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Our Mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities and social service referrals and to increase economic and community development services for the residents of Port St. Lucie through the use of local, state and federal grants and private partnerships.
The Community Services Department is responsible for administering the housing program with grant funding from the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program, when funds are available, HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the Neighborhood Stabilization Programs (NSP1 and NSP3). The Department also administers community development and public service projects with the federal CDBG funding. We research, write and administer grant funding for other federal, state and privately funded programs in coordination with the appropriate city departments. Community Services also works as a liaison between the federal or state agency and the city department, assuring that all federal and state regulations are followed during implementation of the grant-funded program. Finally, the Department provides information on social agency assistance available for low-income households.
Community Services administers a state funded housing repair/rehab program (SHIP) when funds are available. Because SHIP funds are limited (see below), the city will be utilizing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) along with the SHIP funding in order to assist households on the current Repair/Rehab waiting list.
Community Services has established a waiting list of Low-Moderate Income homeowners who need repair/rehabilitation assistance for their primary residence. We will not be adding any more names to the list until all of those households have been assisted.
Community Services administers a state funded home purchase program (SHIP) when funds are available. The city received a limited amount of SHIP funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010; those funds provided advances for tax deferment credits under the Florida Housing Opportunity Program. We did not receive and allocation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. A limited amount will be received for fiscal year 11/12 which will be allocated to the Repair/Rehab program. The city will be utilizing Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funding to purchase foreclosed properties, repair them, and make them affordable, with financial assistance as needed, to income-qualified households.
Get more information about the NSP program.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to state and local governments.
Get more information about the CDBG Program.
Read the most recent CDBG Annual Report.
The city has prepared a Five-Year Consolidated Plan which evaluates past performance in utilizing CDBG funds and provides objectives and outcomes that are identified based on the needs of the citizens. An Annual Action plan and various exhibits are also included. The plan was approved by HUD on Oct. 12, 2011.
Download the 2011–2016 Consolidated Plan.
The city benefited from CDBG Disaster Funding to help with recovery after the twin hurricanes hit our area in 2004. A portion of the funds was utilized for a Special Needs Shelter/Facility Retrofit at the Port St. Lucie Community Center and for Drainage repairs on Darwin Blvd., located in a low-income neighborhood, and a drainage project at Ravenswood Canal in the heart of the city. Additional funding will be used for another drainage project along East/West Dunbrooke in another low-income area. A copy of our CDBG Action Plan, which lists current activities, is included in the Consolidated Plan referred to above.
The city is subject to compliance with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 on contracts funded with CDBG funding. If you receive government assistance for housing and/or you are a low or very-low income resident of Port St. Lucie, you may qualify as a Section 3 resident and be eligible for certain economic opportunities. If you are a Section 3 Business Concern, you may receive preference on CDBG and NSP contracts with the City of Port St. Lucie. You must submit a Section 3 certification with your application for Section 3 covered contracts. To register for Section 3 opportunities, download and follow the instructions in the HUD Section 3 information sheet to complete and submit a certification.
Community Services promotes citizens' rights to fair housing. Our fair housing booklet "Fair Housing Opens Doors" is available in the Community Services Department, Room 221, or on this Web site. Fair Housing Continuum, Inc., a Fair Housing enforcement agency, can be contacted at (888) 264-5619 or by e-mail at fairhousing32922@bellsouth.net.
Get more information about Fair Housing.
Community Services staff provides referrals for additional community services available throughout St. Lucie County.