Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/277189
HOME Partnership account dedicated to housing rehabilitation into a fund to reestab- lish the Down Payment Assistance Program had not been spent. The City Commission set aside the same amount for the program on July 15, 2013. Hadsell, who works for both local govern- ments, explained to the County Commission that after HUD issued a new HOME Program rule that went into effect on Aug. 22, 2013, he had been trying to no avail to get clear guide- lines about potential repayment of loans that went into default. "Unless we get clarification from HUD that the rules will give some flexibility without the prospect of onerous repayment, I'm going to be back here not recommending that we go forward with the down payment assistance but that we limit our liability any further and move those funds into a program that will be safer," Hadsell told the county commissioners. As a result of that discussion, the commis- sion sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, asking for his help in pinning down a response from HUD. In a Feb. 11 letter to Bernard Fulton, who handles congres- sional relations for HUD, Buchanan wrote, "Sarasota County is asking HUD to accelerate the timeline for issuing additional guidelines and resources so the City of Sarasota, which administers the program on behalf of the County, can [continue] to assist county res- idents with the purchase and repair of their homes. Please give careful consideration to and if possible grant their request." A chart provided by the Sarasota County Planning and Development Services Department shows the HOME Program funds available for various federal projects in the county. Image courtesy Sarasota County Sarasota News Leader March 14, 2014 Page 34