Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: July 20, 2024
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Tanya Wilson, AICP, Director, Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department
CONTACT: Mitchell Glasser, Manager
PHONE: 407-836-5190
DIVISION: Housing and Community Development Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval and execution of Memorandum of Understanding between City of Orlando, Florida and Orange County, Florida to serve individuals or families from the City of Orlando and Orange County. All Districts. (Housing and Community Development Division)
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PROJECT: N/A
PURPOSE: March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) to address the needs of homeless assistance and supportive services. Section 3205 of ARP appropriated $5 billion in ARP funds to be administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) to perform activities that must primarily benefit qualifying individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in other vulnerable populations. The program developed for the use of the $5 billion in ARP funds is the HOME-American Rescue Plan or “HOME-ARP” which was allocated to counties and local jurisdictions.
On April 18, HUD allocated $4,787,204 in HOME-ARP funds to the City of Orlando. The City plans to use the HOME-ARP funds to develop affordable housing for the benefit of the qualifying population of those individuals or families that are fleeing, or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. OSO Properties (Harbor House), located in Orange County, has submitted a proposal to the City for HOME-ARP funds in the amount of $4,000,000 to construct nine attached townhomes which are to be used as affordable rental housing.
Per the HOME ARP regulations, if a project is located outside of the city limits, the City of Orlando must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding so that both jurisdictions contribute to the project. Orange County and the City of Orlando desire to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding in order to ensure compliance with the HOME-ARP requirements and provide funding to the project. Orange County will provide their funds in the form of Impact fee waivers. Any waiver of impact fees by Orange County for the Project will be done in accordance with, and as allowed by, state and local law including, but not limited to, Chapter 23, Orange County Code. Orange County does not intend to provide any HOME-ARP funds or general revenue funds toward the Project.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding as to form.
BUDGET: N/A