Housing And Urban Development Dollars Arriving To Dade With New Warning
By Risa Polansky
The federal government is handing Miami-Dade more money than any other US locality to rehab homes and combat the foreclosure epidemic — but the county’s troubled housing history has the feds’ guard up.
The US Neighborhood Stabilization Program mandates that Miami-Dade commit its $62.2 million grant in 18 months and spend it all in four years.
But the county has a track record of misspending or not spending housing and community development cash on time, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development hasn’t forgotten.
Its grant agreement places "special conditions" on the county, citing past and outstanding financial management and timeliness issues.
"They’ve got their foot on our neck in the sense that we are not performing in the manner in which they’re expecting us to perform, and staff is working to change that," said Shalley Jones Horn, new county community and economic development director, at a committee meeting last week. "In my opinion we’re in trouble, and there’s no other way to say it."
Because of the sheer amount Miami-Dade is getting, HUD is requiring a management plan by May 4.
By then, the county must submit a "plan of action" to resolve outstanding deficiencies and explain "how the past performance issues will not impact its administration of the NSP program," the conditions say.
Miami-Dade must also prove it can administer the program.
The county’s performance now could determine whether more money will come this way when the feds distribute an added $2 billion recently allocated to neighborhood stabilization.
Ms. Jones Horn warned commissioners that "we may be shut out of that process if we don’t perform properly."
Commissioners Tuesday OK’d an effort to expedite the program. Advertisement
Related Articles
- Jorge Damian de la Paz: Leads county effort in…
- County grants $2 million for Sawyer’s Walk added…
- US kicks in more for 75 Miami-Dade electric buses
- 578 apartments, townhomes replace South Miami public housing
- County aims to dismiss Affordable Housing Trust Fund board
- FYI Miami: April 20, 2023
- FYI Miami: September 1, 2022
- 33-acre Underdeck has a plan but not the money
- Fourth phase of Liberty Square housing gets its start
- FYI Miami: October 6, 2022
Most Popular
- Everybody wants to live in Florida – anywhere but Miami
- MIA talks with Air India, Air Serbia about air links
- Miami Dade College enrollment booming
- Subsidies push stalls for long-awaited American Dream Mall
- First phase of Lincoln Road makeover funded
- I-395 Signature Bridge taking shape
- PortMiami expanding to double freight rail
- Spaceport status OK’d for Homestead Air Reserve Base
- Miami Beach paints new pastel picture of city skyline
- Miami Beach paints new pastel picture of city skyline
Recent Comments