Florida is facing an escalating housing crisis that threatens to undermine the quality of life enjoyed by so many hardworking families. In Osceola County, the amount of new housing being built isn’t keeping up with the community’s growing population.
The lack of affordable housing is a national problem, but a proposal here in Florida could help area residents. The proposed “Keep Housing Funds for Housing” constitutional amendment would guarantee that existing money collected for housing purposes would only be used for those purposes, such as helping low and moderate-income Florida residents purchase their first home, building new affordable rental units and refurbishing the existing homes of seniors.
Florida’s housing funds were intended to be used to create attainable affordable housing, which is desperately needed by schoolteachers, health care workers, law enforcement and so many other hardworking Floridians who can’t afford to live in the places where they work. However, lawmakers often use these funds for other purposes. If this proposed constitutional amendment is passed, not only would it help more Floridians achieve the dream of homeownership, it would also provide more affordable rental options for everyday Floridians seeking a stable home in their community.
Over the last decade, politicians have taken $2.6 billion out of state housing dollars and spent them on other priorities. The proposed amendment would stop this practice by adding language to Florida’s Constitution requiring that state housing funds must be used to address Florida’s housing needs. The amendment only refers to money that is already collected for housing purposes. It does not increase taxes or fees for anyone.
This proposed amendment is being promoted by the Osceola Realtors® and their counterparts across the state, who have long been on the front lines of these issues and have now come together to advocate for attainable affordable housing. Before Florida voters can add this amendment to the Constitution, however, it needs enough signatures to get on the ballot.
To learn more and sign a petition, visit to HousingFunds4Housing. org. If you value stronger communities throughout Florida and a healthier state economy, please join your fellow Floridians and sign the “Keep Housing for Housing” petition.
Donnie Martinez serves as President of the Osceola County Association of Realtors®.
