Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2025-13 Resolution Adopting the FY 2025-30 CDBG Consolidated Plan & FY 2025-26 Annual Action Plan — reading text

currently housed but are at imminent risk of either residing in shelters or becoming unsheltered 91.205(c)/ 91.305(c)). Also discuss the needs of formerly homeless families and individuals who are receiving rapid re-housing assistance and are nearing the termination of that assistance Many low-income individuals and families in the community experience housing cost burdens, but most are not at immediate risk of entering shelters or becoming unsheltered. Many of these households are able to resolve their situation independently or by seeking one-time financial assistance to prevent homelessness. However, households earning less than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) who have previously experienced homelessness are the most vulnerable to becoming homeless again. Those earning below 50% of AMI are also at risk without support from family or the community. These at-risk households require targeted prevention funding and case management to remain stably housed. They also need access to education and employment services to increase their income, help obtaining mainstream benefits and subsidized childcare, and financial assistance to prevent eviction. The Homelessness & Housing Alliance (HHA) has identified the top causes of homelessness for families with children as lack of affordable housing, poverty, and unemployment. For individuals, the most common causes are poverty, lack of affordable housing, and substance abuse. Households approaching the end of Rapid-Rehousing assistance need continued access to case management and financial support in case new challenges arise. Approximately 80% of households that receive Rapid-Rehousing for the duration needed do not require further assistance. However, programs that offer only limited-time support are more likely to see participants return to homelessness if their needs are not fully addressed Consolidated Plan FORT WALTON BEACH 19 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)  DRAFT If a jurisdiction provides estimates of the at-risk population(s), it should also include a description of the operational definition of the at-risk group and the methodology used to generate the estimates: HUD estimates that renter households in the 0-30% AMI group paying over 50% of their income for rent are the most at-risk for becoming homeless. According to 2017-2021 CHAS data, an estimated 1,300 households are severely cost-burdened and spending over 50% of their income on housing. This represents 15% of all households in Fort Walton Beach. Furthermore, unemployed persons or persons with only part-time employment, elderly persons on limited or fixed incomes, and persons with other special needs are at a greater risk of homelessness. Specify particular housing characteristics that have been linked with instability and an increased risk of homelessness In Fort Walton Beach, several housing characteristics are linked to instability and an increased risk of homelessness, including high housing costs, lack of availability, and overcrowding. Specifically, households spending over 30% of their income on housing (cost-burdened) or over 50% (severely cost- burdened) are at higher risk. Other factors include difficulty paying rent, frequent moves, and living in substandard housing. Discussion Cost burden is a serious issue facing residents of Fort Walton Beach. 71% of households in the city are in the 0-30% AMI group paying over 50% of their income for rent. This leaves them in a much higher chance of ending up homeless. HHA has identified 3 of the most commonly cited causes of homelessness for households with children as the following: Lack of affordable housing Poverty Unemployment HHA has identified 3 of the most commonly cited causes of homelessness for individuals as the following: Poverty Lack of affordable housing Substance abuse Consolidated Plan FORT WALTON BEACH 20 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)  DRAFT NA-15 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Problems – 91.205 (b)(2) Assess the need of any racial or ethnic group that has disproportionately greater need in comparison to the needs of that category of need as a whole. Introduction A disproportionately greater need exists when the members of a racial or ethnic group at a certain income level experience housing problems at a greater rate (10 percentage points or more) than the income level as a whole. For example, assume that 60% of all low-income households within a jurisdiction have a housing problem and 70% of low-income Hispanic households have a housing problem. In this case, low- income Hispanic households have a disproportionately greater need. Per the regulations at 91.205(b)(2), 91.305(b)(2), and 91.405, a grantee must provide an assessment for each disproportionately greater need identified. Although the purpose of these tables is to analyze the relative level of need for each race and ethnic category, the data also provide information for the jurisdiction as a whole (i.e., Fort Walton Beach) that can be useful in describing overall need. Again, as defined by HUD, housing problems include: Substandard housing lacking complete plumbing facilities Substandard housing lacking complete kitchen facilities Overcrowded households with 1.01 to 1.5 people per room, excluding bathrooms, porches, foyers, halls, or half-rooms Households with housing cost burden greater than 30% of income 0%-30% of Area Median Income Housing Problems Has one or more Has none of the Household has of four housing four housing no/ negative problems problems income, but none of the other housing problems Jurisdiction as a whole 1,025 265 0 White 605 140 0 Black / African American 300 10 0 Asian 30 60 0 American Indian, Alaska Native 0 0 0 Pacific Islander 0 0 0 Hispanic 35 25 0 Table 13 - Disproportionally Greater Need 0 - 30% AMI Consolidated Plan FORT WALTON BEACH 21 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)  DRAFT Data 2016-2020 CHAS Source: The four housing problems are: 1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4.Cost Burden greater than 30% 30%-50% of Area Median Income Housing Problems Has one or more Has none of the Household has of four housing four housing no/ negative problems problems income, but none of the other housing problems Jurisdiction as a whole 840 550 0 White 560 410 0 Black / African American 70 25 0 Asian 60 55 0 American Indian, Alaska Native 0 0 0 Pacific Islander 0 0 0 Hispanic 100 50 0 Table 14 - Disproportionally Greater Need 30 - 50% AMI Data 2016-2020 CHAS Source: The four housing problems are: 1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4.Cost Burden greater than 30% 50%-80% of Area Median Income Housing Problems Has one or more Has none of the Household has of four housing four housing no/ negative problems problems income, but none of the other housing problems Jurisdiction as a whole 815 1,010 0 White 630 705 0 Black / African American 64 140 0 Asian 10 15 0 American Indian, Alaska Native 0 0 0 Pacific Islander 0 0 0 Hispanic 90 135 0 Table 15 - Disproportionally Greater Need 50 - 80% AMI Consolidated Plan FORT WALTON BEACH 22 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)  DRAFT Data 2016-2020 CHAS Source: The four housing problems are: 1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4.Cost Burden greater than 30% 80%-100% of Area Median Income Housing Problems Has one or more Has none of the Household has of four housing four housing no/ negative problems problems income, but none of the other housing problems