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Hernando Today

County To Debate Foreclosure Relief Program

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 29, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Only one citizen took advantage of the required 15-day comment period regarding the proposed Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) up for discussion at Tuesday's special commission meeting.

And that person, Jason Sager, was not enamored of the program.

"How does accepting this money save the neighborhoods?" Sager asked in an e-mail comment. "Or is it just one more form of welfare for low-income families that I will be forced to pay come April 15 for the rest of my natural life?"

County commissioners are hoping to hear from more of the public when they meet at 9 a.m. at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

The board will review the NSP and decide whether to apply for some of the money.

The NSP allows the county to access federal money that would help people, especially in areas of the county most affected, to move into foreclosed homes.

The NSP is part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which allocated $541 million to Florida.

To receive the funds, commissioners must submit a plan and application by April 6.

Health and Human Resources Director Jean Rags said the program is targeted toward areas of the county with the highest number of current and potential foreclosures and the highest percentage of sub-prime mortgages.

If it qualifies, Hernando County would use $4.3 million to acquire, rehabilitate and renovate foreclosed or abandoned residential properties and sell them to people whose income does not exceed 120 percent of area median income.

For a family of four, that would be $67,800 a year.

As part of the program, $1.3 million would also provide rental housing for people whose income doesn't exceed 50 percent of the area median income.

That would be $28,250 for a family of four.

To view the NSP, visit the county's Web site at www.co.hernando.fl.us/.

Also at Tuesday's special meeting, commissioners have carved out time for the Hernando Beach channel dredging project.

Board members will discuss strategies to resolve the litigation regarding permitting for disposal of the site's sediment, also known as spoil.

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

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