Public comment period for Local Housing Assistance Plan in Gainesville.

CITY OF
GAINE
STATE
SVILLE
1869
FLORIDA
PUBLIC NOTICE OF 15-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS CITY OF GAINESVILLE
REGARDING SUBMISSION OF THE FISCAL YEARS 2026-2029
STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP (SHIP) PROGRAM
THE LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN (LHAP)
Local Housing Assistance Plan
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Gainesville is in the process of developing and seeking approval for its proposed Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) for Fiscal Years 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028- 2029, as required under the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program. The LHAP has not yet been adopted and must undergo public review and community engagement prior to consideration for adoption.
The SHIP Program is authorized under Sections 420.907-420.9079, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 67-37, Florida Administrative Code, and is administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The purpose of the LHAP is to outline strategies to meet the housing needs of very low-income, low-income, and moderate-income households; expand and preserve affordable housing; and further the affordable housing goals of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
As part of the LHAP approval process, the City of Gainesville Housing and the Department of Housing & Community Development will conduct Community Engagement Sessions to solicit input from residents, housing providers, service organizations, and other interested parties. The purpose of these sessions is to provide the public with an opportunity to review the Draft LHAP framework and to offer comments, recommendations, and input prior to the Plan being submitted for adoption. Public participation is encouraged to ensure the Draft LHAP reflects community housing needs and priorities.
Sessions will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following locations and dates:



February 16, 2026 - Long Gallery, Thomas Center, 306 NE 6th Avenue, Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32601 February 17, 2026 - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL 32653
February 18, 2026 - Gainesville Technology Entrepreneurship Center (GTEC), 2153 SE Hawthorne Road, Room 109, Gainesville, FL 32641
February 19, 2026 - Celebration Pointe, 4870 Celebration Pointe, Gainesville, FL 32608
The Draft LHAP can be accessed from the following webpage:
https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/Government-Pages/Government/Departments/Housing-Community- Development. Electronic copies of the Draft LHAP may be requested via email, at
coghousing@gainesvillefl.gov. Hard copies of the Draft LHAP are available to the public during regular business hours, City of Gainesville Department of Housing & Community Development - Thomas Center B - 2nd Floor, 306 Northeast 6th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32601.
Comments on the Draft LHAP may be submitted until 5:00 p.m., on Monday, February 23, 2026. Comments may be submitted by email at coghousing@gainesvillefl.gov or by mail at Public Comment, FY 2026-2029 Draft LHAP, Department of Housing & Community Development, c/o City of Gainesville, P.O. Box 490, Station 22, Gainesville, FL 32627-0490.
For additional information regarding the Draft Local Housing Assistance Plan or the Community Engagement Sessions, please contact HCD Manager, Phimetto Lewis at 352-393-8862, LewisPD@cityofgainesville.org.
The City of Gainesville is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Drug Free Workplace Employer. The City of Gainesville is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in all City programs, services, and activities, and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. The City will hold the public hearing in a location that is accessible to persons with disabilities. The City will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, or persons with Limited English Proficiency requiring auxiliary aids or services. Persons needing a special accommodation to participate in any proceeding should contact the City's Office of Equity and Inclusion at (352) 334-5051 at least two business days in advance. TTY (Text Telephone Telecommunication Device) users please call 711 (Florida Relay Service). For Speech to Speech (STS) relay, please call 1-877-955-5334. For STS Spanish relay, please call 1-877- 955-8773. For STS French Creole relay, please call 1-877-955-8707.
FAIR HOUSING/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/DISABILITY ACCESS JURISDICTIONS
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY