Public comment needed for Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery Hurricane Sally Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program

Santa Rosa County is considering applying for the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Hurricane Sally Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout (VHB) Program through the state of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). This program will benefit low-to-moderate income (LMI) households that suffered losses due to Hurricane Sally. Acquisition priority will be given to houses in special flood hazard areas (SFHA), and houses occupied by vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled, etc.) as defined by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The program is completely voluntary and will fund the purchase and demolition of Hurricane Sally-impacted residential properties, particularly those in SFHAs and in areas of concentrated LMI households. The county will prioritize home buyout projects that focus on the acquisition of concentrations of unincorporated, LMI residential areas. Properties must be purchased at the current post-storm fair market value (FMV). Properties purchased through this program will be deed-restricted to remain green space in perpetuity and may be used for passive recreational or stormwater management purposes.

The county intends to apply for $5,000,000 in CDBG-DR funding, which may be used for: acquisition of residential properties, demolition of acquired properties, green-space restoration of properties, project delivery, appraisals, title and legal services, environmental review, and related costs. The county estimates that approximately 12 residential properties will be purchased and demolished, however, the actual number of properties will be based on the varying costs of acquisition and related activities of each.

Public comments regarding this proposed application should be directed to [email protected]  or Santa Rosa County Grants and Special Programs, 6495 Caroline Street, Suite G, Milton, FL 32570-4595. Comments will be accepted until April 13, 2023 at 4 p.m.

The CDBG-DR Hurricane Sally Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout (VHB) Program will be on the April 10, 2023 Commission Committee Meeting agenda and on the  April 13, 2023 Commission Regular Meeting agenda. Both meetings will be at the County Administrative Center boardroom, 6495 Caroline Street in Milton beginning 9:30 a.m.

Persons needing special accommodations should call the county's risk management department at 850-983-1863, TTY 711, or email [email protected]  at least 48 hours in advance.

Contact Lani Burritt at [email protected]  for a copy of the proposed application which will be available once complete.