affordable housing

The Florida Legislature has passed a measure meant to permanently reallocate funds from the state's affordable housing programs to help pay for the governor's environmental initiatives. But a compromise will cap future sweeps of the affordable housing fund.

The Florida Senate on Wednesday backed starting to pay for critical repairs of a reservoir at a troubled former phosphate plant in Manatee County and bumped up proposed spending on affordable housing. The Senate made the decisions as it approved an initial $95 billion budget plan for the fiscal year that will start July 1. But the plan is considered only a starting point for negotiations with the House, which has offered a $97 billion proposal.

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to take money from an affordable housing trust fund to put toward environmental initiatives. But housing advocates and environmentalists say that takes away money from housing programs desperately needed in Florida.

The state has a dedicated trust fund meant to fund affordable housing projects but lawmakers have repeatedly diverted money from the program. This year looks like it will be no different.

The money currently is directed toward affordable-housing programs in what is known as the Sadowski Trust Fund. That trust fund is an annual target of lawmakers who divert --- or “sweep” --- money to help pay for programs not related to affordable housing.

As developers started to acquire chunks of land in the neighborhood, it seemed that a familiar pattern was about to play out. A Miami commission vote on Thursday is set to determine the future of the neighborhood.

Fewer people received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose this week compared to a week earlier. And after complaints, Publix supply will be shared in Palm Beach County.

There's no place like home, and this year many people were threatened with no place to call home.

A 37-city survey conducted by RentCafe showed rents for November declined a half percent in Fort Lauderdale to an average of $1,968, with Miami easing by 0.7% to $1,696.

Thousands of Americans are still out of work and a federal eviction moratorium expires at the end of the year. Florida Apartment Association says some landlords are trying to keep people in their homes.

The Electoral College voted Monday to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Miami Beach has an affordable housing problem and sea rise could make it worse. And a look back at the American classic 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.'

The Electoral College voted Monday to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Miami Beach has an affordable housing problem and sea rise could make it worse. And a look back at the American classic 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.'