Affordable Housing

Florida lawmakers back nixing local housing regulations

With lawmakers on both sides of the debate pointing to a housing crisis, the Florida House on Wednesday passed a controversial bill that would lead to state law trumping local regulations governing landlords and tenants.The Republican-controlled House voted 81-33 along almost-straight party lines to approve the bill (HB 1417). Rep. Paula Stark, R-St. Cloud, joined Democrats in voting against the bill, while Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, voted for it.

Grants totaling $8 million have been awarded in support of The Greater Dunbar Initiative, a major revitalization project within the Fort Myers community. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a $5 million supplemental grant that will support the initiative in overcoming rising construction costs and improving housing options within the Southward Village public housing community in Fort Myers. A supplemental $3 million in funding will support the first phase of the initiative, a 92-unit housing development on Cleveland Avenue to house residents while the Housing Authority completes the large-scale revitalization of the Southward Village community.

Government & Politics

Fort Myers, Housing Authority gets $8M for Dunbar initiative

WGCU Staff

Funding to champion revitalization project within the greater Dunbar community

Government & Politics

Top 10 big issues at 2023 Legislative Session's halftime

Jim Saunders/News Service of Florida

Florida lawmakers Wednesday reached the halfway point in this year’s 60-day legislative session. The House and Senate have passed high-profile bills involving issues such as affordable housing and school vouchers, but major issues remain to be resolved.

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s $711 million affordable housing legislation will be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis today. Passidomo, R-Naples, DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner gathered at South Street- Founders Square to announce the signing.

Live Local Act, now law, is supposed to bring housing relief to elderly and low-income Floridians

Hayley Lemery

Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 102, also called the Live Local Act. It allocates $711 million for housing projects through the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation (FHFC). DeSantis says this is the state's largest investment ever in housing.

Government & Politics

DeSantis signs Passidomo's $711M affordable housing bill

Michael Braun and Eileen Kelley

The affordable housing bill's signing comes a day after Collier’s Board of County Commissioner’s voted in favor of long-awaited amendments to the county’s growth management plan to allow affordable housing in certain commercial-zoning districts.

Government & Politics

New head of Collier's Affordable Housing Advisory group says time for awareness is past in county; commitment, resolve needed

Michael Braun

Stephen Hruby, who has more than 40 years experience in architectural design, community revitalization and development consulting, says that what has transpired over the past two years is giving him hope that the affordable housing problem can be addressed in Collier County.

Over 400 people were in attendance for the Workforce Housing Forum presented by Greater Naples Leadership. Kitty Keane, President of GNL, ran the presentation. Business owners, large companies and even workers affected by the affordable housing shortage in Collier spoke.

Government & Politics

Steve Hruby replaces Joe Trachtenberg on Collier Co.'s affordable housing committee

Michael Braun

Steve Hruby has been elected as the new chairman of the Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, replacing Joe Trachtenberg who was removed from the post Feb. 28.

House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, chat at the rostrum after a joint session for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State speech Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.

Government & Politics

A plan to build more affordable housing in Florida could pass soon

Valerie Crowder

The Florida Senate unanimously passed a plan to build more affordable housing on the second day of the 60-day regular lawmaking session.

Bernabela talks about what life was like inside the trailer where she lived with her family, 12 people total. The housing situation for the farmworkers and full time residents in Immokalee, FL, has gone from bad to worse since Hurricane Irma put a beating on the small town. There is not a single vacancy at this time anywhere. Laura Safer Espinoza and her husband Arol Buntzman, they along with a dozen or so people are the backbone of the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance. They are now working on the festering problem: The lack of safe, affordable housing. To date, the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance has raised about $5 million enough for initial costs, infrastructure and the completion the first building. The group is $1 million shy of being able to build the second building. It cost about $2.8 per building. Among the first 16 families that will live in this new community is Bernabela’s. She and her children Eddie is 17, Ashley 11, and Kimberly, 8, lived at one time in one of the bedrooms, of a 3 bedroom trailer, with 8 people.

Human Interest

Hurricane Irma exposed many in Immokalee to deplorable living conditions; finally, there's something being done about it

Eileen Kelley

The Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance is offering hope to Immokalee's poor with its campaign to build housing for 128 families.

Joe Tachtenberg, Chair, Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, closed the forum. Over 400 people were in attendance for the Workforce Housing Forum presented by Greater Naples Leadership. Kitty Keane, President of GNL, ran the presentation. Business owners, large companies and even workers affected by the affordable housing shortage in Collier spoke.

Government & Politics

Chair of Collier housing advisory group removed after publicly citing inaction by county commissioners

Michael Braun

In January, the Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee unanimously re-elected Joseph Trachtenberg as its chairman. This week, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners unanimously removed him. Trachtenberg said his removal was because he spoke up publicly about inaction by the commissioners. A commissioner seemed to agree that his public comments were the issue.