By Bryan Boggiano
The Coral Springs City Commission approved a resolution at their July 20 meeting to help residents struggling to pay rent due to the pandemic and inflation.
The city would reallocate $1,169,007 in community development block grant (CDBG) funds previously committed to micro-enterprise assistance and mortgage assistance to pandemic rental increase assistance.
The funds come from two allocations: one on March 27, 2020, for $467,525, and another from July 21, 2020, for $733,522, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the spread of COVID-19, according to city documents.
Of the total, $935,205.60 would go to a minimum of 250 households whose annual rent has increased more than 5 percent since April 2020. Eligible families can receive up to $3,600.
The remaining figure, $233,801.40, would cover planning and administrative costs. Those costs include administering the rental assistance program and related documents, communications, and extra staff hours.
Coral Springs will administer these programs with the Community Development Division and Broward County Minority Builders, LLC. The latter will help collect applications and process income verifications.
The city staff aims for the program to open in mid-August.
The reallocated HUD funds come as the city approved additional unused funds for projects to benefit low and middle-income residents, including sidewalk repairs and classes for seniors at Sartory Hall, located at 10150 NW 29th Street.
The application intake, tentatively, would occur at City Hall.
Neirah Sankar, community development and housing coordinator, said that the city would work with landlords rather than lenders, which would maximize coordination and help residents get funds quicker than mortgage assistance.
Sankar also stated that if unused funds remain, the city would consider allocating these funds to relocation assistance.
Commissioner Metayer moved to approve to resolution. Commissioner Shawn Cerra seconded. It passed unanimously.
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- Bryan has a degree in journalism from the University of Florida and earned his masters in geosciences from Florida International University, where he focused in atmospheric sciences. His interests include weather, entertainment, and municipal government.
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