One of the main goals of the Community Services Department is providing opportunities for the City's low-to-moderate income residents to obtain quality, affordable housing. The City of Florence has taken a proactive role in achieving this goal by taking the lead on two notable housing developments: the Stackley Street Redevelopment Project and North Pointe Subdivision.
Before redevelopment, Stackley Street was a haven for illegal activity. Located in a CDBG target area in North Florence, Stackley Street was infamously known as a drug and crime-infested neighborhood. To help remedy the problem, the City of Florence purchased eight lots in the neighborhood in order to clear the lots and build new homes. Through a grant from the State Housing HOME Program, six new homeowners were able to obtain $7500 in down payment assistance towards the purchase of these new homes.
The North Pointe Subdivision is another project that the City is proud of. The North Pointe Subdivision is a 27-lot housing development that was planned and funded by the City. The City of Florence donated the land for the subdivision, in addition to using approximately $275,000 in CDBG funding for the infrastructure. It is located on North Pointe Drive in North Florence. The subdivision has a landscaped entrance, rolled curb and gutter, sidewalks, and decorative street lighting. It currently consists of eight owner-occupied homes.
Qualifying applicants may receive up to $30,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance through the First-time Homebuyers Program. Prospective applicants for the First-time Homebuyers Program can apply with the: