Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)

The City of Port St. Lucie has been allocated $13.5 million in funding under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) The funding, according to HUD, can be used “to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight.” According to HUD, Port St. Lucie’s foreclosure rate is 11.5 percent compared to 8 percent statewide.

Get more information on HUD’s program and the requirements that local governments must follow in order to receive funding.

The city’s plan
The city held a workshop at a regularly scheduled Council meeting on November 17 to discuss its proposed plans for utilizing the funding. A Substantial Amendment to the 2008–2009 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan was submitted and unanimously approved. This plan demonstrates the city’s intention to utilize the funds for the acquisition, rehabilitation and resale of foreclosed homes (to income qualified buyers) in order to stabilize neighborhoods that might otherwise experience declining home values.

The plan was submitted to HUD, revised per their instructions and approved on March 3, 2009. The city executed a grant agreement on March 5, 2009.

Note: At the time the original plan and the documents linked to that plan were written, the city anticipated hiring only local contractors. However, since that time, HUD officials said that “local geographical preferences in the evaluation of bids or proposals” is prohibited under HUD’s guidelines. For that reason, both local and out-of-town contractors are eligible to apply.

View the city’s current Substantial Amendment to the 2008–2009 Action Plan.

Plan Revisions
In order to expend the NSP funding in a timely manner and to best serve the City as a whole, Community Services is recommending that the City expand its targeted areas to include additional census tracts, amend its definition of “blighted,” and reallocate some of the funding. The Amendment will be presented at a Public Meeting on August 24, 2009. It will also be available for review from August 19, 2009 until September 4, 2009.

Download a copy of the Public Meeting advertisement. 

Download a copy of the proposed Substantial Amendment.

Implementing procedures
The Community Services Department will handle the administration of the NSP grant with the assistance of other staff members. For more information, contact:
Community Services Department
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5283

View the Management Plan approved by HUD to implement the NSP plan.

Real estate agents’ listings of foreclosed properties
The city is asking real estate agents to provide listings of foreclosed single family properties. The city will consider all homes that meet the following qualifications: Must already be foreclosed upon, unoccupied and listed for sale at or below $100,000. The properties also must be located in the City of Port St. Lucie’s targeted areas, which are shown on the attached map.

See for additional requirements for eligible properties.

The city is also providing a foreclosed properties checklist to assist realtors in submitting their listings.