Housing

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) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs One Year Action Plan and Projected Use of Funds

Program Year: October 1, 2022 -September 30, 2023

The City of Lakeland is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prepare an Action Plan to qualify for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program funds. The One Year Action Plan for 2022-2023, to be presented at public hearings before the City Commission on June 20, 2022, and July 18, 2022, identifies the City's housing and non-housing community development needs and outlines a strategy to address these needs.

The City's One Year Action Plan and Projected Use of Funds for Program Year 2022-2023 will be available for public review for thirty (30) days beginning June 6, 2022. Interested persons may review the documents at the Community and Economic Development Department, Housing Division, located at 1104 Martin L. King, Jr. Avenue, Lakeland, Florida, 33805 or Action Plan Draft for 2022-23. Written comments should be provided to the department prior to July 12, 2022. Mailed comments should be addressed as follows: Michael B. Smith, Housing Programs Manager, Community and Economic Development Department, Housing Division, 1104 Martin L. King, Jr. Avenue, Lakeland, Florida, 33805.

The Lakeland City Commission will hold a public hearing on July 18, 2022, in the City Commission Room, City Hall, at 9:00a.m. to review the One Year Action Plan and Projected Use of Funds for PY2022-2023, and to review any comments received from residents. The City Commission will authorize the City administration to submit the plan to HUD with any necessary modifications.

Below is the City's mission, as stated in the Consolidated Plan & Strategy for 2021-2025; the long and short-term Community Development objectives; and the priorities identified in the One Year Action Plan and Projected Use of Funds for 2022-2023.

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide adequate, safe and affordable housing to very low, low and moderate income homeowners while supporting the City's redevelopment efforts and promoting self-sufficiency.

The City established the following priorities and objectives for the Consolidated Plan & Strategy for 2021-2025 and the Action Plan for 2022-2023:

LONG TERM OBJECTIVES & GOALS - 2021-2025:

Objective 1: Provide affordable, safe, decent housing

Preserve and maintain affordable housing by correcting substandard housing conditions;
Increase homeownership opportunities for low to moderate income individuals through affordable homes construction & down payment assistance;
Increase rental housing units through partnerships with the public housing authority and private sector investors; and
Assist in the provision of persons and/or families at risk of becoming homeless and those homeless to obtain affordable housing.

Objective 2: Establish and maintain a suitable living environment

Improve safety and livability of neighborhoods;
Improve housing and neighborhood conditions for homeowners and renters through code enforcement;
Provide infrastructure improvements, including street and sidewalks; and
Increase access to quality facilities and services.

Objective 3: Expand economic opportunities

Empower low income persons to achieve self-sufficiency; and
Assist in provide employment opportunities to low income persons in areas affected by those programs and activities covered by the Plan.

SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES & GOALS - 2022-2023:

Provide owner-occupied rehabilitation for ten (10) single family homes.
Provide home purchase assistance in the form of down payment and closing costs assistance for five (5) low-income households.
Provide temporary relocation for three (3) low-income households.
Provide limited property clearance for two (2) projects not directly related to the rehabilitation program.
Provide staff level activity to support Housing Division administered owner-occupied rehabilitation program for ten (10) low-income households.
Code Enforcement activity for over two thousand nineteen (2,019) households in targeted census tracts.
Provide general program administration including the oversight, monitoring, and coordination of CDBG and HOME programs for ten (10) low-income households.
Provide construction funds for one (1) house to be constructed or acquired and rehabilitated under HOME CHDO program.
Provide summer recreational activities to one hundred (100) children and youth through summer day camp.
Provide summer tutoring for over fifty (50) children.
Provide tutoring during the school year for over sixty (60) children.
Provide after school youth programs for four (4) low-income families.
Provide after school art classes for two hundred fifty (250) low-income families.
Provide dance and life skills classes for two hundred fifty (250) low-income families.
Provide swimming classes to seventy-four (74) low-income families.
Provide home based early intervention to one hundred eighty-five (185) children aged birth to three years old who are risk for developmental delays.
Provide one-to-one based mentoring to ten (10) at risk low-income children.
Provide a save after school and summer camp program for eighty (80) low-income families through the Boys and Girls Club.
Provide funds to help one hundred (100) low-income families at risk homelessness through eviction defense and fair housing community education.
Provide funds for resources to help ten (10) homeless households.
Provide medical care for three hundred eighty (380) working uninsured through a volunteer medical program.
Provide immediate crisis mental health services to twelve (12) low children, adolescents, and adults.
Provide funds to help pay utility cost for emergency homeless facility that provides shelter for five hundred (500) low income and homeless citizens.
Provide counseling for fifty (50) chronically homeless male substance abusers.
Provide funds for construction or affordable housing for one (1) low-income family.

The primary use of City CDBG and HOME funds will be the rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing for lower income persons and for rental development. Additional assistance will be provided through HANDS of Central Florida, Inc. to assist low to moderate-income households in home purchases.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statute, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this proceeding, or those requiring language assistance (free of charge) should contact the City of Lakeland ADA Specialist, Jenny Sykes. Because providing a reasonable accommodation may require outside assistance, organizations, or resources, the City asks that any request be made with as much notice as possible, preferably 72 hours, but no later than 48 hours in advance of the event, at 863.834.8444 or Jenny.Sykes@lakelandgov.net. If hearing impaired, please contact the TDD numbers: Local - 863.834.8333 or Toll Free at 800.955.8771 (TDD - Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or the Florida Relay Service number is 800.955.8770(VOICE), for assistance.

BRIAN REWIS, DIRECTOR

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

CITY OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

CITY OF LAKELAND

PUBLIC SERVICES APPLICATIONS

Program Year 2022-2023

The Application is available now online only for non-profit organizations seeking funds to provide public service programs for the program year 2022-2023.

The application cycles for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and General Fund have been consolidated into one cycle.

Program Information

For any questions, please email the City of Lakeland's Planning & Housing Office at housing@lakelandgov.net or by calling 863.834.3360.

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	14,200	23,650	28,380	37,800
2	18,310	27,000	32,400	43,200
3	23,030	30,400	36,480	48,600
4	27,750	33,750	40,500	54,000
5	32,470	36,450	43,740	58,350
6	37,190	39,150	46,980	62,650
7	41,850	41,850	50,220	67,000
8	44,550	44,550	53,460	71,300
Income levels are based on Area Median Income (AMI) for family of four at $67,500.00 Data effective April 18, 2022 and retrieved from the following web sources: HUD=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2022/2022summary.odn Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) -https://www.floridahousing.org/owners-and-managers/compliance/income-limits (2022)

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.

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 Keystone Challenge Fund for more information or to apply for assistance.