TITLE
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $750,000.00 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP (SHIP) HOMEBUYER EDUCATION AND COUNSELING REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA); AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO AWARD FUNDS TO THE APPLICANTS; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ALL LETTERS OF COMMITMENT, CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS, AND AMENDMENTS PURSUANT TO THE PROPOSED SHIP FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS, AND TO SHIFT FUNDS AND FUNDING SOURCES AWARDED TO AN ACTIVITY TO ANY NEW AFFILIATED ENTITIES CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT A PROJECT, AND EXERCISE THE TERMINATION, WAIVER, ACCELERATION, OR OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH THEREIN

BODY
WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:

Section 1. This Board ratifies and adopts the matters set forth in the accompanying justification memorandum and recital as if fully set forth herein.

Section 2. This Board approves the proposed funding recommendations in an amount up to $750,000.00 for the FY 2025-26 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Homebuyer Education and Counseling Request for Applications (RFA), identified in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Section 3. This Board authorizes the County Mayor or County Mayor�s Designee to award funds to the applicants, identified in Exhibit A, and to execute all letters of commitment, contracts in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, agreements, and amendments pursuant to the proposed SHIP funding recommendations and to accomplish the purposes set forth in this legislation, to shift funds and funding sources awarded to an activity to any new affiliated entities created for the purpose of carrying out a project, and exercise the termination, waiver, acceleration, or other provisions set forth therein.

HEADER
Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor

Subject: FY 2025-26 SHIP Homebuyer Education
and Counseling Award Recommendations

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Executive Summary
This item recommends Board of County Commissioners (Board) approval for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Homebuyer Education and Counseling Request for Applications (RFA) funding recommendations. It is recommended that four (4) entities as listed in the table below be awarded funding to provide homebuyer education and counseling services throughout the northern, central, and southern geographic areas of Miami-Dade County.

Agency/Organization Name Funding Requested Funding Recommendation
NID-HCA Florida Felton dba Experts Resource Community Center, Inc. $200,000 $200,000
Centro Campesino Farmworker Center $200,000 $200,000
Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida $150,000 $150,000
Housing Foundation of America, Inc. $200,000 $200,000

Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board:

� Approve the proposed funding recommendations in an amount up to $750,000.00 for the FY 2025-26 SHIP Homebuyer Education and Counseling RFA. The recommended activities include homebuyer education and counseling services.

� Authorize the County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee to award funds to the applicants listed in Exhibit A and to execute all necessary letters of commitment, contracts, agreements, and amendments pursuant to the proposed SHIP funding recommendations.

Scope
This funding recommendation for homebuyer education and counseling services will have a countywide impact, benefiting residents across all 13 commission districts. Exhibit A provides the application scores and proposed funding allocations.

Delegation of Authority
This item requests a delegation of authority to authorize the County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee to execute all letters of commitment, standard shell contracts (identified as Exhibit B), agreements, modifications and amendments pursuant to the proposed SHIP homebuyer education and counseling funding recommendations and to accomplish the purposes set forth in this legislation, to shift funds and funding sources awarded to an activity to any new affiliated entities created for the purpose of carrying out a project, and exercise the termination, waiver, acceleration, or other provisions set forth therein.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The award of SHIP funds will not have a negative fiscal impact on the County�s General Fund. Table 1 summarizes the proposed use of FY 2025-26 SHIP funding.

Table 1: FY 2025-26 PROPOSED SHIP FUNDING ALLOCATIONS
Categories Amount Available Amount Requested Amount Recommended
Homebuyer Education and Counseling Services $1,200,000.00 $971,250.00 $750,000.00

Track Record/Monitor
Nathan Kogon, AICP, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development (Department) will oversee all SHIP funded activities. The Department will continue to monitor the activities to ensure compliance with state and county guidelines and policies.

Background
The Department released a draft FY 2025-26 SHIP Homebuyer Education and Counseling RFA on January 15, 2026, and conducted a technical assistance workshop for potential applicants. The final RFA was made publicly available on February 4, 2026, with a submission deadline of February 25, 2026. Public notification of the application process was disseminated through the Department�s website and community development email distribution list. Applications meeting the threshold criteria were reviewed and scored by the Evaluation/Selection Committee appointed by the Department Director.

The FY 2025-26 SHIP Homebuyer Education and Counseling RFA was issued with a total available funding of $1,200,000.00. A total of six (6) applications were received as listed in the table below.

Agency/Organization Name Commission District Located Commission District Serving Funding Requested Funding
Recommendation
NID-HCA Florida Felton dba Experts Resource Community Center, Inc.
1, 2
CW
$200,000
$200,000
Centro Campesino Farmworker Center
9
CW
$200,000
$200,000
Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida
5
CW
$150,000
$150,000
Housing Foundation of America, Inc. 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12
CW
$200,000
$200,000
Oasis of Hope Community
Development Corporation, Inc.
1
CW
$71,250
$0
Little Haiti Housing Association Inc. DBA Haitian American CDC
5
CW
$150,000
$0

Total Funding Requested: $971,250 $750,000

The applications submitted by Oasis of Hope Community Development Corporation, Inc. and Little Haiti Housing Association Inc. DBA Haitian American CDC are not recommended for funding because they did not meet the required minimum score of 70 points.

A due diligence review was conducted in accordance with Resolution No. R-630-13 to ensure the efficient and transparent use of funds for this essential service to County residents. No findings were reported for the entities recommended for funding.

Attachment

_________________________
Jimmy Morales
Chief Operating Officer