TALLAHASSEECreated by Gov. Rick Scott and the 2017 Legislature
to help develop recommendations to address the State’s affordable housing needs,
the Affordable Housing Workgroup will convene the first of four
scheduled meetings tomorrow. Per the legislation, the Workgroup will be chaired
by Harold L. “Trey” Price, executive director of Florida Housing Finance Corporation
(Florida Housing); also, Florida Housing will provide administrative support to
the group.
“Quality of life starts with housing – and finding decent, safe affordable housing
is, again, a top issue for our communities,” Price said. “I’m excited to get started
tomorrow and to hear great ideas from stakeholders and citizens on how to make housing
more available to a broad cross-section of Floridians – from those in the workforce
to the elderly and to persons with special needs,” he added.
The Workgroup recommendations must include, but are not limited to, the following
- A review of market rate developments;
- A review of affordable housing developments;
- A review of land use for affordable housing developments;
- A review of building codes for affordable housing developments;
- A review of the State’s implementation of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit;
- A review of private- and public-sector development and construction industries;
- A review of the rental market for assisted rental housing; and
- The development of strategies and pathways for low-income housing.
The Workgroup is required to submit a report of recommendation to Florida Housing’s
Board of Directors, and then to the Governor and Legislature by December 31, 2017.
The group’s first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30, in the Senate Office
Building, Room 110, in Tallahassee. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude
at 6:00 p.m. Appointments to the Workgroup are as follows:
- CHAIR, AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORKGROUP
Trey Price, Executive Director, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
- MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (1 OF 2)
The Honorable Mike Miller, Florida House of Representatives,
District 47
- MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (2 OF 2)
Hollie Croft, Broad and Cassel
- MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (1 OF 2)
The Honorable Andy Gardiner, President of the Senate (2015-2016)
Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Community Relations, Orlando Health
- MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (2 OF 2)
Margot Kohl-Graff, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of
Martin County
- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (or designee) OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES
The Honorable Wayne Messam, Mayor, City of Miramar
- CHAIRMAN OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION
Richard S. Browdy, President, Browdy & Browdy, Inc.
- GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENT – ADVOCATE FOR THE HOMELESS
Shannon Nazworth, Executive Director, Ability Housing of Northeast
Florida, Inc.
- GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENT – ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABLING CONDITION
OR SPECIAL NEEDS
Jack D. Humburg, Executive Vice President, Housing Development
and ADA Services, Boley Centers, Inc.
- GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENT – BUILDING/DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE
Hana Eskra, Florida Market President, Gorman & Company
Complete information on the Affordable Housing Workgroup—including the implementing
legislation; membership; meeting dates, times and locations; and meeting materials—can
be found on Florida Housing’s website
here.