DEPARTMENT MAKING REQUEST
Human Services
Title
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Seawall Repair Assistance Program Policy Amendment
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REQUESTED MOTION/ACTION
recommendation
Recommended Action:
Consider proposed amendment to the Seawall Repair Assistance Program Policy.
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budget
Budgeted Action:
No action needed.
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BACKGROUND (Why is this Action Necessary, and What Action will be accomplished)
body
Background:
Advocacy by a County resident regarding seawall repairs for homeowners with Hurricane Ian damage not covered by insurance, FEMA, or other resources, resulted in a Local Funding Initiative Request and General Appropriations Act 2023-2024 award of $1,000,000 for a homeowner matching grant. The Charlotte County Seawall Repair Assistance Program Policy, which was launched on April 1, 2024, was initially drafted to assist Low/Moderate-Income (LMI) homeowners repair damaged seawalls. As of the close of the application period on April 30, 2024, sixteen (16) applications had been received at www.coadfl.org. As of this date, four (4) applications are pending approval and have not yet completed repairs due to inability to pay. Three (3) are in the early stages of eligibility determination. Two (2) withdrew due to income criteria. The remainder were denied due to being seasonal resident, vacant land, over-income, over property value, ineligible activity, or not cost burdened. No vendor payments or reimbursements have been processed to date.
Charlotte County will meet the terms of the contract with Florida Commerce (scope of work: minimum 1 approved project), however, there will remain a sizeable, unencumbered balance, and there are still residents with a continued unmet need. Unspent funds would be returned to the State. The expenditure deadline is June 30, 2025. The Policy has been realigned to mirror the criteria established for the State's Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program, reimbursing eligible coastal/beach property homeowners for 50% of eligible repair...
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