January 2016 Archives

EDITORIALS

Editorial: State officials must show more leadership in addressing water concerns, sea level rise 

January 11, 2016 | The Florida Times Union

2016 legislative session: When the Florida Legislature convenes Tuesday, it begins a session that carries particular significance for Collier County. The face of Collier’s legislative delegation will change dramatically, possibly completely, as a result of the 2016 elections and redistricting.
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Editorial: What to look, hope for in 2016 legislative session starting Tuesday 

January 9, 2016 | Naples Daily News

As state legislators converge on Tallahassee, the human tendency is to deal with immediate pressures and to overlook the bigger challenges just out of sight. Let’s start with this statistic: Florida is set to add almost six million new residents in almost 20 years, reports the University of Florida.
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OP-EDS & LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ted Granger: Legislature must provide housing money for struggling Floridians 

January 27, 2016 | Context Florida

The United Way of Florida released a report on ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – last year, which revealed the 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 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.
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NEWS ARTICLES

Housing Advocates Worry About Market, Push for Full Funding of State and Local Programs 

January 8, 2016 | Saint Peters Blog

DON’T SWEEP AWAY PUBLIC HOUSING MONEY, LAWMAKERS URGED via Jeff Schweers of the Tampa Tribune – [The Sadowski Housing Coalition] called on Legislature to spend all $324 million of housing trust fund money on housing programs this year rather than sweep a huge portion of that money into the state’s budget. Spending the money would create 32,600 jobs and provide $4.6 billion in economic stimulus to the economy, members said. Last year, the Legislature swept $81 million — almost a third of the available housing trust money — into the regular budget while the housing programs got $175 million. This year, $226.5 million is available for SHIP and $97.4 million for SAIL.
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Housing Advocates Worry About Market, Push for Full Funding of State and Local Programs 

January 7, 2016 | WFSU

Home sales are rising across Florida and so is the cost of rent. Many Floridians are stuck somewhere in the middle. Now a coalition of housing advocates are calling on the state legislature to steer more money into housing programs. For years the state’s housing trust fund has been used elsewhere.In Tallahassee, Florida’s capital city, signs of growth are everywhere. New high rise condos catering to college students have popped up, boasting rents in the four-figures. It’s hard to find a one bedroom in a decent neighborhood for less than $800. A number of Tallahassee residents are slowly being priced out.
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Don’t sweep away public housing money, lawmakers urged 

January 7, 2016 | TCPalm.com

TALLAHASSEE — A group of 30 social service advocates, homebuilders, business leaders and faith-based organizations want the Legislature to spend all $324 million of housing trust fund money on housing programs this year rather than sweep a huge portion of that money into the state’s budget. Spending the money would create 32,600 jobs and provide $4.6 billion in economic stimulus to the economy, Sadowski Housing Coalition members said at a news conference Thursday.
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Don’t sweep away public housing money, lawmakers urged 

January 7, 2016 | Tribune/Naples Daily News Capital Bureau

TALLAHASSEE — A group of 30 social service advocates, home builders, business leaders and faith-based organizations want the Legislature to spend all $324 million of housing trust fund money on housing programs this year rather than sweep a huge portion of that money into the state’s budget. Spending the money would create 32,600 jobs and provide $4.6 billion in economic stimulus to the economy, Sadowski Housing Coalition members said at a news conference Thursday.
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Housing advocates ask lawmakers not to sweep trust funds 

January 7, 2016 | Politico

During the past week, we’ve outlined six issues so far that we believe will help guide Southwest Florida toward a prosperous 2016. More than 951,000 very low-income households in Florida — those below 50 percent of the median income — pay more than half their income on housing,” said Jaimie Ross, facilitator of the Sadowski Coalition, which is comprised of 30 groups business and advocacy groups.
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PRESS RELEASES

Press Release: Sadowski Coalition Applauds Florida Senate for Using All Housing Trust Fund Monies for Florida’s Housing Programs 

January 29, 2016 | For Immediate Release

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Sadowski Housing Coalition today applauded the Florida Senate for using all housing trust fund monies for Florida’s housing programs, the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program and State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) program, in their Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget proposal. Specifically, the budget proposal, which was laid out by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development yesterday, recommends that $185.8 million be allocated to SHIP, which includes $7.2 million to provide services to homeless persons, and $131.2 million be allocated to state housing programs including SAIL.
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Press Release: Florida Housing Coalition Applauds Congressman Diaz-Balart for Being a Strong Supporter of Affordable Housing 

For Immediate Release: January 8, 2016

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Housing Coalition today applauded Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-25), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, for being a strong supporter of affordable housing in Florida. In detail, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill on Friday, December 18, 2015, which came as a great relief to the broad and diverse interests that comprise affordable housing advocates in Florida, as it contained much-needed funding for affordable housing initiatives and programs in the State of Florida and within the South Florida region.
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