Orlando city seeks federal housing funds for HIV and AIDS programs
The request covers three years of support for four counties and allows residents to review environmental records before money is released.
By Peter Graham ·
The City of Orlando plans to ask the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for money to help people living with HIV or AIDS. The request will be sent on or after November 17, 2026. The funds will come from the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program. This program was created by federal law in November 1990.
The city has set aside 1.6 million dollars for this initiative. The money will cover the fiscal years 2026 through 2028. Agencies that provide facility based housing and supportive services will receive the grants. The program serves residents in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake Counties. It includes both incorporated cities and unincorporated areas within those regions.
The city conducted a Tier 1 environmental review to prepare for this funding. This type of review uses a broad geographic approach to streamline the process. It applies to all agencies that will receive the money. Some agencies have already chosen their project sites. Those agencies completed a separate environmental clearance earlier. Other agencies have not yet identified specific locations. The exact sites are kept confidential for now.
For sites that are not yet finalized, the city will perform specific checks. These checks cover airport hazards, flood insurance, and contamination risks. The city will ensure no facility is within 2,500 feet of a civil airport runway end. It will also check for proximity to military airfields. The city will review Federal Emergency Management Agency maps to see if flood insurance is required. It will also check if properties are in 100 and 500 year floodplains.
Additional checks include looking for toxic substances and lead based paint. If a building was constructed before 1978, staff will perform a visual assessment. Repairs to multifamily facilities will require an asbestos report. The city will also review noise sources from roads, railroads, and airports. Historic preservation rules apply to properties that are at least 50 years old. Wetland protection rules will be checked for each individual site.
The Environmental Review Record is available for public inspection. It is on file at City Hall on the seventh floor at 400 S. Orange Avenue. Residents can review it weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The document is also available on the CPD Public System. The city states that the proposed activity is categorically excluded from certain National Environmental Policy Act requirements.
Residents can submit written comments on the record. The deadline for comments is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 16, 2026. The city will consider all comments received by that time. The department is located at 400 South Orange Avenue in Orlando. The phone number for inquiries is 407-246-3944.
Mayor Buddy Dyer serves as the Certifying Officer for this process. He signs the certification that the city has met its environmental responsibilities. This certification allows the city to use the federal funds once HUD approves it. If an agency objects to the release of funds, it must do so within 15 days of the submission date. Objections must be sent to Alesia Scott-Ford, the Field Office Director for HUD in Jacksonville.
The HUD office is located at 400 W. Bay Street, Suite 1015, in Jacksonville, Florida. Potential objectors should verify the final objection date by contacting the office. The city has posted the notice of intent on its website to inform the public of this upcoming step.
