February 2015 Archives

Sadowski Press Conference: Sadowski Coalition & Statewide Affordable Housing Advocates Urge Legislature to Use Housing Funds for Housing

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Sadowski Coalition, comprised of 30 diverse statewide organizations, including industry and business groups; advocates for the elderly, veterans, homeless and special needs; and faith-based organizations, gathered at a press conference today to urge the Florida Legislature to use all housing trust fund monies for housing in Fiscal Year 2015-16. The Sadowski Coalition urged the Legislature to use housing trust funds solely for Florida’s housing programs, highlighting the extreme need for affordable housing and the excellent programs we have to address that need.
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Horrors highlight need to protect housing funds: Editorial

Orlando Sentinel | February 25, 2015

Central Florida doesn’t have nearly enough decent, affordable housing. That’s an inescapable conclusion from a heartbreaking series of recent Sentinel stories about residents stuck living in two deteriorating condominium complexes in Orange County: Blossom Park and Tymber Skan. Stories such as these underscore the need for lawmakers to reject a proposal to shrink state funding for affordable housing.
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Senate bill could cut affordable housing funds

The Pensacola News Journal  | February 9, 2015

It was during her graduate program in clinical counseling at Troy University that Sweneda Berrian first gave serious thought to buying her own home.In December of last year, that dream became a reality thanks in part to the First Time Homebuyers Program through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) that provided $5,000 toward her down payment.
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Groups vie for scraps of real estate tax

February 19, 2015  |  The Tampa Tribune

TALLAHASSEE — When 75 percent of voters approved a land conservation amendment in November, it was hailed as a win by environmentalists excited by the prospect of hundreds of millions more dollars for Florida’s environment.
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In Our Opinion – Editorial: Not Either-or

Ocala Star Banner  |  February 17, 2015

The Florida Senate has revealed its plan to implement Amendment 1, the state constitutional mandate requiring one-third of real estate documentary tax revenues be spent on conservation measures. There is plenty of massaging and deal-cutting left, but even so we hope this trial balloon gets deep-sixed quickly. If not, advocates of affordable housing, both in Tallahassee and locally, and those who benefit from their efforts, are right to worry.