Title:
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Approve the 2026 - 2027 One Year Annual Action Plan and Housing Access Plan and authorize the Chairman to execute corresponding documents and signature pages on the Standard Form 424, Standard form 424D, all certification pages, and subsequent Grant Agreements with HUD. Authorize Community Services Department staff to submit all plans, reports, and corresponding grant documents to HUD for approval. Authorize the Chairman to sign all subrecipient agreements tied to the 2026 - 2027 One Year Action plan and any subsequent agreement amendments. Countywide (Allison Thall, Community Services Director)
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Division:
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Community Services - Community Development
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Authorized By:
Allison Thall, Community Services Director
Contact/Phone Number:
Stacey Smithwick/407-665-2362
Background:
Seminole County is an Entitlement Community that receives grants for the following programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG);
• HOME Investment Partnerships; and
• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).
These programs seek to address the housing and community development needs of low and moderate income (alternately defined as very low and low income, respectively, in the HOME Program) persons and households in the County. The County is required to submit Action Plans annually to describe the activities and projects the County plans to implement to help meet the high priority needs identified in the Consolidated Plan.
Seminole County Community Development advertised, in the Orlando Sentinel, the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and two (2) technical assistance workshops to provide interested applicants with the opportunity to learn about the grants and ask questions regarding the application requirements. One was held virtually on March 12, 2026, and the other was held in-person on March 17, 2026.
Seminole County Community Development then advertised, in the Orlando Sentinel, notice of two (2) public hearings, one on May 26, 2026, at the Community Services Department’s office and one on July 28, 2026, at the Board of County Commissioners Meeting. The advertisement also included notice of a thirty (30) day public comment period for the annual action plan, which began on May 24, 2026, and concluded on June 24, 2026. A draft of the FY 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan and the Housing Access Plan were made available, for review, on the County website and at the Community Services Department office. Any comments received from the public were incorporated into the Annual Action Plan.
The attached Executive Summary shows the recommended activities to be funded in the FY 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan. These activities fall in line with the objectives and goals outlined in Five Year Consolidated Plan.
Seminole County is obligated to certify that it will Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) and this requirement falls under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The Housing Access Plan establishes a framework to ensure that housing opportunities within the community are accessible, inclusive, and free from discrimination. Guided by the principles of the FHA and related federal, state and local laws, this plan outlines strategies to promote universal access to housing, address barriers to opportunity and support stable, sustainable neighborhoods for all residents.
Requested Action:
Staff requests the Board approve the 2026 - 2027 One Year Annual Action Plan and Housing Access Plan and authorize the Chairman to execute corresponding documents and signature pages on the Standard Form 424, Standard form 424D, all certification pages, and subsequent Grant Agreements with HUD. Authorize Community Services Department staff to submit all plans, reports, and corresponding grant documents to HUD for approval. Authorize the Chairman to sign all subrecipient agreements tied to the 2026 - 2027 One Year Action plan and any subsequent agreement amendments.