakelandgov.net and to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301-1329.
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
CITY OF LAKELAND
COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
29TH Year HOME
Program Year 2023-2024
Applications are now available for organizations seeking funds to provide affordable housing development for Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) under the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program for the period of October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024.
For any questions, please email Michael Smith or Adena Kniss or by calling 863.834.3360.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
The City of Lakeland's Housing Department may be able to help low and very low-income households with disaster-related housing repairs and relocation assistance. Following a disaster as declared by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Florida, SHIP funds may be used to address emergency housing repair. This strategy aims to address the immediate health and safety needs of eligible clients in the event of a disaster. Relocation assistance may be provided.
Generally, such needs may include the purchase of emergency supplies for income-eligible households to weatherproof damaged homes; provide interim repairs to avoid further damage; tree and debris removal; or other assistance as necessary to make individual housing units habitable. This assistance would additionally be for non-insured repairs such as insurance deductible expenses.
Clients are served on a “first qualified, first served basis.” The maximum award is $85,000. Mobile homes are not eligible for assistance.
Contact the Housing Department at housing@lakelandgov.net or 863.834.3360 for more information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Individuals and households can also apply to FEMA for help with temporary housing, basic home repairs, and certain other uninsured disaster-related needs. To apply, visit disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, or by using the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, give FEMA the number for that service.
Potential applicants should contact their insurance companies first because FEMA will not pay for items that insurance covers.
- For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw.
- For information on Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, visit fema.gov/disaster/hurricane-ian.
- Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.
Housing Rehabilitation Available
The City of Lakeland's Planning & Housing Division is accepting applications for Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied, Single-Family Homes ONLINE ONLY. Applicants must own and have lived in their home for at least one year prior to applying for rehabilitation assistance. Mobile homes and rental properties are not eligible for rehabilitation assistance. Homes in historic districts are subject to additional program restrictions.
| CITY OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA | ||||
| HOUSING ASSISTANCE INCOME SCHEDULE | ||||
| % OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME | CDBG & HOME UP TO 80% (Federal Funds) | |||
| EXTREMELY LOW | VERY LOW | LOW | ||
| 30% | 50% | 60% | 80% | |
| BASED ON FAMILY SIZE | HUD & FHFC | HUD & FHFC | FHFC | HUD & FHFC |
| 1 | 15,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
| 2 | 17,150 | 28,600 | 34,320 | 45,700 |
| 3 | 19,300 | 32,150 | 38,580 | 51,400 |
| 4 | 21,411 | 35,700 | 42,840 | 57,100 |
| 5 | 23,150 | 38,600 | 46,320 | 61,700 |
| 6 | 24,850 | 41,450 | 49,740 | 66,250 |
| 7 | 26,550 | 44,300 | 53,160 | 70,850 |
| 8 | 28,250 | 47,150 | 56,580 | 75,400 |
|
Income levels are based on Area Median Income (AMI) for family of four at $74,300. Data effective June 15, 2023 and retrieved from the following web sources: HUD=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2023/2023summary.odn Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) -https://www.floridahousing.org/owners-and-managers/compliance/income-limits (2023) |
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The Planning & Housing Division is located:
1104 Martin L. King, Jr. Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33805
Sources of funding for this program may include Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP). For more information, please contact the Housing Office at 863.834.3360 or by email to housing@lakelandgov.net.
Affordable Housing Infill Land Bank Program
Update: The next round of lots is now available for preview on our interactive map linked below.
The City of Lakeland Housing Division will begin accepting applications for the Infill Land Bank Program starting on Monday, March 10, 2023. Anyone interested in the program will be required to submit an Affordable Housing Development Application and an Application to become a Certified Affordable Housing Developer through our online application portal. If you were previously awarded lots through the land bank program, you do not need to resubmit the Certified Affordable Housing Developer Application. The link to the application portal will remain open until the end of the day Monday, March 27, 2023.
The City of Lakeland Housing Division and the Affordable Housing Review Committee will qualify and rank all applications. Lots will be awarded to qualified buyers based on their ranking until all lots have been awarded and the following incentive will be made available:
- Non-utility impact fee waivers for both the city and county are available for properties in the Core Improvement Area.
- Non-utility impact fee reimbursements are available for properties outside the Core Improvement Area.
- The City of Lakeland will sell infill lots for 120% of the assessed land value. The city will only collect a deposit of $1,500 per lot; the remaining balance will be held as a 10 year deferred lien. The lien will be released and satisfied upon sale of new home to an income qualified affordable housing buyer.
- Down payment assistance will be available to income qualified affordable housing buyers.
The application forms and program details are available below:
Affordable Housing Land Bank Map
Certified Affordable Developer Application
(Go to the Infill Lot Program at the bottom of the page)
For additional information, please contact housing@lakelandgov.net or call 863.834.3360.
Foreclosure Prevention
The City of Lakeland has partnered with Keystone Challenge Fund, Inc. to provide housing counseling services to help qualified homeowners avoid foreclosure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact 863.687.1025 or visit HANDS for more information or to apply for assistance.
Related Links
Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity
Florida's Hardest-Hit Fund Program
Florida Housing Finance Corporation
Homeownership Preservation Foundation
Polk County Housing & Neighborhood Development