Housing and Neighborhood Development
Housing and Neighborhood Development (HND) works to improve Polk County's communities and help its most fragile residents. It does this by prioritizing federal and state grant funds across a range of policy areas including Affordable Housing Development and Preservation, Homelessness, and Homeownership. HND develops activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, and partners with non-profits to improve communities for low and moderate-income residents. These policy areas are fundamental to HND to create strong, sustainable, communities and quality affordable homeownership and multifamily housing.
Programs and Services
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
This grant program provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Each CDBG-funded project must meet one of the three national objectives:
- Benefit low and moderate income persons
- Prevent or eliminate slum and blights
- Meet other community development needs having a particular urgency
The Community Development Block Grant also funds the county's demolition program, which is designed to eliminate slum and blight in unincorporated areas of Polk.
Polk County Board of County Commissioners Notification of a 30-Day
Public Inspection Period and Public Meeting Notice and Request for Public Comment for the 2023-2024 Action Plan
Polk County is required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prepare a 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan to govern the use of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds. These funds must primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons and meet the following objectives: 1) Providing Affordable Housing that is both safe and decent, through construction/rehabilitation of owner-occupied units, rental assistance, and preserving the housing stock. 2) Creating and maintaining a Suitable Living Environment, by providing needed infrastructure improvements, providing access to public facilities and public services, and reducing blighting conditions. 3) Expanding Economic Opportunities by supporting public services that help provide skills training, other tools needed to achieve self-sufficiency, and promoting employment opportunities for low-income persons affected by activities and programs outlined in the 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan.
| FY 2023-2024 Proposed Programs | Grant Allocations by Funding Source | TOTAL | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDBG | ESG | HOME | |||
| Neighborhood improvements | $1,300,000 | $1,300,000 | 21% | ||
| Demolition/Clearance | $200,000 | $200,000 | 3% | ||
| Municipal Partners | $658,848 | $320,925 | $925,925 | 11% | |
| Public/Homeless Services | $605,000 | $320,925 | $925,925 | 15% | |
| Affordable Housing | |||||
| Demolition/Reconstruction | $725,000 | $725,000 | 12% | ||
| New Construction-Single Family | $250,000 | $250,000 | 4% | ||
| Owner Occupied Rehab (OOR) | $640,880 | $640,880 | 10% | ||
| Tenant Based Rental Assistance | $60,000 | $475,403 | $535,403 | 9% | |
| Administration | $789,491 | $26,015 | $161,155 | $976,661 | 16% |
| Total | $4,254,219 | $346,940 | $1,611,558 | $6,212,717 | 100% |
| Federal Fiscal Year | CDBG | |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2023-2024 Grant Award | $4,054,219 | |
| FY 2023-2024 Anticipated Program Income | $200,000 | |
| Total | $4,254,219 |
The Plan will be presented to the Polk BoCC for approval prior to submittal to HUD in August 2023. The Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development Office will hold four forums to obtain feedback from the public with regard to the FY 2023-2024 Action Plan prior to sending it to HUD. The first meeting was held February 23, 2023; the second meeting will be Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 6:00 pm in the Boardroom of the County Administration Building, 330 W Church Street Bartow, Florida; the third forum/hearing will be held Friday, July 7, 2023, beginning at 9:00 am during the Agenda review meeting for the July 11, 2023, Commission meeting; and the fourth meeting is the July 11, 2023, Board of County Commissioners meeting held in the Boardroom of the County Administration Building, 330 W Church Street Bartow, Florida.
If you would like a copy of the plan emailed to you contact Nancy Hurley at NancyHurley@Polk-County.net. The plan will also be available for review at the Polk County HND offices located at 1290 Golfview Avenue, Suite 167, Bartow, Florida from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm from June 1 to June 30, 2023. The draft FY 2023-2024 Action Plan will also be emailed to area libraries and City Halls. Please submit comments by email to NancyHurley@polk-county.net. Written comments may also be mailed to Nancy Hurley, Housing Compliance Manager, Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development, Drawer HS04, P.O. Box 9005 Bartow, Florida 33831-9005. Please make sure comments are submitted no later than June 30, 2023. For limited English proficiency - Para información en español, puede comunicarse con Lillian Nollin al (863) 534-5240.
This information is available in the ADA accessibility format that incorporates the needs of persons with disabilities in accessing the information provided. The link to this information on the HND website is https://www.polk-county.net/housing-and-neighborhood-development.
In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the Communications Office not later than forty-eight hours prior to the proceeding. Their offices are located in the Polk County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street in Bartow. Telephone (863) 534-6090, TDD (863) 534-7777 or 1-800-955-8771, Voice Impaired 1-800-955-8770 via Florida Relay Service.
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG)
The grant assists nonprofit organizations to provide emergency shelter and associated support services to homeless individuals and families.
Request for Applications for 2022-2023 Public and Homeless Services Notice
Home Investment Partnership (HOME)
The grant funds are used to build, buy, and/or rehabilitate affordable housing for rent, homeownership, or to provide rent assistance to low-income individuals.
Notice of Estimated Funding Availability and First Public Meeting
Section 3
Purpose: Section 3 of the United States Housing and Urban Development HUD Act of 1968, (12U.S.C. 1701u) (Section 3) and implementing regulations at 24 CFP Part 135 states the purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain Housing and Urban Development (HUD) financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with the existing Federal, State and Local laws and regulations, be directed to low and very low income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing and to the businesses which provide economic opportunities to these persons.
If you have questions, call the Housing and Neighborhood Department office at (863) 534-5244, or email Nancy Hurley, labor and environmental compliance specialist. Visit HUD.GOV for additional information regarding Section 3.
State Housing Initiative (SHIP)
The State Housing Initiative funds are used to preserve affordable housing for very low to moderate income families. These funds are given to local governments and are based on a populations-based formula.
2022-2023 Public Notice NOFA Availability of Funds for SHIP Allocation
2021-2022 CAPER
The 2021-2022 draft Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER) is now available for the public to review. For questions or copies of any information referenced in the CAPER please contact Nancy Hurley at NancyHurley@polk-county.net.
Public Notices
Federal Grants
State Grants, Plans and Reports
Fair Housing in Polk County
For information or to file a Fair Housing Complaint Contact:
Cedric Cox – Housing Administrative Supervisor at (863) 534-5241.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Housing Information webpage can be found at:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint#_How_To_File
Jennifer Cooper
Manager
Phone: (863) 534-5240
Toll Free: (800) 780-5346
Street Address:
1290 Golfview Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
Office Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.