THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING FINANCE AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board’s vision of “A Sustainable, Creative Approach to Community Redevelopment and Housing,” through implementation of the following goals: Goal 1: Facilitate a regional approach to growth and redevelopment through coordination and collaboration at the federal, state, county, and local levels; Goal 2: Strengthen stakeholder partnerships to increase the availability of affordable housing options, including purchase and rental; and Goal 3: Develop, through effective community collaboration, neighborhoods and communities incorporating intermodal connectivity, while integrating energy efficiency and other livability standards and initiatives.
The Request for Proposals (RFP's) for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program for the Special Needs/ Barrier Free Housing Strategy and the Foreclosure Counseling Program were initiated through an advertisement published in the Sun Sentinel on February 19, 2017. The public was advised applications were available from and could be submitted to the Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division on February 21, 2017 from agencies to be either: (1) the project management agency to oversee the rehabilitation/removal of architectural barriers to owner occupied homes with disabled household members; and/or (2) a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved counseling agency to provide foreclosure counseling services to homeowners. Technical assistance was available from February 22, 2017 through March 23, 2017.
Funding for Broward County’s and the City of Margate’s (which is administered by the County) Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Special Needs/Barrier Free strategy was previously approved by the Board on February 14, 2017 (Item No. 30). Administration and implementation of the City of Margate’s Fiscal Year 2015-2016 SHIP Program funds was previously approved by the Board on February 14, 2017 (Item No. 31). As required by the State, a minimum of 20% of the County’s and City’s total allocation for the SHIP Fiscal Year 2016-2017 and the City’s 2015-2016 funding must serve persons with special needs. The Special Needs/Barrier Free Strategy will fulfill this requirement. In addition, funding for the Foreclosure Counseling Program was previously approved by the Board on February 14, 2017 (Item No. 30).
The application cycle began February 21, 2017 and ended on March 23, 2017. One agency responded to the RFP for the Special Needs/Barrier Free Strategy: Center for Independent Living, Inc. of Broward County, (CIL). The proposal was reviewed for Project Description, Organizational Capacity, Performance Delivery Plan, Financial Capacity, Past Experience, Project Budget and County Business Enterprise.
Two agencies responded to the RFP for the Foreclosure Counseling Program: Broward County Housing Authority (BCHA) and the Housing Foundation of America, Inc. (HFA). The proposals were reviewed for Project Description, Organizational Capacity, Performance Delivery Plan and Past Experience. Scores for the respondents to the RFP are listed on Attachment 1 Scoring Matrix. The RFP review committee was comprised of Broward County staff from the Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division.
The Division is recommending that the $700,604 be awarded as follows: $631,020 to the CIL for the Special Needs/Barrier Free strategy of which $506,432 is Broward County funds and $124,558 Margate funds; and $69,706 to the BCHA for the Foreclosure Counseling Program of which $61,771, is Broward County funds and $7,935 is Margate funds.
Pursuant to the attached Resolution, the County Administrator is authorized to execute agreements for the respective SHIP programs in forms approved by the Office of the County Attorney, which shall include all standard agreement provisions. In addition, the County Administrator is authorized to execute amendments to agreements to extend the term or modify the project scope consistent with all applicable rules and regulations. |