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Hernando Today

HELP Program Casts Wider Net

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: October 21, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - County officials on Monday expanded Commissioner Jeff Stabins' self-styled economic recovery program, better known as HELP, to another section of the community.
Since debuting 60 days ago, the Housing Enhancement Loan Program has attracted two qualified applicants.
But given that the program was only open to people 62 and older who meet strict income guidelines, the lack of response is not unexpected.
Housing Authority Executive Director Donald Singer said there were only five people total who applied for HELP.
So for the next month, Singer said he will open the home rehabilitation program up to the next priority group: low-income disabled and handicapped people of any age.
Singer said he is disappointed there weren't more people taking advantage of Stabins' program. But he is not willing to write it off.
"I think it's a little early to tell if it's going to be successful," Singer said.
Singer said he believes the program has not been well-advertised, which may account for the sparse response.
Singer has earmarked about $1.8 million of State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP) money to help fund Stabins' economic incentive program.
Stabins' HELP program proved popular when he introduced it in July as an alternative to lowering impact fees by at least 25 percent for a minimum 18 months. That would have qualified Hernando County first-time homebuyers as eligible for down payment assistance as part of a $25 million state funding program. Stabins' HELP program was one of the main reasons commissioners threw out the impact fee reduction plan.
The idea is to put builders and contractors to work by rehabilitating homes for qualified individuals.
But it wasn't until some weeks later that the county announced the program would initially be limited to the elderly.
When notified of the stipulation, Stabins told Hernando Today he was disappointed and was unaware there were specific federal guidelines governing the use of SHIP money. But he said during a recent county commission meeting he is confident it will put many builders back to work.
Singer said he will give the program another 30 days and then open it up to all homeowners — provided they fall into these income guidelines.
$19,800 or less for a one-person household.
$22,600 or less for a two-person household.
$25,450 or less for a three-person household.
$28,250 or less for a four-person household.
Other restrictions: Applicants cannot live in a mobile home and the repairs or rehabilitation to the home cannot exceed $37,000.
Meanwhile, now that two people have been identified as candidates, Singer said he will bid the work out to the seven contractors who were approved to participate in the HELP program.
The contractors will go out to these people's homes, determine the scope of the rehabilitation job and decide whether to bid on the project.
Dudley Hampton Jr., president of the Hernando Builders Association, said HELP may put one or two contractors back to work "but it's certainly not going to stimulate the economy to what it's been in the past."
The reduction of impact fees would have allowed Hernando County to tap into state money that would have helped first-time homebuyers purchase foreclosed and other homes — alleviating the existing home glut and allowing builders to start new-home construction, he said.
"We appreciate any help the county is willing to give us, but the HELP program was not an even trade for the reduction of impact fees," Hampton said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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