Broward Housing Council highlights coordinated funding, proposes TIF homebuying aid and raises concern about HUD rule impacts

The Broward Housing Council met to review coordinated funding and program priorities for affordable housing and to consider next steps on several initiatives, including a proposed $5 million transfer from tax-increment financing (TIF) for purchase-assistance.

Darby Del Salle, director for urban housing planning, told the council the county is taking a more coordinated approach to federal CDBG and HOME dollars, state SHIP funds and local resources and pointed to the countys current RFA for affordable rental housing as an example. "The countys current RFA for affordable rental housing is a strong example of that strategy," Del Salle said, noting terms that emphasize long-term affordability and 0% interest gap financing.

Del Salle outlined upcoming planning and outreach steps, including a public hearing on the Broward Next land-use plan planned for April 23, and described efforts to memorialize how impact fees are assessed and to reduce time costs in environmental and development review. He also summarized anticipated federal and state funding for the 2025'26 cycle, characterizing the totals as approximate: roughly $7.1 million in HUD-related resources overall, about $2.829 million in CDBG shared with 13 municipalities, HOME funding just under $4 million (shared with 11 entitlement communities), roughly $250,000 in ESG, and about $2.5 million in SHIP state funds.

Council members raised several program-level issues. One member urged that "affordable" not default to mid-rise apartment projects but also include smaller-scale and homeownership options. Del Salle and others discussed a forthcoming proposal attributed to "Mister Stone" to apply about $5 million from a TIF toward purchase assistance (roughly described in the meeting as allocating about $500,000 to each of nine districts) and noted an RFA for a Fort Lauderdale site where preliminary surveying suggests a spot for about 36 single-family homes intended to match the neighborhoods character.

Members expressed concern about expiring affordability covenants. Staff said the council has been raising minimum affordability terms (from 30 to 50 years) and that recent RFAs awarded bonus points to projects that committed to near-permanent affordability (up to 99 years), with several deals last year meeting those criteria. Staff added that, when covenants approach expiration, owners often seek gap financing or to reissue bonds so that properties can remain in the affordable portfolio rather than convert to market-rate.

Tanisha, representing the Continuum of Care committee, reported ongoing NOFO work, landlord recruitment planning and efforts to reconcile the Continuums larger data sets with the housing councils dashboard so the boards can better target at-risk populations.

A public housing authority representative warned the council about federal changes affecting subsidized households. "Emergency housing vouchers were abruptly halted by the federal government," the speaker said, and described a new HUD "mixed family" rule that, as the official put it, could force whole households from subsidized units when a single household member lacks acceptable documentation. The speaker said rising local rents combined with flat HUD allocations mean housing authorities will serve fewer households unless policy changes or new funding arrive, and urged consideration of transitional or emergency gap financing for people who lose subsidy.

Business items: the council approved minutes from Nov. 7 by voice vote, accepted the 2026 meeting calendar (with the December meeting moved to Dec. 4), approved an amendment adding advocacy for refinancing and extension of expiring affordability to the 2026 work program, and approved the annual report. Each of those actions passed on voice votes recorded as "aye"; specific roll-call tallies were not provided in the transcript. The meeting lost quorum and adjourned; the council set its next meeting for 10 a.m. Friday, April 24, in Room 430.

Why it matters: Council members and staff framed recent developmentsoordinated funding approaches, RFAs that reward long-term affordability, and the redirection of redevelopment funds
s reasons to expect more production of deeply affordable and workforce housing. At the same time, county and housing authority officials emphasized that federal rule changes and the termination of emergency vouchers may increase homelessness risk and strain county programs, making data integration and contingency financing priorities for the council.

Votes at a glance: Minutes (Nov. 7)
pproved by voice vote. 2026 meeting dates
pproved as amended by voice vote. Amended work program (add advocacy for refinancing/extension of expiring affordability)
pproved by voice vote. Annual report
pproved by voice vote.

Next steps: Staff will return with the RFA materials, updated dashboard/scorecard work and more detailed data requested on foreclosures and populations at risk; a public hearing on Broward Next is scheduled for April 23. The council reconvened members to explore lender engagement for Community Reinvestment Act conversations and agreed to develop materials and invite bank representatives.

(Reporting based only on council proceedings and statements in the meeting transcript.)