Volusia Council approves $329M federal relief spending plan with $200M going toward housing

The Volusia County Council voted 5-2 to approve a spending plan for about $329 million in federal hurricane relief dollars with $200 million of the total going to housing programs. The plan still requires federal approval.

About 20 people spoke to the council on Tuesday. Speakers described a gaping hole to fill in the county's stock of permanent and rental housing, especially for lower-income workers like those in the restaurant business.

The Transform386 project is the equivalent of nearly 1/3 of the county government's budget for the entire fiscal year.

Sleeping in the car

Some shared personal stories of struggle.

Port Orange resident Frances Owings said she moved to Volusia County in 1990 and raised her two grandsons. A hurricane flooded Owings' apartment, and she had to be rescued. The emotional and financial impact of the storm was long-lasting, she said.

She and her grandson moved into a Port Orange apartment that was plagued by roof leaks and mold. They stayed for about a year because they couldn't afford another place, even though her grandson works full time and her income is about $1,350 a month, she said. They refused to pay rent because management didn't do anything about the mold, she said, and they were evicted.

From there they lived in a hotel. They then moved to the house of Owing's sister, who had passed away, until that property was sold. Owings' grandson went to live with his grandfather, but Owings ended up living in her car for six months because rent in the area was too expensive.

"Did you know it's illegal to sleep in your car? I didn't know that," she said.

Owings described police waking her up to check on her. They checked her driver's license and told her she had to move her car.

"One night I ended up in the emergency room, then into surgery for two stents in my heart. Please support the Transform386 plan and help residents," she said.

Two councilmen vote no

Councilmen Don Dempsey, of District 1, and Danny Robins, of District 3, voted against the plan. Dempsey asked about adjusting the plan to spend less on housing and more on public infrastructure to reduce flooding.

The funds are in hand to help the county strengthen after the impacts of Hurricane Ian. They're intended to address needs that haven't been met by other funding. The plan will go to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval ― the funds are from HUD's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program.

The county held meetings and sought public comment to shape the draft plan. County officials will start work on the plan after HUD approves it, which they expect will happen in December. The plan focuses on helping people of low to moderate income levels.

Once launched the county will get the word out about how to apply for funding. Here's how the total funding breaks down for the plan's six-year budget:

• Housing: $200 million. Spending within that category will include $145 million for single-family home repairs and replacement, $50 million for new multi-family construction and $5 million for rental repairs.

• Infrastructure: $50 million.

• Mitigation: 13.1%, over $42.9 million. This is for projects that strengthen the county against future storms and reduce the risk of damage, injury loss of life and other impacts.

• Administration: $16.4 million. About 30 staffers will be brought on to handle the program.

• Planning: Over $18.5 million. That includes planning for "housing, stormwater, wetland management, and environmental assessments," according to the document. If there's money left over it will moved into another area.

• Public Services: $1 million. This is for job training for construction trades. Graduates would have to spend some time working on a project related to the hurricane recovery effort. Priority will be given to programs for at-risk and low-income people who are 16-24 years old.

What about flooding?

Dempsey talked about rainfall in recent days and flooding he's seen on the west side of the county.

"I know on the west side although fixing the houses is a priority, we also want to get more of this drainage issue resolved so that we don't have as much flooding and standing water in these neighborhoods," he said.

Dona Butler, who is leading the project for the county, said that combined with storm-related funding outside of the HUD grant, about $141 million will be going toward strengthening the county against future storms and flooding. That more than covers the unmet need in infrastructure related to the storm, she said. The mitigation category includes infrastructure projects.

Local governments, nonprofits and public housing authorities will be able to use the funds "to repair and create infrastructure to mitigate against future storms," according to the county. Wastewater and drainage equipment were damaged in the storm.

Port Orange resident Robert Reinhagen said he thinks some flooding issues in his city could be addressed if the county bought homes and created retention ponds and wetlands on those properties.

"If you elevate a home, you subsidize that one homeowner to remain in their home but you do little to mitigate the potential for flooding of other homes in the neighborhood," he said. "If you buy out a home and create a retention pond you reduce the potential for flooding the neighbors as well as helping that homeowner get out of the flood zone."

As part of repairing or replacing homes damaged by Hurricane Ian, the county plans to pay for elevating a house if needed.

The Transform386 plan says Hurricane Ian exacerbated an existing housing shortage.

Volusia County conducted an analysis of the affordable housing needs during its 2020 Affordable Housing initiative. At that time, the data indicated a need for over 12,000 units across very low to moderate income levels.

Housing authorities in the county, which all have waiting lists for housing, saw damage to 301 units and severe damage in 215 of those units from the storm.

Recovery: The storm has passed, the nightmare hasn't. Tropical Storm Ian victims still out of homes.

County wrap-up

The council voted to approve the selection of Lynn Flanders as Ocean Center director. She will be joining the county after serving as the assistant general manager of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority in Georgia.

The L.B. Knox Bridge in Ormond Beach will be closed starting Thursday through Oct. 14 for "bearing replacement," according to the county. As part of the project, Highbridge Road will be closed from John Anderson Drive to Walter Boardman Lane. Residents can use the Granada Bridge on State Road 40 in Ormond Beach or State Road 100 in Flagler Beach in the interim. Halifax River boat traffic won't be affected.

Volusia County’s Solid Waste Division will collect household hazardous materials at three free events this month. Each event will be from 8 a.m. to noon. They will be held on Oct. 14 at DeBary City Hall at 16 Colomba Road, Oct. 27 at Ormond Beach Public Works at 501 N. Orchard St., and Oct. 28 at New Smyrna Beach Public Works at 124 Industrial Park Ave.

Volusia County residents can "drop off paint, solvents, automobile and household batteries, pool chemicals, pesticides, motor oil, gasoline, other household chemicals, and up to 10 fluorescent lamps," according to the county. "Only unmixed household hazardous waste will be accepted. Insulin needles will only be accepted in approved containers and the containers will not be returned."

For more information, call Volusia County’s Solid Waste Division at 386-947-2952.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hurricane Ian relief plan puts $200M toward housing in Volusia