Clearwater Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board Special Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board (NAHAB) held a special meeting on March 17, 2026, in the Main Library Council Chambers. The meeting focused on the 2026-27 Annual Action Plan process for CDBG and HOME funds, presentations from 14 organizations requesting a total of over $1.28 million in grant funding, and performance updates on current sub-recipients.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the November 18, 2025, NAHAB meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public came forward to speak on items not on the agenda. No e-comments were submitted.

Discussion Items

• 2026-27 Annual Action Plan Kick-off (Item 4.1): Housing Manager Dylan Mayo presented the timeline: March 17 – applicant presentations; Technical Review Committee (TRC) meets March 21; staff scores due by mid-March; budget to NAHAB on April 14; May – public comment on draft budget; final plan to council July 16. This timeline was moved up a month to provide a buffer for potential delays (e.g., hurricanes, federal shutdown).
• Applicant Presentations for Grant Funding (Item 4.2): 14 organizations presented 19 funding applications. Total funding requested: $1.28 million. The board chair noted this would be a highly competitive process due to limited available funds. A summary of each presentation:
  • Housing and Educational Alliance (HEA): Requested $50,000 for the Clearwater Housing Stability and Home Ownership Initiative. Since 2002, HEA has served 57,735 individuals, delivered 525,000 hours of housing education, 12,500 families achieved homeownership, and $163 million in down payment assistance. The program provides HUD-approved homebuyer education, one-on-one counseling, and post-purchase support for residents at or below 80% AMI. Anticipates serving 75 Clearwater households.
  • Homeless Emergency Project (HEP): Requested $60,000 for emergency shelter courtyard/dining hall upgrades (adding 25% match) and $150,000 for a dental/wellness clinic parking lot (phase two of a $1.45 million project). The clinic provided 8,225 dental procedures in 2025 valued at $1.36 million. Phase one (1.3 million) fully funded by HEP. Project start expected May 2026 with completion by fall.
  • Metropolitan Ministries (North Greenwood Neighbor Hope): Requested $50,000 to fund mobile case management services in the North Greenwood neighborhood. Serves families at risk of homelessness through asset-based community development. Plans to add a community engagement coordinator. Financial assistance includes rental and utility aid.
  • Hope Villages of America: Requested $50,000 for salary support of a case management supervisor and $75,000 for window/door replacements at their domestic violence shelter. The shelter serves over 200 survivors annually with a 45-day limit. The 2025 Point-in-Time Count identified 214 homeless survivors in Pinellas County.
  • Sun Coast Housing Connections (TEP CDC): Requested $50,000 for homebuyer education, housing counseling, and foreclosure prevention. Reported a doubling of foreclosure cases in recent months. Counselors work with clients as long as needed (up to 2.5 years). Organization is a NeighborWorks agency.
  • WestCare Gulf Coast Florida (Turning Point): Requested $50,000 for partial salary of a case manager and LPN at their substance abuse homeless shelter. Provides 30-day residential intervention services. Only facility in the area that accepts intoxicated individuals from the street.
  • Directions for Living (Mental Health): Requested $161,000 for facility renovations to create multi-purpose collaborative spaces. Serves about 20,000 clients. Partners include the sheriff's department for mental health first aid training.
  • St. Vincent DePaul of Upper Pinellas (Community Kitchen): Requested funding to replace the 20-year-old roof. Serves over 2,000 individuals annually, providing 29,000 hot meals plus clothing, showers, notary, bus passes, job interview support. Speaker cited national survey: $37,000 annual cost per homeless individual to cities; claimed 20 people moved off streets saves city $500,000.
  • Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services: Requested $50,000 for homebuyer education and down payment assistance (DPA). HUD research shows homebuyer education reduces foreclosure odds by 42%. In the past year, helped 17 families become homeowners with $1.2 million in DPA.
  • Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LIFT): Requested $76,500 for campus safety/security enhancements at a 60,000 sq ft former YMCA serving neurodivergent students (autism, developmental differences). Project includes upgraded surveillance, badge access, reinforced doors, and heightening an exterior wall. Project timeline: 12 months.
  • Prospera Initiatives: Requested funding for small business consulting and education (all services free). Provided over 2,000 business consultations in 5 years; 20% of clients are Clearwater residents.
  • Gulf Coast Legal Services: Requested $50,000 for housing legal aid (eviction prevention, Section 8, foreclosure). Average client income: $28,000. In the last fiscal year, housing clients increased by 88% (from ~300 to over 570); over half reside in Clearwater.
  • Intercultural Advocacy Institute (Hispanic Outreach Center): Two requests: $25,000 for victim advocacy program (all types of crime) and $55,000 for flooring replacement at their new location (former CPD dental clinic, 3,398 sq ft). The building is shared with Clearwater Police Department.
  • Upward Care (no representative present): No presentation given.
• Performance of Sub-recipients (Item 4.3): Dylan Mayo reported delays due to a federal government shutdown last year (agreements pushed to late January). Public service sub-recipients (all funded equally at $23,147) have drawn varying amounts: WestCare ($12,287.80), Hope Villages ($10,851.04), Metropolitan Ministries ($13,288.48). Others (Hispanic Outreach, Gulf Coast Legal, Upward Care) have not yet drawn. Public facilities projects are out to bid; inspection fees disbursed. 2024-25 fiscal year projects are near completion: HEP family transition program ($36,709 dispersed of $140,500); HEP kitchen/dining renovation (88,433 of $89,433 disbursed, ribbon cutting completed); LIFT playground (73,245 of $110,330 disbursed); Willow Carson clinic ($62,325 of $112,250 disbursed). CDBG-CV funds: St. Vincent DePaul ($62,587 of $100,000 dispersed, agreement extended to Sept 2026); Clearwater Housing Authority rental deposit payments ($150,726.68 of $321,400 disbursed).
• Director's Report: Housing Manager Mayo announced:
  • 1718 N. Betty Lane (HEP project): City council approved $1.391 million in HOME-ARP funds; closing expected May 2026.
  • 1454 MLK (partnership with Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services and Habitat for Humanity): 24 owner-occupied townhomes; contingencies complete; closing expected May/June 2026.
  • New Director: Christopher Edwards (formerly New Smyrna Beach) introduced as new Economic Development and Housing Director.
  • Affordable Housing Inventory List: An update is due July 2026; will be brought to NAHAB for recommendation, likely in May or June.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken on funding requests. The Technical Review Committee will meet March 21 to score applications; staff scores due mid-March. A funding budget will be presented to NAHAB on April 14, 2026.
• The board acknowledged the presentations and staff reports; no formal recommendations were made.