Affordable Housing Advisory Committee

The AHAC was established per Section 420.9076, Florida Statutes, as required for the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) program.  Administered by Florida Housing, the SHIP Program provides funds to counties to finance and preserve affordable housing based on the locally adopted Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP).  The program targets very-low, low, and moderate-income families.

The AHAC has the responsibility to review the established policies and procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, and adopted comprehensive plan and recommends specific actions or initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing.  In addition, the AHAC identifies incentives that are pertinent to affordable housing and serves as an information resource to help improve affordable housing feasibility.

Annually, the AHAC recommends specific actions or initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing in a report to the Board of County Commissioners. The annual AHAC recommendation report includes proposed affordable housing incentive strategies and a review of previously recommended strategies. The Board then considers adopting the strategy recommendations to amend the Leon County LHAP which is required to be eligible for SHIP funds.

The advisory committee may perform other duties as requested, including:

1. The provision of mentoring services to affordable housing partners including developers, banking institutions, employers, and others to identify available incentives, assist with applications for funding requests, and develop partnerships between various parties.
2. The creation of best practices for the development of affordable housing in the community.

Section 420.9076, Florida Statutes
Chapter 8, Article V, Section 8-156 of the Leon County Code of Laws
Amended Enabling Resolution No. 20-34 adopted September 29, 2020

The committee must consist of one County Commissioner and one representative from at least six of the categories a through k listed below:

1. A citizen who is actively engaged in the residential home building industry in connection with affordable housing.
2. A citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing.
3. A citizen who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing.
4. A citizen who is actively engaged as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing.
5. A citizen who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing.
6. A citizen who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing.
7. A citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing.
8. A citizen who actively serves on the local planning agency pursuant to Section 163.3174, Florida Statutes.
9. A citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the local governing body making the appointments.
10. A citizen who represents employers within the jurisdiction.
11. A citizen who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan. (Essential Service Personnel includes teachers and educators, other school district, community college and university employees, police and fire personnel, health care personnel, skilled building trades personnel and active U.S. Armed Forces service members.)
12. A citizen who currently benefits from a rental housing assistance program, has benefited from an affordable homeownership program, or has experienced an eviction within the 10 years preceding their appointment.

The AHAC will submit an annual written Recommendation Report to the Board at the end of every calendar year.

At least 8 members but not more than 11 members. Members appointed by the full Board of County Commissioners. Membership must include at least 1 representative from at least 6 of the eligibility categories a through k.

No member shall serve more than three full consecutive terms per Policy No. 03-15.
Vacancies are filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
In order to achieve staggered terms, beginning April 1, 2023, between 4 and 5 members shall be appointed to a term of 3 years and between 4 and 5 members shall be appointed to a term of 2 years.

Meets at least quarterly, as necessary to produce the Recommendation Report.
Generally monthly meetings are held in the morning on the first Wednesday of the month.