Winter Haven Housing Authority

Winter Haven Housing Authority, a U.S. local government entity headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida, receives federal formula and project grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Public and Indian Housing Office to operate and develop public housing units serving low-income residents in central Florida. The Authority does not hold federal contracts; it operates as a prime recipient across 82 federal grants (98% of its recent award footprint) with negligible sub-recipient work (2 sub-grants since 2006).

The Authority's grant portfolio concentrates overwhelmingly in HUD Public and Indian Housing programs. Of 84 total federal awards spanning 2006 through April 2026, 81 are HUD-funded. The portfolio splits across four recurring grant programs: the Public Housing Capital Fund (CFDA 14.872), funding modernization, infrastructure improvements, and emergency repairs to public housing stock; the Public Housing Operating Fund (CFDA 14.850), funding day-to-day operational, maintenance, and administrative expenses for public housing units in Winter Haven and Wahneta, Florida; the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (CFDA 14.896), funding salary and fringe benefits for FSS Program Coordinators who deliver employment and economic mobility services to families in public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs; and a YouthBuild program (CFDA 17.259) funded by the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. The YouthBuild award, a $1 million project grant effective June 1, 2023, supports educational and occupational training for disconnected youth aged 16 to 24, targeting 43 enrolled participants with construction training, GED attainment, and industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields such as certified nursing assistant. The Authority also received sub-grant funding from Florida's Division of Emergency Management for disaster recovery work at Lucerne Park and Lake Deer Apartments (March 2025) and Community Development Block Grant funds for a Short-Term Medical Training & Mental Health Wellness Program serving low-income residents (amendments through December 2022, total $180,500).

Recent grant activity is consistent but modest: five awards issued across 2025 and 2026, with five awards reaching ultimate completion inside the next twenty-four months, representing routine recompete exposure on formula grant renewals. Combined dollars obligated across all awards total $25.5 million, primarily flowing to capital fund and operating fund activities. The Authority operates at scale typical for a mid-sized regional public housing authority, maintaining compliance with 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements and HUD-mandated independent audit and budget-tracking protocols.