Ethan Katz

The board meeting covered several critical items, including an Audit Committee update and a legislative report regarding the state budget, housing programs, and the Live Local initiative. Key updates were provided on the Hometown Heroes program and housing trust fund allocations. The board took action on several multifamily program funding requests, including financing for affordable housing developments, homeless person housing, and developments in rural areas. Furthermore, the board authorized contract negotiations for professional services, including arbitrage rebate analyst services, single-family cash flow provider services, and utility allowance estimate providers. Finally, the board approved single-source procurement contracts for housing locator services and multifamily line-of-business software.

The board meeting agenda covers key fiscal, housing, and administrative action items. Discussion topics include unrestricted net position designations, the Florida Housing's Preservation Plan for rental properties, a homeownership pilot program for manufactured housing, and various multifamily programs involving SAIL financing for special needs developments and housing for persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the board will address 2026 rule development, the initiation of housing credit geographic applications, and the development of a preservation pilot program. The meeting also involves the professional services selection process for single family and multifamily investment bankers and compliance administration services, as well as single-source procurement for software licensing. Finally, there will be a ratification regarding the sale of Grace Manor Apartments under FHFC III, Inc.

The hearing addressed multiple petitions regarding housing credit allocation decisions. Key topics included the interpretation of site control requirements, the validity of equity commitment letters containing alleged typographical errors, and the procedural handling of an application withdrawal by Hammock Crossings.

The agenda items for the meeting cover several areas requiring board approval, including HOME Rental funding for Greyes Place, Phase II. Under Housing Credits, there are multiple requests for approval of organizational structure changes and CHIRP ITP Waiver requests for LPA Closing Deadlines for various properties. The Legal section includes items In Re: Southwick Commons, Ltd. and BDG Banyan East Town, LLC. Multifamily Bonds discussions involve approval of Credit Underwriting Reports, bond sale recommendations, and Credit Underwriting Update Letters. Multifamily Programs feature numerous requests for CHIRP ITP Waivers for loan and LPA closing deadlines, as well as Credit Underwriting Report approvals. The Predevelopment Loan Program (PLP) includes requests for revised loans/budgets and new loans for several entities, along with an assumption of a PLP Loan. Professional Services Selection addresses RFQ for Guaranteed Investment Contract Broker Services and Single Source Procurement for OnBase Licensing. State Apartment Incentive Loan Program (SAIL) items focus on RFA Waiver approvals and extensions for loan closing and commitment issuance deadlines. Finally, Special Assets items involve requests to refinance first mortgages, extend a SAIL Loan, and a Partial Release of Land.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the October 24, 2025, Board Meeting Minutes. The Audit Committee provided an update, reporting the approval of their minutes and the review of salary adjustments, followed by a closed session on Information Security and Incident Management. The Consent Agenda was approved after correcting a scrivener's error regarding a deadline extension for the New River Place project and after separate approval of Legal-Consent C. Key discussions included a legislative update outlining Florida Housing's strategy for the 2026 Legislative Session, an update on the Live Local Program which has reserved $35 million of its appropriation and leveraged significant first mortgage capital, and a presentation on the five-year strategic plan. Action items included the unanimous approval of the 2026 Proposed Operating Budget. Under Homeownership Programs, authorization was requested to proceed with developing a Homeownership Pilot Program utilizing Manufactured Housing, involving workshops and potentially a competitive solicitation utilizing up to $3 million in loan guarantees. The board also approved tentative funding selections for several SAIL Financing RFAs related to elderly developments, affordable multifamily housing in conjunction with Tax-Exempt Bonds, and Live Local financing near military installations. Finally, approval was granted for a one-year, single-source contract with Elation Systems, Inc. for a Davis-Bacon software solution. The meeting concluded with the unanimous re-election of Sandra Veszi Einhorn as Chair and Ryan Benson as Vice Chair for 2026.