Housing Rehabilitation Programs

Housing Rehab Program (Residential)

The Housing Rehab Program provides assistance to income-eligible homeowners for needed repairs to bring their homes in compliance with current Housing Quality Standards.  Repairs may include, but are not limited to roof repairs, windows, electrical, plumbing, as well as any health, safety and code violation issues.  This assistance is provided with funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Housing Rehab program is currently closed for new applications. The application cycle closed on October 16, 2009.  A total of 359 applications were received during this application cycle.  .

Disaster Recovery Program

The Disaster Recovery Program provides low-income households in the City with disaster mitigation assistance to prepare their homes for future storms that may occur.  These funds cover exterior hardening of the property to prevent any further damage.  The program is limited to repair or replacement of roofs, windows, doors and the installation of shutters, only.

The Disaster Recovery Program is currently closed for new applications. The application cycle closed on November 7, 2007.  A total of 236 applications were received during this application cycle.

Home Ownership Assistance Programs

Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program EXTENDED

As we all know, one of the biggest challenges for first time homebuyers is saving up enough down payment to purchase a home. Many are able to afford the monthly payments but most mortgage programs require down payments between 1% to 3.5% of the purchase price, which is the challenge for the buyers. The program deadline has been extended. Now, qualified first time homebuyers who purchase a home before April 30, 2010 can receive a tax credit of $8,000.00 upon filing. But, in most cases the buyers need this money for the actual closing instead of waiting till year end. To read more click here.

On May 27, 2009, the Governor signed into law a new program to assist first time homebuyers called Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program (FHOP). The intent of the FHOP is for state and local government agencies to provide a bridge loan of either 10% of the purchase price with a maximum of $8,000.00 to qualified buyers to purchase their homes. The homebuyers will be required to repay these funds once they receive their tax refund. The loan will have a recapture provision, therefore repayment could extend throughout several years. For an FHOP application, Click here

Direct Homeownership Assistance

The Direct Homeownership Assistance Program provides assistance to income eligible first-time homebuyers that are purchasing a home in the City of Miami Gardens.  The assistance is coordinated directly through one of our Approved Lenders.  Types of assistance provided include Down Payment, Closing Costs and Homebuyer Counseling. Click Here to learn more about the Homeownership Assistance program. To view a list of approved lenders click on the link below.

Fair Housing
“It’s Not an Option, it’s the Law!”

As an Entitlement of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, the City of Miami Gardens is required to certify its commitment to affirmatively further fair housing choice in this jurisdiction.  In keeping with this commitment, the City is taking steps to better educate the public on Fair Housing laws and provide resources to our citizens and stakeholders to fight against housing discrimination. 

Below you will find basic facts about the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and your rights as it pertains to housing discrimination.  Please visit this website often for updates on Fair Housing activities in the City.  You can also visit the HUD’s Fair Housing and Employment Office (FHEO) website at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo for more information.

What Housing Is Covered?
What Is Prohibited?
Additional Protection if You Have a Disability
Requirements for New Buildings
Housing Opportunities for Families
If You Think Your Rights Have Been Violated
If You Are Disabled:

What Housing Is Covered?
The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. In some circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.

What Is Prohibited?
In the Sale and Rental of Housing: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap:

• Refuse to rent or sell housing
• Refuse to negotiate for housing
• Make housing unavailable
• Deny a dwelling
• Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
• Provide different housing services or facilities
• Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
• For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
• Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.

In Mortgage Lending: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap (disability):

• Refuse to make a mortgage loan
• Refuse to provide information regarding loans
• Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees
• Discriminate in appraising property
• Refuse to purchase a loan or
• Set different terms or conditions for purchasing a loan.

In Addition: It is illegal for anyone to:

• Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right
• Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

Additional Protection if You Have a Disability
If you or someone associated with you:

• Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities
• Have a record of such a disability or
• Are regarded as having such a disability

Your landlord may not:

• Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.)
• Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

Example: A building with a "no pets" policy must allow a visually impaired tenant to keep a guide dog.

Example: An apartment complex that offers tenants ample, unassigned parking must honor a request from a mobility-impaired tenant for a reserved space near her apartment if necessary to assure that she can have access to her apartment.

However, housing need not be made available to a person who is a direct threat to the health or safety of others or who currently uses illegal drugs.

Requirements for New Buildings
New buildings occupied after March 13, 1991 that have an elevator and four or more units require that:

• Public and common areas must be accessible to persons with disabilities
• Doors and hallways must be wide enough for wheelchairs
• All units must have:
• An accessible route into and through the unit
• Accessible light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls
• Reinforced bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars and
• Kitchens and bathrooms that can be used by people in wheelchairs.

These standards also apply to new one story buildings occupied after March 13, 1991, with four or more ground floor units. These requirements for new buildings do not replace any more stringent standards in State or local law.

Housing Opportunities for Families
Unless a building or community qualifies as housing for older persons, it may not discriminate based on familial status. That is, it may not discriminate against families in which one or more children under 18 live with:

• A parent
• A person who has legal custody of the child or children or
• The designee of the parent or legal custodian, with the parent or custodian's written permission.

Familial status protection also applies to pregnant women and anyone securing legal custody of a child under 18.

Exemption: Housing for older persons is exempt from the prohibition against familial status discrimination if:

• The HUD Secretary has determined that it is specifically designed for and occupied by elderly persons under a Federal, State or local government program or
• It is occupied solely by persons who are 62 or older or
• It houses at least one person who is 55 or older in at least 80 percent of the occupied units, and adheres to a policy that demonstrates an intent to house persons who are 55 or older.

A transition period permits residents on or before September 13, 1988, to continue living in the housing, regardless of their age, without interfering with the exemption.

If You Think Your Rights Have Been Violated
If you think your rights have been violated, there are several options available to you:

• You can contact Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence (HOPE), Inc., a local not-for-profit organization that specializes in housing discrimination at 305-651-HOPE (4673)
• You can complete HUD’s online Housing Discrimination Complaint Form*
• You may write a letter to the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) 909 SE First Avenue, Room 500, Miami, FL 33131-3028
• You can call the local HUD FHEO at 305-520-5038

* You have one year after an alleged violation to file a complaint with HUD, but you should file it as soon as possible.

What information should you give:

• Your name and address
• The name and address of the person your complaint is against (the respondent)
• The address or other identification to the housing involved
• A short description to the alleged violation (the event that caused you to believe your rights were violated)
• The date(s) to the alleged violation

If You Are Disabled:
HUD also provides:

• A toll-free TTY phone for the hearing impaired: 1-800-927-9275
• Interpreters
• Tapes and Braille materials
• Assistance in reading and completing forms  

Source: http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/FHLaws/yourrights.cfm

Community Development Partners

Approved Lenders

The Department of Community Development partners with several local lenders.  Local Lenders interested in being included in on the City's approved lenders list should contact Ms. Liz Valera,NSP Administrator at 305-622-8000 ext. 2692. To view the listof Approved Lenders Click Here

Approved Contractors

The Department of Community Development works with contractors that have been pre-screened and approved by the Procurement Department for licensing and insurance requirements as well as other City requirements. Contractors interested in being listed as an approved contractor for Community Development projects should complete the appropriate application package below. To view the list of Approved Contractors Click Here

For an applications packet for GC’s/Painting Contractors (only) Click here For an application packet for All Trades Click Here

Homebuyer Counseling Agencies

Miami Gardens residents can contact any HUD approved not-for-profit, community based organizations that provide housing counseling services. These services include but are not limited to homebuyer education, money/debt management, post purchase counseling and predatory lending. To view the list of Approved Housing Counseling Agencies in or near Miami Gardens Click Here