Housing & Human Services
Select a topic to get more information. In order to apply for one of the listed programs, call 850-891-6566. Or pick up an application at the office located in the Frenchtown Renaissance Center, 435 North Macomb Street, Third Floor, Tallahassee, Florida
Notice of Funding Availability
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation has awarded the City of Tallahassee $429,000 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Hurricane Housing Recovery Program (HHRP) disaster assistance funds for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The purpose of this funding is to address the needs of eligible applicants whose housing has been either directly affected by Hurricane Michael or to protect their homes against future storm damage. Housing assisted with City funds must be located within City limits.
Applications for the programs listed below will be accepted beginning on November 1, 2019 and will continue until all funds are obligated, or until September 30, 2021, whichever comes first. Information on available programs, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and current income limits (Area Median Income - AMI) may be found on the City's website at http://www.talgov.com/neighborhoodservices/housing.aspx#hp.
Down Payment Assistance Services - $64,000 - This program provides homebuyer education and other services. It is open to potential homebuyers who are interested in applying for a down payment assistance loan. Applicants may apply by contacting the Tallahassee Lenders Consortium (TLC) at www.tallahasseelenders.org, or by calling (850) 222-6609.
Major Rehabilitation and Reconstruction - $150,000 - This program makes needed repairs to meet City building codes. It is open to owner occupants earning 80% or less than the AMI and who meet the eligibility criteria of the program. Applicants may apply by contacting the City's Housing Division at (850) 891-6566.
Accessibility Rehabilitation Program - $72,100 - This program makes accessibility modifications to the homes of disabled persons. It is open to owner occupants who: 1) earn 80% or less than the AMI and meet the eligibility criteria of the program; and 2) have a household member with a documented disabling condition. Applicants may apply by calling Ability 1st at (850) 575-9621.
Storm Damage Mitigation Repair Program - $100,000 - This program assists low-income homeowners make property improvements to reduce damage susceptibility during major storm events and make other improvements that will harden the home against future storm damage.
The local contact person for the SHIP program is:
Julie Evans, Housing Planner
Department of Community Housing and Human Services
City of Tallahassee
435 North Macomb St.
Tallahassee, Florida
Notice of Funding Availability
The State of Florida has awarded the City of Tallahassee, Department of Community Housing and Human Services, $330,658 in fiscal year 2019-2020 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds for housing programs administered by the City's Housing Division. Housing assisted with City funds must be located within City limits. Applicants who have been previously qualified may be assisted first with fiscal year 2019-2020 funding if all 2018-2019 funding has been exhausted.
Applications for the programs listed below will be accepted beginning on October 1, 2019, and will continue until all funds are obligated, or until September 30, 2020, whichever comes first. Information on these programs, eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and current income limits (Area Median Income - AMI) for each program may be found on the City's website, at http://www.talgov.com/neighborhoodservices/housing.aspx#hp.
Down Payment Assistance Services - $69,000 - This program provides homebuyer education and other services. It is open to potential homebuyers who are interested in applying for a downpayment assistance loan. Applicants may apply by contacting the Tallahassee Lenders Consortium (TLC) at www.tallahasseelenders.org, or by calling (850) 222-6609.
Down Payment Assistance Loans - $60,000 - This program provides down payment loans to homebuyers earning 81% to 100% of AMI purchasing an Inclusionary Housing Unit as defined by the City and who meet the eligibility criteria of the program. Applicants may apply by contacting the Tallahassee Lenders Consortium (TLC) at www.tallahasseelenders.org, or by calling (850) 222-6609.
Emergency Repair Program - $175,000 - This program eliminates health and safety hazards in the home. It is open to owner occupants earning 50% or less than the AMI meeting the eligibility criteria of the program or earning 80% or less than the AMI for owner-occupants with a household member with a documented disabling condition. Applicants may apply by contacting the City's Housing Division at (850) 891-6566.
Owner Occupied Rehabilitation - $28,040.07 - This program makes needed repairs to meet City building codes. It is open to owner occupants earning 80% or less than the AMI and who meet the eligibility criteria of the program. Applicants may apply by contacting the City's Housing Division at (850) 891-6566.
Accessibility Rehabilitation Program - $100,000 - This program makes accessibility modifications to the homes of disabled persons. It is open to owner occupants who: 1) earn 80% or less than the AMI and meet the eligibility criteria of the program; and 2) have a household member with a documented disabling condition. Applicants may apply by calling Ability 1st at (850) 575-9621.
The local contact person for the SHIP program is:
Jean Amison, Housing and Grants Administrator
Department of Community Housing and Human Services
City of Tallahassee
435 North Macomb St.
Tallahassee, Florida
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
The City of Tallahassee has prepared a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This CAPER reports the uses of HUD funds during the last fiscal year (October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019) and compares it to the goals set in the Annual Action Plan. It is in draft form and ready for public review.
SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan (2016-2019)
State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program aids government in providing affordable housing.
Local Housing Assistance Plan
The Local Housing Assistance Plan provides a summary of the housing strategies the City will fund with State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) money for state fiscal years 2019-2020 through 2021-2022. SHIP funds may be used for homebuyer purchase assistance, homeowner rehabilitation, disaster assistance, and new construction for ownership and rental.
Housing Programs
Code Enforcement Repair Program
The Code Enforcement Repair Program assists low-income owners of homes that are owner-occupied to eliminate exterior code violations, and to improve and preserve neighborhoods at the same time.
What is the Code Enforcement Repair Program?
Up to $2,500 per unit in a forgivable loan is available to assist income-eligible owners of homes that are owner-occupied, who have received notice of code violations, to make the necessary repairs to bring their home into compliance. Eligible repairs may include the following:
- Exterior painting
- Rafters, soffit and fascia repair
- Window glass and screens
- Railings and stairs
- Landings and porches
- Yard maintenance and debris removal when done in conjunction with repairs to the home.
Ineligible repairs include:
- Repairs to mobile homes
- Driveways, sidewalks and paved areas; and
- Removal of inoperable vehicles
Client Eligibility
To receive repair work, the applicant must demonstrate ownership of the unit and it must be his or her primary residence.
Total household income cannot exceed 80% of the area median income, adjusted for family size, as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Applicants must demonstrate proof of income.
Assistance is provided as a zero-interest loan requiring no monthly payments. If the homeowner occupies the home for five years after the repairs are complete, the loan is forgiven.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Income Guidelines 2018
(Family Size - Max Gross Income)
- 1 Person - $37,750
- 2 Persons - $43,150
- 3 Persons - $48,550
- 4 Persons - $53,900
- 5 Persons - $58,250
- 6 Persons - $62,550
- 7 Persons - $66,850
- 8 Persons - $71,150
How to Apply:
For more information or to initiate the application process, please call The Department of Community Housing & Human Services at 850-891-6566 and ask for information on the Code Enforcement Repair Program or email the Online Housing Program Help Desk. Voicemail and email messages will typically be answered by no later than the close of business the next business day.
Storm Damage Mitigation Program
The Storm Damage Mitigation Program provides grant assistance to low-income homeowners to:
- Trim and/or remove trees that have been determined to pose a risk to the home in a storm event,
- Elevate at-risk hot water heaters and HVAC units in flood prone areas, and
- Make other specific improvements that will harden the home against storm damage.
Please see the flyer for more information and for program income limits (PDF)
How to Apply
To initiate the application process, click on the link below and, once registered, select Emergency Home Repair Program at the Start New Application screen.
Apply for the Storm Damage Mitigation Program
For additional information or help completing the online application, please call The Department of Community Housing & Human Services at 850-891-6566 and ask for assistance with the Storm Damage Mitigation Program or email the Online Housing Program Help Desk. Voicemail and email messages will typically be answered by no later than the close of business the next business day.
Emergency Home Repair Program
The goal of the Emergency Home Repair Program (EHRP) is to improve the living conditions of low-income homeowners by removing health and safety hazards and/or architectural barriers from their homes.
Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program
Committed to improving the quality of affordable housing, the City of Tallahassee allocates a substantial portion of its housing budget each year toward improving the stock of owner occupied housing.
Down Payment Assistance Program
To assist low-income residents in purchasing a home, the City offers down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified applicants.
A loan of up to $7,000 is available for down payment or closing costs towards a new or existing home. For very low-income residents who qualify to purchase a home, an additional $5,000 loan is available.
The Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium (TLC) is a non-profit agency that administers the Purchase Assistance Program. In addition to the Purchase Assistance Program, TLC provides homebuyer education, credit and finance counseling, and assistance in selecting a mortgage lender. It is TLC's mission to provide affordable home ownership options, and serve as a resource to help citizens make the best possible decisions about finding, financing, and purchasing a home.
Eligibility
To qualify for assistance in the Purchase Assistance Program, you must be a candidate to be approved for a home mortgage. Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium can assist you to improve your credit and manage your finances. To be eligible to receive the purchase assistance loan, your TOTAL GROSS household income (before taxes) must not exceed the following amounts, adjusted for household size:
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Income Guidelines
(Family Size - Max Gross Income for those at or below 80% of area median income)
Leon County Area Median Income (AMI): $67,400
| Income Category |
Persons in Household |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
| Extremely Low - 30% of AMI |
$14,150 |
$16,460 |
$20,780 |
$25,100 |
$29,420 |
$33,740 |
$38,060 |
$41,320 |
| Very Low - 50% of AMI |
$23,600 |
$27,000 |
$30,350 |
$33,700 |
$36,400 |
$36,400 |
$41,800 |
$45,150 |
| Low - 80% of AMI |
$37,750 |
$43,150 |
$48,550 |
$53,900 |
$58,250 |
$62,550 |
$62,550 |
$71,150 |
For more information please visit the Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium website or call 850-222-6609.
Purchase Assistance for City of Tallahassee Employees
The City has additional assistance available for employees who are purchasing homes in one of the City's target areas. Target areas include Apalachee Ridge, Providence, Bond, and Greater Frenchtown (Frenchtown, Griffin Heights and Springfield) neighborhoods. Employees can receive a loan of up to $5,000 if their GROSS household incomes do not exceed the following amounts, adjusted for household size:
(Family Size - Max Gross Income)
- 1 Person - $54,120
- 2 Persons - $61,800
- 3 Persons - $69,480
- 4 Persons - $77,160
- 5 Persons - $83,400
- 6 Persons - $89,520
- 7 Persons - $95,760
- 8 Persons - $101,880
For more information or to obtain an application, please call the City's Housing Division at 850-891-6566.
Rental Rehabilitation Program
Assistance to existing residential rental property owners is provided through the City's Rental Rehabilitation program.
Program Features:
- Properties:
- Residential rental units up to 4 units per building
- Buildings may be located anywhere in the City
- No targeted neighborhoods
- Funding:
- City will loan up to 80% of the cost of rehabilitation
- Funds are limited to no more than $20,000 per unit
- Loan Terms:
- Terms and conditions will be based on need, feasibility and availability of funds
- Loans can be from 0-3% deferred interest and possibly deferred payment based on cash flow
- Amortization schedule will be consistent with affordability period
- Proforma must demonstrate at least 1.1:1 debt service ratio
- City funds and private or bank funds will be released on prorata basis
- No funds released without prior CHHS inspection and draw approval
- Affordability:
- Units must be rented to those at or below 80% area median income
- Affordability period (minimum of 5 years) will be based on amount of City loan
- Underwriting:
- Detailed scope of work and preliminary estimates must be submitted prior to underwriting
- All rehabilitation work must meet the City's written rehabilitation standards and be in compliance with the Florida Building Code for Existing Buildings
- Scope of Work must match permits pulled
Homeownership Opportunities
Each year new units are built or rehabilitated for very-low income and low-income households in the City of Tallahassee and made available for purchase to income-eligible buyers. The City works with non-profit organizations called Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) to build or rehabilitate the new units. More new units may also be available through Inclusionary Housing. Please contact the Department of Community Housing & Human Services for more information.
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs)
Community Housing Development Organizations are non-profit agencies that are qualified to develop affordable housing for the community they serve. Federal money is set-aside for CHDOs each fiscal year.
To purchase a housing unit built or rehabilitated by a CHDO, a household must meet all program requirements. There is an income limit and households must qualify for a home mortgage. The best way to get information about the new units being constructed is to contact the City's Housing Division at 850-891-6566.
Inclusionary Housing
The Tallahassee City Commission passed an ordinance in 2005, requiring new developments in certain areas of the city with 50 housing units or more, to sell 10% of their units at an affordable price. The sales price range is set by the ordinance. Developers are allowed to pay a fee instead of building the units. The money collected will then be used to build future affordable housing units.
To qualify for inclusionary housing units, your income must fall between 70% and 100% of area median income. This range is determined by the HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) income guidelines on an annual basis. To find out if you qualify, contact the City's Housing Division at 850-891-6566.
Households must qualify for a home mortgage loan. A household that makes less annual income than the range above may still qualify for an inclusionary housing unit if they can secure a sufficient home mortgage loan. Inclusionary housing units are subject to re-sale restrictions. For more information visit <a href="/growth/inclusionary-housing.aspx">Inclusionary Housing Program</a>. You may call the City's Housing Division at 850-891-6566 for information or to request an application by mail.
HOW TO APPLY:
For more information or to initiate the application process, please call the City's Housing Division at 850-891-6566.
Human Services
The City of Tallahassee targets its human services funds to meet the needs of low and moderate-income persons and neighborhoods. In support of this principal, the City's human services funds are targeted for the provision of human services, which include, but are not limited to the following:
- Substance abuse support, case management services for persons affected by HIV/AIDS; comprehensive medical health care such as pharmaceuticals and primary care;
- Accessibility and case management services for persons with disabilities, including the Sickle Cell disease;
- Basic needs services such as clothing, food, household items, and employability training and placement; mental health counseling to meet the urgent needs of children; emergency shelter for families with children;
- Health services for the elderly, including respite care for individuals affected by the Alzheimer's disease; and
- After school and summer enrichment programs for children and youth residing in targeted neighborhoods.
Although certain human services are supported by CDBG funds (totaling $327,145), the City, as it has for the past several years, added additional funds ($876,750) to address a full-range of human services needs.
Recent Updates
Funding Distribution Process
In order to provide a more efficient and effective method for allocating human service grants, the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and the United Way joined forces to create the Community Human Service Partnership (CHSP).
Prior to the development of the CHSP funding distribution process, all three partners conducted separate grant review processes; consequently, local human service providers had to participate in three different processes. Recognizing the need to make improvements in the overall approach to funding not-for-profit organizations, the CHSP was formulated to address various systems' challenges that resulted due to the lack of coordination amongst the three local funding agents.
Overall, the CHSP serves as a joint planning and funding distribution process, which utilizes a standardized funding application, site visit format, and review and recommendation process. This process allows the partners to make funding decisions in a more informed and systematic manner.
CHSP, a citizens-driven process, includes the following strategic steps:
- A public notification process.
- A mandatory workshop for interested private, not-for-profit organizations.
- Use of a standardized application, which includes legal, organizational, financial, managerial, programmatic, and program evaluation information.
- Technical assistance is available after the workshop for a period of several weeks.
- Submission of agency applications by a designated time frame.
- A technical review of all applications.
- Recruitment and training of volunteers.
- The organization of volunteers into Citizens Review Teams (CRTs).
- Each team reviews the applications, conducts program site visits, completes agency/programmatic assessments, recommends priorities, and makes initial funding recommendations.
- CHSP staff determines funding allocations based on legal, procedural, and historical funding factors.
- Agency award letters, which include direct feedback from CRTs, are forwarded.
- An appeal process is built into the CHSP process.
- Recommendations from the CRTs are forwarded to each funding source's citizen-staffed committee.
- Recommendations are submitted to the City Commission, the Leon County Commission, and the United Way Board of Directors for final approval.
- Contracts and memorandum of agreements are executed. The CHSP funding cycle is from October 1, to September 30.
For additional questions or information, please call 850-891-6566.