Santa Rosa County, FL - Housing Department

Mission
Santa Rosa County recognizes the need to provide residents with a variety of quality affordable housing choices. The Housing Program's primary purpose is to improve housing opportunities for the benefit of low and moderate income families. The goal of the Housing Program is to create partnerships, maximize resources and identify new strategies to develop and preserve affordable housing.

Fair Housing
Fair Housing -- It's Your Right
Assessment of Impediments to Fair Housing

It is the policy of Santa Rosa County, in keeping with the laws of the United States of America and the spirit of the Constitution of the State of Florida, to promote through fair, orderly and lawful procedure the opportunity for each person so desiring to obtain housing of such person's choice in this county, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, handicap, or age, and, to that end, to prohibit discrimination in housing by any person. For more information on Fair Housing, or to register a fair housing complaint, contact:

Beckie Cato, Fair Housing Coordinator
6051 Old Bagdad Hwy
Milton, FL 32583
PHONE: (850) 981-7076
FAX: (850) 981-7099
E-Mail: BeckieC@santarosa.fl.gov

~ Home Buyer Assistance ~

HOME Program (Federal Assistance)
Home buyer program encourages the acquisition of existing affordable homes for low-income families by providing assistance with certain closing costs and down payment.
HOME Program Summary
Participating Lender
Escambia Consortium Annual Plan 2012-2013

As of March 2, 2012 this program is open for applications.
State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program
SHIP First Time Homebuyer Program is designed to assist low and moderate-income families with down payment and closing cost assistance for the purchase of their first home. Applicants qualified for first mortgage financing may apply through their lender located in Escambia or Santa Rosa County. The assistance is in the form of a deferred payment loan that becomes forgivable after fifteen (15) years of occupancy by the family.
SHIP First Time Homebuyer Program Summary

As of October 1, 2011 this program is open for applications.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Home Ownership Assistance
Santa Rosa County is a recipient of NSP-1 funding under the Florida State Administered Community Development Block Grant Program for eligible uses specified in the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act. NSP funds must be used to address abandoned and foreclosed properties in areas of greatest need.
Housing Finance Program Summary
NSP Participating Lenders and Realtors

As of March 2, 2012 the NSP Home Ownership Assistance funds are 100% committed.

~ Rental Assistance ~

Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation for Rental Units Serving Very-Low Income Families
As of March 2, 2012 all rental units have been acquired and rented to very-low income families. A total of 14 units have been completed. For information on the units and potential vacancies, please contact:
Robin Kingry, Rental Manager with CEII at (850) 595-6234
CEII Rental Information
Clinton Moomey, Rental Office of Progressive Management at(850) 623-5195
Blackwater Housing Corporation/Progressive Management Rental Information

~ Low-Income Owner Occupied Home Rehabilitation/Emergency Repair Program ~

HOME Program (Federal Assistance)
Rehabilitation program provides financial assistance to low-income families for home repairs to address safe or sanitary habitation and/or correction of building code violations. A wait-list exists for this program.

State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program
Emergency Repair and Rehabilitation program provides financial assistance to low-income families for home repairs to address safe or sanitary habitation and/or correction of building code violations. A wait-list exists for this program.

The Santa Rosa County Housing Coalition
The Coalition is tasked with identifying barriers to quality workforce housing and ways to reduce or eliminate those barriers. The Coalition is made up of housing supporters, including among others, employers, non-profit and for-profit housing developers, credit counselors, utility providers, mortgage lenders, realtors and community service providers.

The Coalition serves as a resource for potential homebuyers and renters to help individuals and families reach their housing goal. Meetings are held through out the year. Housing Coalition meeting information can be obtained from the County's Main Web Page under Meetings & Agendas. Supporters and all interested parties are welcome to attend.

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC)
Members of the AHAC are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to serve as a citizen's advisory representative for state funding under the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program.

All meetings of the advisory committee are public meetings. The AHAC reviews local housing incentive strategies and makes recommendations to the BOCC for the creation of best practices for the programs to both develop affordable housing and to maintain the current housing stock. AHAC meeting information can be obtained from the County's Main Web Page under Meetings & Agendas. Supporters and all interested parties are welcome to attend.

AHAC MEMBERS

Citizen's Advisory Task Force (CATF)
Members of the CATF are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to serve as citizen representatives for review and recommendations of projects for federal funding received under the Florida State Administered Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. CATF activities vary depending on CDBG funding for special projects. CATF meeting information can be obtained from the County's Main Web Page under Meetings & Agendas. Supporters and all interested parties are welcome to attend.

CATF MEMBERS

Housing Related Information and References
Density Bonus Plan For Workforce Housing
To meet the needs of Santa Rosa County residents and to provide an incentive for the development of Workforce and/or Affordable Housing, the BOCC has adopted a DENSITY BONUS on certain land categories.

Density Bonus Information
Affordable Housing Ordinance 93-09

For Addition Information regarding Santa Rosa County Housing Programs please contact: The Housing Department at (850) 981-7076.