Impact on Poverty
Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Affairs and Housing and Community Resilience
Our goal is to be a leading community partner that actively connects residents to resource that remove economic and social barriers. Under the direction of the City Commission and City leadership, innovative programs such as Neighborhood First have been established to provide communities in need an avenue to enhance economic development opportunities, potential educational institutions, and local residential improvements.
The Housing and Community Resilience Department oversees projects that incentivize the development of new affordable housing and the preservation and improvement of existing housing stock. Covering the cost of water and sewer connections for affordable housing developments helps to reduce the cost of new construction. The department also partners with neighborhoods and property owners to turn blighted vacant lots into vibrant new community amenities that support neighborhood beautification, discourage crime, promote healthy environments, and spur new affordable housing. Housing and Community Resilience collaborates with Neighborhood Affairs to ensure their work complements Neighborhood First planning for housing, public safety, and quality of life improvements in Griffin Heights, Frenchtown, Greater Bond, and Providence.
Housing and Community Resilience also leads the City’s efforts to invest in a broad range of human service programs implemented by local nonprofits. The City partners with Leon County to administer the Community Human Service Partnership (CHSP) to accomplish this. This annual General Fund allocation complements efforts through the Capital Improvement Plan to impact poverty. For FY24, the City will disburse $3.3 million for the established funding categories. To read more about CHSP, click here.