Agenda 02/27/2018 Item #16B 102/27/2018
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, acting as the Community
Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB), approves the Grant Agreement authorizing up to $30,000
for construction costs associated with the renovations of a single-family home to establish
Independence Place, Immokalee’s first home specifically designed for supported living for
individuals with development disabilities, located in the CRA, and authorize the necessary budget
amendment.
OBJECTIVE: To facilitate the development of Independence Place, Immokalee’s first home specifically
designed for supported living for individuals with development disabilities.
CONSIDERATIONS: Residential Options of Florida (ROOF) is a 501 (c) (3) corporation founded in
2014 to promote safe, inclusive, affordable housing opportunities for individuals with developmental
disabilities. ROOF has conducted a review of studies and collected data on the needs for affordable
housing for people with developmental disabilities and other special needs in Collier County. Studies
indicated there are 222 individuals with developmental disabilities who are being served in Collier
County with Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities services. ROOF estimates there are 2,000
persons with disabilities in Collier County. In addition, the Collier County Housing Plans (2017)
identified Special Needs Housing for additional priority set-asides. The report defines special needs
population to include developmentally and physically disabled population.
ROOF purchased an Immokalee home in 2017 that will be known as Independence Place. Independence
Place will be a home to approximately four individuals with development disabilities. ROOF estimates
the total cost for Independence Place at $310,000: Property Acquisition ($181,100); soft costs and fees
($73,900 which includes FHFC Credit Underwriting fees, FHFC Compliance fees, Construction
inspection fee, draw approval fee, Plan and Cost Review Analysis, grant recording fees, grant
commitment fee, and closing costs); and $55,000 in renovations to bring the home up to ADA
compliance.
ROOF received a loan from Florida Housing Finance Corporation Predevelopment Loan Program to
acquire the home and soft costs. ROOF has filed and is awaiting final underwriting approval of a grant
from FHFC to pay off the loan. The construction estimate of $55,000 is from a FHFC approved
contractor.
Estimated Budget Funding Source
Property Acquisition $181,100 FHFC Grant $252,000
Soft Costs/Fees $73,900 Immokalee Housing $5,000
Renovations $55,500 Roof or Grant Funds $23,000
CRA Grant $30,000
Total $310,000 $310,000
ROOF has acquired a single-family home in Immokalee and plans to renovate it to accommodate the
special needs population as a shared housing setting. The home will eventually be transferred to the
ROOF Housing Trust, a 501 (c) (3) organization whose mission is to acquire, create, and preserve
affordable housing in perpetuity to Floridians with intellectual and developme nt disabilities using the
community land trust model. There are no community residential homes or supported living homes
specifically designed and operated for people with development disabilities in Immokalee.
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02/27/2018
FISCAL IMPACT: Local funds in the amount of $30,000 are available in Immokalee CRA Fund (186)
reserves. A budget amendment will be processed moving monies from reserves into the CRA grant
budget for disbursement in accordance with the subject Grant Agreement.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This project is consistent with the Immokalee Area Master
Plan.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS: At the October 25, 2017 joint meeting of the
Immokalee CRA Advisory Board and Immokalee Lighting and Beautification MSTU Advisory Board
meeting, the CRA Advisory Board voted unanimously (5-0) with Dr. Frank Nappo recusing himself from
the vote, to allocate $30,000 to ROOF for the development of Independence Place.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved as to form and legality, and requires majority
vote for approval. - JAB
RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, acting as the
Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB), approves the Grant Agreement authorizing up to
$30,000 for construction costs associated with the renovations of a single-family home to establish
Independence Place, Immokalee’s first home specifically designed for supported living for individuals
with development disabilities, located in the CRA, and authorize the necessary budget amendment.
Prepared by: Debrah Forester, CRA Director
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. ROOF Proposal (PDF)
2. ROOF IRS DETERMINATION LETTER-164923 (PDF)
3. Roof Housing Trust IRS 501c3 IRS deter ltr (PDF)
4. ROOF Grant Agreement (PDF)
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02/27/2018
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.B.1
Doc ID: 4869
Item Summary: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners, acting as the
Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRAB), approve the Grant Agreement authorizing up to
$30,000 for construction costs associated with the renovations of a single-family home to establish
Independence Place, Immokalee’s first home specifically designed for supported living for individuals
with developmental disabilities, located in the CRA, and authorize the necessary budget amendment.
Meeting Date: 02/27/2018
Prepared by:
Title: – County Manager's Office
Name: Debrah Forester
02/16/2018 3:40 PM
Submitted by:
Title: County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: Leo E. Ochs
02/16/2018 3:40 PM
Approved By:
Review:
County Manager's Office Tim Durham Additional Reviewer Completed 02/18/2018 3:41 PM
Budget and Management Office Ed Finn Additional Reviewer Completed 02/20/2018 3:57 PM
County Attorney's Office Jennifer Belpedio Level 2 Attorney of Record Review Completed 02/20/2018 4:53 PM
Office of Management and Budget Valerie Fleming Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 02/20/2018 5:09 PM
Grants Therese Stanley Additional Reviewer Completed 02/20/2018 5:21 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 02/21/2018 7:38 AM
County Manager's Office Nick Casalanguida Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 02/21/2018 8:36 AM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 02/27/2018 9:00 AM
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RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS OF FLORIDA (ROOF)
REQUEST FOR FUNDING
1
Organization Background
Residential Options of Florida (ROOF) is a 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 2014 to promote
safe, inclusive, affordable housing opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. The
mission of ROOF is to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to
successfully obtain and maintain affordable and inclusive housing of their choice. ROOF's vision is that
every community in Florida will have an abundance of housing choices that meet the needs of
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
ROOF has engaged with people from around the state to increase affordable housing options for
individuals with developmental disabilities. ROOF provides resource and referral information to
individuals with disabilities, their families, and disability service providers. ROOF assists people with
disabilities and their families in conducting searches for affordable housing. It publishes a website that
includes a housing resource library, a monthly newsletter, and social media posts on affordable housing
for people with disabilities. It assists local communities in establishing networks to create more
affordable housing opportunities for people with disabilities in their local communities. ROOF collects
data on the needs and preferences of people with developmental disabilities and their families through
focus groups and surveys. It conducts workshops around the state on how people with disabilities can
obtain and maintain affordable housing of their choice. In 2016 ROOF held its first statewide conference
on housing for people with developmental disabilities.
ROOF has been actively sharing information about funding opportunities for creating supported
living homes, and it has found limited interest among nonprofits who would be eligible. Therefore, the
ROOF Board has decided to pursue funding opportunities to create supported living homes in
communities with need, starting with the rural community of Immokalee, Florida. Additionally, ROOF is
in the process of creating a statewide Community Land Trust for ROOF homes to ensure that the
investments in affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities made by donors,
foundations, and our tax payers through government funding are preserved in perpetuity.
Affordability of supported living homes is critical to the success of the home and its residents.
For many adults with developmental disabilities, the only source of income is Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) ($735 per month). In addition to this, some receive support services that are paid for by the
Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver (MedWaiver) program. Typical services include
personal care assistance, supported living coaching, job coaching and transportation, which they depend
on in order to live in the community. Although many individuals with disabilities can work and are
employed, for someone receiving support from the MedWaiver, the maximum they can earn per month
is $2,000 (gross) with total assets of no more than $2,000. These income and asset limits are set by the
state, and they can make it difficult for people to earn enough income and to save the money that is
needed to acquire housing and facilitate a move. Therefore, for this population, affordable housing is
critical to their ability to live independently in the community.
Since housing is considered affordable when a household spends no more than 30% of their
gross income on housing expenses, individuals on SSI would be able to afford approximately $220 per
month. Due to government imposed income limits, individuals on the MedWaiver who work must keep
their income below $2,000 per month, and thus they could afford a maximum of approximately $600
per month for housing. Therefore, it is expected that applicants for ROOF’s supported living homes will
Enclosure 3
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Packet Pg. 703 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS OF FLORIDA (ROOF)
REQUEST FOR FUNDING
2
have monthly incomes between $735 and $2,000/month. ROOF will set rents for the homes at a level
that is affordable even for people who depend on SSI.
Because of stable income from SSI, combined with support and oversight from service providers,
individuals with developmental disabilities, even those who are not working, typically make great
tenants. They tend to stay long-term and take pride in their home. However, ROOF has identified several
barriers to individuals with developmental disabilities accessing a rental home. ROOF will remove these
barriers and thus increase access to permanent supportive rental housing with people with
developmental disabilities.
For example, most landlords require first and last month's rent and a security deposit, and
therefore it is challenging, if not financially out of reach, for people with developmental disabilities to
access affordable housing. This is especially true in Collier County where affordable housing is severely
lacking. Utilities also usually require a security deposit when opening an account for the first time,
making it even more difficult for individuals to access housing. Finally, landlords often require a credit
history and/or rental history, which many individuals with developmental disabilities do not have. ROOF
will remove these barriers to accessibility and affordability by waiving the credit and rental history
requirement and by collaborating with organizations who provide financial assistance for last month's
rent as well as security and utility deposits.
The Project: Independence Place
ROOF has conducted a review of studies related to populations of people with developmental
disabilities and other special needs populations and their housing needs. ROOF has also collected data in
Collier: two focus groups were completed in Collier County in March 2017 and a survey instrument has
been administered in Collier and across the state. Data from these studies indicates a need for
affordable housing and associated support services for adults with developmental disabilities in Collier.
In addition, data collected by Collier County and published in the recent Collier County Needs
Assessment (2016-2020) concluded that housing for the special needs population remains a priority
issue and highlighted the critical need for supportive housing for persons with developmental
disabilities.
Families report concerns with where their loved one will live when they can no longer care for
them. They want to help their loved ones transition to their own homes in the community, but they cite
safety and access to support services as two of their biggest concerns. Collier is one of the most difficult
places to find affordable housing in Florida. Most of the affordable housing available in Collier is found in
the rural community of Immokalee. However, Immokalee is one of the most difficult places in Collier to
access supportive services for people with disabilities.
In Immokalee there are no community residential homes (group homes) or supported living
homes specifically designed and operated for people with developmental disabilities. These types of
homes ensure the availability of the services that allow people with developmental disabilities to live as
independently as possible in the community. Without these services, people with disabilities may be
able to find an affordable home but may not be able to access it, or if they obtain the housing, may not
be able to maintain their living situation over time due to lack of supports.
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Packet Pg. 704 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS OF FLORIDA (ROOF)
REQUEST FOR FUNDING
3
In Collier County there are an estimated 2,000 people with developmental disabilities residing in
the county. According to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, as of June 1, 2017, there are 222
individuals receiving services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities in Collier. Adults receiving
these services have access to supported living services if they choose to live independently in the
community.
Supported living services help people with developmental disabilities who want to rent a home
to be successful tenants. Supported living coaches visit tenants with developmental disabilities in their
homes on a regular basis, helping them to continue to develop skills such as budgeting, paying bills,
cooking, cleaning and caring for their home. Perhaps more importantly, supported living agencies
typically guarantee the lease for clients, ensuring the landlord receives timely payment of the rent for
the duration of the lease. ROOF will ensure supported living services and service coordination are
available for residents of the proposed rental unit in Immokalee.
ROOF is responding to the need for permanent supportive living by creating the first supported
living home in Immokalee. ROOF is collaborating with Immokalee Housing & Family Services (IHFS) to
develop Immokalee’s first home specifically designed for supported living for individuals with
developmental disabilities. Independence Place, as the project is called, will provide up to three adults
with developmental disabilities a safe, accessible, affordable home in the Immokalee community. The
development is the first of its kind in Immokalee.
Partnerships and Collaborations
ROOF was founded under a project of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC),
which provided financial support for the start-up of the organization and development of its programs.
It was collaboratively built around a shared vision by organizations interested in pursuing affordable and
inclusive housing options for individuals with developmental disabilities. ROOF’s Advisory Council is
comprised of housing organizations, family members of individuals with developmental disabilities, self-
advocates, disability service providers, and government agencies, among others.
In Collier County, ROOF is connected to a network of referral sources comprised of
representatives from agencies such as Adonis Autism, the local office of the Agencies for Persons with
Disabilities, Center for Independent Living, Collier 211, Collier Resource Center, Collier County
Community and Human Services Division, Easter Seals, Goodwill Industries of SWFL, Homeless Coalition
of Collier County, Protected Harbor, and United Cerebral Palsy of SWFL to name a few.
Immokalee Housing and Family Services is providing expertise and connections to the
community along with financial support to ensure success of the project. Florida Housing Coalition is
providing technical assistance with navigating the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Predevelopment
Loan Program, through which ROOF has secured funding for a portion of the development costs.
ROOF also intends to request funding from Collier County from the SHIP program in the amount
of $23,000 to help cover the construction costs for the rehabilitation and accessibility modifications
required for the project. The property has been identified and is currently under contract. The outcome
of this affordable housing project will be Immokalee’s first fully accessible supported living home for
people with developmental disabilities.
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Packet Pg. 705 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS OF FLORIDA (ROOF)
REQUEST FOR FUNDING
4
Funding Request
ROOF is requesting assistance from the Immokalee CRA for the Independence Place project.
The benefits to the CRA of assisting with this new affordable housing project and the associated support
services for adults with developmental disabilities are as follows:
Help meet the housing and public infrastructure needs and goals addressed in the Immokalee
Area Master Plan and the Immokalee Component of the Community Redevelopment Plan by
creating the first supported living home in Immokalee. ROOF is collaborating with Immokalee
Housing & Family Services (IHFS) to develop Immokalee’s first home specially designed for
supported living for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Specifically, the project will help the CRA address Goal #3: To Provide a Diversity of Safe and
Sanitary Housing for All Residents of the Immokalee Urban Area (Adopted IAMP Reference Goal
#2: Create an environment within which all working, disabled and retied residents, and their
immediate families, will have a reasonable opportunity to procure safe, sanitary, and affordable
housing consistent with the desired character of the area as identified in the Immokalee Area
Master Plan) by providing housing opportunities for Extremely Low-Income (ELI) adults with
disabilities, even those who rely solely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a monthly
income of $735 per month.
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Packet Pg. 706 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 707 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 708 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 709 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 710 Attachment: ROOF Proposal (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 711 Attachment: ROOF IRS DETERMINATION LETTER-164923 (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 712 Attachment: Roof Housing Trust IRS 501c3 IRS deter ltr (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 713 Attachment: Roof Housing Trust IRS 501c3 IRS deter ltr (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 714 Attachment: ROOF Grant Agreement (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 715 Attachment: ROOF Grant Agreement (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 716 Attachment: ROOF Grant Agreement (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
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Packet Pg. 717 Attachment: ROOF Grant Agreement (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)
6325 Presidential Ct. Suite 3 I Fort Myers, Florida 33919 I 239.415.8300 phone I 239.415.8304 fax
Lie. Nos. CG Cl512749
CB C060559
October 19, 2017
Attn: Sheryl Soukup
Re: 953 Hamilton Street
Immokalee, FL 34143
OneSource Construction Company & Builders, Inc. is pleased to provide the following
Proposal for the IMMOKALEE HOME Project.
Our Proposal is outlined herein per "Statement of Work" provided as follows:
Scope of work is to meet ADA Compliance:
•CONTRACTORS FEES
•DEMO OF WALLS, DOORS AND CONCRETE PAD
•FRAMING NEW WALLS TO ACCOMODATE DOOR
•DRYWALL AND TEXTURE
•NEW ADA DOORS AND FRAMES
•FLOORING
•PAINTING
•PLUMBING
•HVAC
•ELECTRICAL
Total: $S5,500.00
$6,700.00
$4,200.00
$6,700.00
$5,200.00
$2,700.00
$4,160.00
$4,730.00
$7,200.00
$8,620.00
$5,290.00
**Does not include: Blueprints, Architects Fees, Engineer, Fees, Bond
and Permit Fees**
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to provide this offer to you and we are prepared to
meet again with you and/or your representatives to discuss this project further at any
time.
Respectfully submitted,
George Chauvin / President
One Source Construction Company & Builders, Inc
239 -415-8300 (Phone) -239 -415-8304 (Fax)
www.One -SourceConstruction .com
EXHIBIT A
16.B.1.d
Packet Pg. 718 Attachment: ROOF Grant Agreement (4869 : Immokalee CRA Grant Agreement ROOF)