Submitted By: James Haynes
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Presentation By: James Haynes
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Department: Community Housing Services
FORMAL TITLE:
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Resolution 2027-8 to approve an amendment to the City of Ocala’s Local Housing Assistance Plan for 2025-2028
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, .
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Florida Legislature passed the Sadowski Act in 1991 to create a trust fund to finance state and local affordable housing initiatives, managed by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) grant is funded through this act and distributed to counties and qualifying municipalities in Florida. Recipients of SHIP grant funding must present a three-year housing plan that indicates how, over the grant period, the recipient will program the funding and address the barriers to producing and sustaining affordable housing. The City’s 2025-2028 Local Housing Action Plan (LHAP) was approved by City Council on April 15, 2025.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
On June 26, 2026, Governor DeSantis signed SB 594 into law (effective July 1, 2026). This new law becomes part of the SHIP program moving forward. This imposes new requirements for the SHIP program beginning with Fiscal Year 2026-27. The changes are related to mobile homes and parks and include:
1. Requiring every LHAP to include a strategy to address manufactured housing (mobile homes)
o The new strategy must include:
1. Relocation assistance for owners/tenants who have been evicted due to the closure of a mobile home park
2. Lot rent assistance to owners of manufactured housing/mobile homes not to exceed six months
3. Rehabilitation/emergency repairs
2. Repeals the SHIP 20 percent cap on manufactured housing
The City’s LHAP has been amended to address these requirements. Staff recommends approval
FISCAL IMPACT:
Without submitting the plan, the City would not be eligible for future SHIP grant funding.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
This resolution will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
RESOLUTION 2027-8
A RESOLUTION OF THE OCALA CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA FLORIDA APPROVING THE AMENDED LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN AS REQUIRED BY THE SENATE BILL 594 AND STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ACT, SUBSECTIONS 420.907-420.9079, FLORIDA STATUTES; AND RULE CHAPTER 67-37, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATIONS NEEDED BY THE STATE; AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF THE LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the State of Florida enacted the William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act, Chapter 92-317 of Florida Statutes, allocating a portion of documentary stamp taxes on deeds to local governments for the development and maintenance of affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Act, ss. 420.907-420.9079, Florida Statutes (1992), and Rule Chapter 67-37, Florida Administrative Code, requires local governments to develop a one- to three-year Local Housing Assistance Plan outlining how funds will be used; and
WHEREAS, the SHIP Act requires local governments to establish the maximum SHIP funds allowable for each strategy; and
WHEREAS, the SHIP Act further requires local governments to establish an average area purchase price for new and existing housing benefiting from awards made pursuant to the Act; The methodology and purchase prices used are defined in the attached Local Housing Assistance Plan; and
WHEREAS, as required by section 420.9075, FS It is found that 5 percent of the local housing distribution plus 5 percent of program income is insufficient to adequately pay the necessary costs of administering the local housing assistance plan. The cost of administering the program may not exceed 10 percent of the local housing distribution plus 5 percent of program income deposited into the trust fund, except that small counties, as defined in s. 120.52(17), and eligible municipalities receiving a local housing distribution of up to $350,000 may use up to 10 percent of program income for administrative costs; and
WHEREAS, the Community Housing Services Department has amended the three-year Local Housing Assistance Plan as required by Senate Bill 594 for submission to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the public for the City of Ocala to submit the Local Housing Assistance Plan for review and approval so as to qualify for said documentary stamp tax funds.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA that:
Section 1: The City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida hereby approves the Local Housing Assistance Plan, as attached, and incorporated hereto for submission to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation as required by Senate Bill 594 and ss. 420.907-420-9079, Florida Statutes; for fiscal years 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 as amended.
Section 2: The Council President is hereby designated and authorized to execute any documents and certifications required by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation as related to the Local Housing Assistance Plan, and to do all things necessary and proper to carry out the terms and conditions of said program.
Section 3: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
This resolution adopted this 17th day of November 2026.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Ire J. Bethea Sr.
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney