The federal government's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) is working in Citrus County.

The program provides emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities.

In Citrus County, 25 of 27 foreclosed properties have so far been rehabilitated so homes could be either sold or rented to low- and middle-income families.

Successes in the program were delineated at Tuesday's county commission meeting. Heidi Blanchette, Operations Manager of Housing Services, and Esrone McDaniels, NSP Project Consultant of Meridian Community Services Group, Incorporated presented to commissioners a status report on the program.

The entire federal pie for the program amounted to $3.92 billion, and the state of Florida's slice was $541 million, and the state's Department of Community Affairs was given $91 million to give to what is called "non-entitlement" cities. It was through the DCA that Citrus County was able to initially draw $2.17 million.

The county chose the Inverness Highlands, Beverly Hills and Citrus Springs as targets for the NSP monies. The county was allowed to choose to either rehab, resell or rent the selected properties. The county was recognized for obligating the funding quickly.

"Since Citrus County did such a yeoman's job at obligating its funding, the DCA allocated an additional $823,205, and they are to be commended," McDaniels told commissioners on Tuesday. "With the malleableness of (county) staff and their committment, we were able to even commit that additional (funding) as well." To date, he said, the county has been allocated a total of $2,994,625.

Of the 27 foreclosed properties in those targeted areas, 12 properties will be resold, and 15 properties will be rented to families earning less than 50 percent of the area median income. McDaniels said that 20 of the 27 properties have been rehabilitated. Five of the 12 properties for sale have been sold to eligible buyers, and eight rental properties have been rented to low-income families.

A new phase of the program was announced on Sept. 8, and Citrus County has been allocated another $1,005,085, McDaniels said, because of the county's efforts in implementing the program and its results here.

"Citrus County has done very, very well," said Cathy Pearson, Citrus County Community Services Director. "It's a great program (and) surplus dollars are being put to work and I hope we continue to get millions more."

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