The Community Development Services Department is committed to making Ocala “A Great Place to Live, Play, and Prosper!”

Comprised of the Community Programs Division and the Office of Homeless Prevention, the Department manages a broad range of social service initiatives with local, state and federal funding.

The Community Programs Division:

Assists homeowners in an effort to ensure Ocala maintains safe and affordable housing for low-to-moderate income persons

Focuses on administering federal and state grants to include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP)

Partners with other City Departments to pool resources in providing financial assistance to the citizens of the City of Ocala

Qualifies for income limits per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

For more information, please contact us at 352-629-8231 or CityGrants@Ocalafl.org

The Office of Homeless Prevention:

Acts as the lead agency in the Coordinated Entry Process of the Marion County Continuum of Care network

Evaluates the needs of the homeless and persons at risk of becoming homeless, to ensure levels of prioritization

Manages the database used to collect confidential client-level data to determine needed services

For more information, please contact us at 352-629-8280.