Special District

Escambia County Housing Finance Authority

Special District Information

• The full legal name of the special district:
  Escambia County Housing Finance Authority
• The public purpose of the special district:
  To help alleviate the shortage of housing available at prices or rentals which many persons and families can afford, and provide capital for investment in such housing.
• The name, official email address, along with term and appointing authority of each member of the Board.

• The fiscal year of the special district:
• October 1 through September 30

Charter Information

• The full text of the special district’s charter (or special law, ordinance, or resolution creating the district)
  The Authority is a public body enabled and operating under the laws of the State of Florida. The Authority was created in accordance with the Florida Housing Finance Authority Law, Part IV of Chapter 159, Florida Statutes, as amended, and by Ordinance No. 80-12, as amended, enacted by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners on May 29, 1980. Escambia Commissioners are responsible for appointing ECHFA’s governing body that consists of a five-member Board. 

  ARTICLE III. - HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY | Code of Ordinances | Escambia County, FL | Municode Library 

• The date of establishment: May 29, 1980
• The establishing entity: Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
• The statute(s) under which the special district operates, if different from the statute or statutes under which the special district was established.
  § Florida Statutes 159.604

Contact Information

• Contact Name: Lisa Bernau
• Mailing address:
  700 South Palafox Street, Suite 310, Pensacola, FL 32502
• Telephone number: (850) 432-7077
• Website URL: https://www.escambiahfa.com/
• Submit questions/comments via our Contact Us form.

Boundary and Services Information

• A description of the boundaries or service area of the special district:
  Escambia County, Florida.  The Authority’s First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Loan Program and multifamily rental housing development programs are also available in additional counties as authorized by the governing bodies thereof.  
• Description of the services provided by the special district:
  The Authority offers homeownership programs to first-time homebuyers and former homeowners.  The Authority also assists developers of multi-family housing communities through the issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds.  In Escambia County, the Authority is actively involved in developing affordable single family homes through its Urban Infill Program.
• List all taxes, fees, assessments, or charges imposed and collected by the special district, including the rates or amounts for the fiscal year and the statutory authority for the levy of the tax, fee, assessment, or charge. (For purposes of this subparagraph, charges do not include patient charges by a hospital or other health care provider.)
  Not Applicable

Primary Contact Information for the Special District for the Purposes of Communication from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

• DEO Contact Name: Lisa Bernau
• DEO Contact Address:
  700 South Palafox Street, Suite 310, Pensacola, FL 32502
• DEO Contact Email: lisa.bernau@escambiahfa.com 
• DEO Contact Phone: (850) 432-7077

Code of Ethics

           A code of ethics adopted by the special district, if applicable, and a hyperlink to generally applicable ethics provisions.
           The Authority has adopted the following ethics policies:

Resolution No. 2018-09
Resolution No. 2017-13

           The Authority is also subject to the following generally applicable ethics provisions:
           State of Florida Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees

• The budget for the special district, in addition to amendments in accordance with s. 189.016.
  Budget
• The final, complete audit report for the most recent completed fiscal year, and audit reports required by law or authorized by the governing body of the special district
  Audit Report

Regularly Scheduled Public Meetings

• Second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 PM
• Agendas for each meeting or workshop are set forth at BoardDocs at least 7 days before each meeting or workshop of the Board.

Link to Department of Financial Services website as set forth in s. 218.32(1)(g), Florida Statutes

• https://logerx.myfloridacfo.gov/LogerX/SubmittedReports, select "Special District - Escambia County Housing Finance Authority"

Strategic Goals for the Authority

Effective July 1, 2024, the Florida Legislature adopted House Bill 7013, including an amendment to Chapter 189 that required all special districts to adopt goals and objectives for each program and activity undertaken by the district, as well as performance measures and standards to determine if those goals and objectives are being achieved.  Those goals and objectives are required to be established by October 1 of each year.  By December 1 of each year thereafter, each special district must publish an annual report on their website describing compliance with the goals and objectives, including performance measures and standards.

Pursuant to Section 189.0694, Florida Statutes, requires that the Authority must adopt goals and objectives, as well as performance measures and standards by October 1 of each fiscal year. 

• Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Strategic Goals and Objectives for adoption on September 10, 2024 by Resolution No. 2024-07