SUBJECT:
Title
Request Approval to Amend the Marion County’s State Housing Initiative Partnership Local Housing Assistance Plan 2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028 (Budget Impact - None)
Body
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Cheryl Butler, Director |
Community Services |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
On April 15, 2025, the Board approved the County's Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) for FY 2025-28, following approval by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC), which was presented to the Board for notation. The LHAP governs the County's use of State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds, which FHFC provides to local governments to support affordable housing, and must be updated every three (3) years to reflect changing needs and comply with state guidelines.
On June 26, 2026, Senate Bill 594 was signed into law, effective July 1, 2026, amending the SHIP program statewide. The new requirements apply beginning with FY 2026-27 and do not apply retroactively to FY 2025-26. SB 594 requires that every LHAP include a strategy addressing manufactured housing (mobile homes), which must provide for:
• Relocation assistance for owners/tenants displaced by the closure of a mobile home park;
• Lot rent assistance for owners of manufactured housing, not to exceed six months; and
• Rehabilitation and emergency repairs.
SB 594 also repeals the prior 20% cap that had limited the share of SHIP funds a local government could allocate to manufactured housing. To implement this change, FHFC has directed all SHIP recipients statewide to amend their LHAPs to add this strategy. Approval of this amendment is required before Marion County can receive further SHIP funding disbursements from FHFC. This amendment adds the required strategy framework to the LHAP; it does not allocate or commit SHIP funding to manufactured housing activities. Any future funding decisions under this strategy would require separate Board action. This revision supports the County's continued ability to serve low- to moderate-income households and reflects current housing costs and demand.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Motion to approve the amendment to Marion County's LHAP for FY 2025-2028 to add a manufactured homes strategy, as required by the FHFC, and authorize submission of the amended LHAP to FHFC.
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