FY 2015-2016 Accomplishments

• Seventy-one first time home buyers purchased homes in Escambia County through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership first time homebuyer program. All buyers participated in pre-purchase homebuyer counseling and post-purchase foreclosure prevention education.
• The division administers various repair programs for low income homeowners, completing 12 Community Development Block Grant rehabilitations, which included three complete lead based paint abatements and 39 SHIP housing repair projects.
• Twelve low income homeowners were screened for Environmental Health’s septic to sewer program.
• Two neighborhood improvement groups participated in the CDBG Neighborhood Renewal Project, implementing volunteer based improvements in the Englewood and Palafox communities.
• The division worked with environmental enforcement to fund the lot cleanings of 30 blighted properties in Community Redevelopment Areas and one demolition in the town of Century totaling $18,990. Additionally, the division worked directly with eight low income property owners to abate code violations at their properties through demolition/clearance of their properties totaling $47,475.
• ARC Gateway constructed a new group home for developmentally disabled adults utilizing SHIP Rental Development funding, which serves six individuals.
• The division together with the Parks & Recreation Department and Facilities completed a study of all county facilities and parks to identify any barriers to accessibility. Architectural plans are underway to address the barriers identified, with construction to begin in spring 2017. Additionally, the division expended $25,140 to install ADA compliant door closers on the MC Blanchard building.
• The division, jointly with CRA, funded five façade and sign grants in Community Redevelopment Areas totaling $21,805 and leveraging $21,805 in private funding.