The Office is a cooperative effort of the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County government and serves residents throughout Sarasota county, including the cities of Sarasota, Venice, and North Port

• Home Repair Programs
• Utility Connection Programs
• Barrier Removal Programs
• Homeless Services
• Community Development Programs
• Neighborhood Stabilization Program
• Rental Programs
• Down Payment Assistance
• File a Fair Housing Complaint
• Florida Landlord Tenant Law
• Other Housing Agencies and Resources

Substantial Amendment

2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Action Plans

In 2017, the County Commission received the Florida Housing Coalition (FHC) report “Creating an Effective Homeless Crisis Response System.”  Included in that report were recommendations that the City and County create a minimum of 20 scattered site permanent supportive housing units within the first year and create 40 project based permanent supportive housing units.  In response to this recommendation Sarasota County allocated $1,109,401 in federal fiscal year 2016 and 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to create additional Permanent Supportive Housing Units.  

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) awarded funding to create 40 project-based units (Arbor Village) for Permanent Supportive Housing. Because Arbor Village is totally funded using private and FHFC funding, the County CDBG funds have not been used. 

As a result, the $1,109,401 in County CDBG funds are not currently needed to create additional permanent supportive housing units at this time.  As CDBG funds have a spending deadline, staff is recommending that these funds be reallocated to another use. 

Staff is recommending that the $1,109,401 in CDBG funds be advertised and contributed to the Myrtle Street Improvement Project.  The funding will either be used to construct the north side of Myrtle Street between the Tamiami Trail and Central Avenue or, if the negotiations with the railroad are successful, for the purchase of the railroad right of way.  

FY 2016 Project added:    Myrtle Street Improvement Project - $759,401.00

FY 2016 Project deleted:  Permanent Supportive Housing - $759,401.00

FY 2017 Project added:    Myrtle Street Improvement Project - $350,000.00

FY 2017 Project deleted:  Permanent Supportive Housing - $350,000.00 

Comments on the proposed amendment must be in writing and may be sent to:

Cindy Emshoff, Finance Manager
Sarasota Office of Housing and Community Development
111 South Orange Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236
cindy.emshoff@sarasotafl.gov

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 pm, March 18, 2019.