December 26, 2015 | Orlando Sentinel
Op Ed by Ted Granger
The United Way of Florida released a report on ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — last year, which unveiled the true scope of financial hardship in Florida. The report found that while 15 percent of Florida households fall beneath the poverty line, an additional 30 percent of Florida households experience severe financial strain despite being active in the labor force. That means that 45 percent — 3.2 million Florida households — are struggling to support themselves and their families.
These ALICE households are just one emergency away from falling into poverty. They are hard-working households that pay taxes, hold jobs and provide services that are essential to the local community and Florida’s economy. But, due to child-care costs, transportation challenges and the high cost of living, among others, they are essentially living paycheck to paycheck, meaning one health-care emergency or car repair could send them over the edge and plunge them into a financial crisis.
Unfortunately, the cost of housing is too high for many ALICE households and even worse, housing and rental costs have only continued to rise as of late. Affordable rental units are in short supply, as there are more than twice as many ALICE and poverty renters than there are affordable rental units. And, while there may be housing units where ALICE households can afford the mortgage, these households often lack sufficient resources for a down payment or do not qualify for a mortgage.
That is exactly why Florida’s affordable-housing programs are so important, as they provide vital housing support to Floridians who are struggling with a limited household budget. Florida’s affordable-housing programs, SHIP and SAIL, provide a fiscally responsible and effective way to directly fulfill the state’s affordable-housing needs, helping Florida’s families and children, elderly, veterans, people with special needs and those experiencing homelessness.
The United Way of Florida understands the significance that housing plays in everyone’s life, as it is more than simply a roof over one’s head. As such, we are proud to be a part of the Sadowski Housing Coalition, which is a nonpartisan collection of 30 diverse statewide organizations that initially came together in 1991 to secure a dedicated revenue source for Florida’s affordable-housing programs, and firmly stand hand-in-hand with the other members of the coalition as we advocate for all of the housing trust fund monies to be used for their intended purpose.
Increasing the amount of housing that ALICE households can afford without being housing burdened would provide stability for many Floridians and their families. We hope that during the 2016 legislative session the Legislature fully funds these programs that provide vital housing support to Floridians who are struggling with a limited household budget.
Ted Granger is the president of United Way of Florida, which is a member of the Sadowski Coalition.
Article last accessed here on December 31, 2015.
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