January 2015 Archives

Florida Housing Trust Funds CALL TO ACTION: FIX SB 586

This is the easiest, fastest, and most effective Call to Action.

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If you already responded to this Call to Action earlier (before last Friday when SB 586 was filed), it is very important to do it again, so that you specifically speak to SB 586.
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Press Release: Housing Advocates Stand in Opposition to Senate Bill 586

SB 586 Would Significantly & Permanently Harm Affordable Housing
Tallahassee, Fla. – Housing advocates are opposed to Senate Bill 586, a part of a series of bills aimed at addressing the implementation of Amendment 1 filed by Senator Charles S. Dean (R-Inverness). Housing advocates support the implementation of Amendment 1, but find that SB 586, which specifically addresses the distribution of documentary stamp tax revenues, unnecessarily hurts affordable housing.  SB 586 could easily be fixed in a manner that does not harm affordable housing, while providing the required 33 percent to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF).
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The rest of the housing story

January 27, 2015 | Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Rising property values increase the need for affordable homes
Home-sales volumes are at or near all-time highs, residential prices are rising and multimillion-dollar houses are sprouting up in areas far from the glamorous coastline.
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Scott can create jobs giving housing its due: Editorial

January 25, 2015 | Orlando Sentinel

In is second inaugural address this month, Gov. Rick Scott left no doubt about his No. 1 priority for his second term. “Jobs will continue to be my mission for the next four years,” he declared.
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A raid on environmental funds

January 23, 2015 | Ocala Daily Commercial
This article was reprinted in Leesburg paper.

Last November, Florida voters delivered a message on environmental protection so clear that not even the solons in Tallahassee could doubt its meaning. Three of every four voters supported Amendment 1, which mandated funding to help preserve and protect springs, rivers and the aquifer, the Everglades and beaches, open recreation lands — even geological sites.
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Implementing Amendment 1: Don’t Raid Housing Trust Fund

January 21, 2015 | The Lakeland Ledger

Last November, Florida voters delivered a message on environmental protection so loud and so clear that not even the solons in Tallahassee could doubt it’s meaning. Three of every four voters supported Amendment 1, which mandated funding to help preserve and protect surface waters and the aquifer, the Everglades and beaches, wetlands, open recreation lands and ranches — even geological sites.
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Editorial: Affordable housing

January 16, 2015 | The Gainesville Sun

With newly passed Amendment 1 getting all the attention, it’s easy to forget that affordable housing is funded from the same pot of money that now has a portion dedicated to land conservation.
The Sadowski Act of 1992 increased the documentary stamp tax on real estate transactions to fund affordable housing. The increase was backed by real estate and construction interests, who saw that the spending would create jobs in their industries. But in recent years, the Legislature has raided the Sadowski housing trust funds for other purposes.
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Affordable-housing gap widens

January 9, 2015  |  Herald – Tribune

In 2010, the Sarasota Housing Authority accepted applications for vouchers that help pay the rent for people with very low incomes.
During a two-week span, 3,500 individuals or families applied for the aid.
The authority did not accept applications for the next four years, because the need for affordable housing exceeded the supply and federal funding for vouchers was stagnant.
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A state that works

January 6, 2015 | Miami Herald

Gov. Rick Scott laid out a clear-eyed vision for Florida in his second inaugural speech, delivered after he took the oath of office on Tuesday. He sees a state that “does the right thing” for families, all of them. He sees a Florida that is the global leader for job growth by 2020. And he understands that reaching both goals relies on the strong foundation of an educated workforce, well-built infrastructure and a valued environment.
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Editorial: Affordable housing

January 5, 2015 | Ocala Star Tribune

The combination of low wages and high housing costs creates a financial struggle for many Floridians. To the state’s credit, though, it had the foresight, 22 years ago, to create an effective tool for boosting the supply of affordable housing.
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Tallahassee, embrace full funding for Florida’s affordable housing act

January 2, 2015 | By Bradenton Herald Editorial

Too many middle-class and lower-income families are struggling to make ends meet, and housing costs are a major reason. More than 900,000 very low income families and seniors and disabled Floridians on fixed incomes spend over half their budget on maintaining a roof over their heads, teetering on the edge of homelessness. Many Manatee County residents cannot afford decent and safe structures.
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