ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is looking for citizens actively involved in real estate, the banking or mortgage industry or residential home building. A previous requirement that the citizens also be active in regard to affordable housing has been suspended, as allowed by Florida Statute 420.0976, excerpted below:
“If a county or eligible municipality whether due to its small size, the presence of a conflict of interest by prospective appointees, or other reasonable factor, is unable to appoint a citizen actively engaged in these activities in connection with affordable housing, a citizen engaged in the activity without regard to affordable housing may be appointed.”
Several members previously appointed to the committee resigned when they learned that they and their employers were not allowed to apply for, or benefit in any way from, Community Development Block Grants. This potential conflict of interest has kept their positions vacant for almost two years. Housing Program Manager Tom Webster says, “We hope to find citizens with a real interest in affordable housing who might not have been eligible before. There is a lot of important work to be done and we need to have the committee at full strength.”
The Alachua County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) is mandated by the State of Florida for all cities and counties receiving State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds. The AHAC’s mission is to review the established policies and procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, and comprehensive plan of Alachua County and to recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage affordable housing while protecting the ability of the property to appreciate in value.
Click here to apply for a position on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
For more information contact Advisory Board Program Coordinator Mary Lowry at 352-264-6904 or mlowry@alachuacounty.us.