Funding lined up for rent and utility assistance, Williamson Blvd. widening, playgrounds

DAYTONA BEACH — The county is receiving more than $4.5 million in federal funds to help thousands of low-income Volusia County residents struggling to pay their rent, mortgage, heating and cooling bills, drinking water bills and wastewater expenses.

Some of the federal dollars are coming from American Rescue Plan Act funds, and the balance is flowing in through the Community Services Block Grant program.

"The grants all bring in money to help a lot of our low-income residents with much-needed services," said county Community Assistance Director Carmen Hall.

County Council members voted unanimously at their meeting Tuesday to accept the federal money that's passing through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

One grant is for a little over $1 million from American Rescue Plan funds, and it will be used to help low-income households cover the costs of heating and cooling their homes. An estimated 1,200 benefits will be paid out with the funds.

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The second federal grant is for $2.32 million and it will be used for about 3,134 benefits paid to low-income Volusia County residents experiencing a financial crisis to either heat or cool their residence. The funds need to be spent by Sept. 30, 2023.

The third grant is for $861,141, and it will fund approximately 1,667 benefits for eligible low-income Volusia County residents who need help paying their drinking water and wastewater expenses. These funds also need to be spent by Sept. 30 next year.

The fourth grant is for $502,600 in Community Services Block Grant funds. The CSBG program provides emergency assistance to eligible low-income Volusia County residents to help pay their rent, mortgage and water bills. More than 50 households will be assisted.

The CSBG program also funds the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which provides intensive case management to households experiencing a housing crisis to obtain new rental housing or prevent homelessness while also addressing employment, transportation, education and childcare.

Those who want to apply for the government assistance can log onto Volusia.org and search under Human Services for more information.

Williamson Boulevard widening

Also at their meeting Tuesday, County Council members agreed on a funding plan to widen Williamson Boulevard between Beville Road and Madeline Avenue from two lanes to four lanes.

The county already had $5 million lined up for the $7.5 million widening project, but needed to decide where the remaining $2.5 million would come from. Council members unanimously agreed $2 million can come from impact fees, and $500,000 will be covered with proportionate fair share funds.

The road widening is not scheduled yet, but if it does move forward part of the project could include adding a new access point to the Pelican Bay neighborhood off of Williamson Boulevard.

Votran accident settlements

Council members also approved two settlement agreements involving accidents with Votran buses.

In one accident, 76-year-old Ethel Johnson was traveling east on Hand Avenue in Ormond Beach when her Ford Taurus was T-boned by a Votran bus that ran a red light, according to county records.

Johnson subsequently had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, and she has reported continued pain in her knee, hip and right shoulder. Johnson agreed to settle her lawsuit for $70,000 and Council members OK'd that resolution to the incident.

In the other incident, 30-year-old Benjamin Weldon sustained severe injuries when a Votran bus pulled out in front of his motorcycle, violating his right of way, according to county records.

Weldon was transported to the hospital for emergency surgery. Since the accident, he has incurred $219,187 in gross medical expenses, records indicate. Council members agreed to settle his case for $190,000.

New playground equipment

Three neighborhood parks in West Volusia County are poised for improvements after the Volusia County Council approved a contract Tuesday morning for new playground equipment.

The parks include two in the Spring Hill community of DeLand — Sylvester Bruten Park and Spring Hill Park — and Seville Village Park. The contract, which totals $741,665, covers the replacement of existing playground equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. That includes both playgrounds at Spring Hill Park.

The playgrounds will be designed for use by children between the ages of 5 and 12 and will include composite play structures, swing sets, slides and climbing features.

The playground equipment is being funded through the Community Development Block Grant Program, which provides federal funding for projects that improve the quality of life in low- and moderate-income communities.

The contract was awarded to Melbourne-based Advanced Recreational Concepts. Once the purchase orders are issued, the work is expected to take approximately four months to complete.

You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Federal funding will help low-income Volusia County residents pay rent