Groups ask for money for housing programs

A coalition of industry and nonprofit groups Thursday made what has become an annual case for state lawmakers to reject Gov. Rick Scott’s efforts to divert money from housing programs to balance the state budget.

The Sadowski Housing Coalition, with members including the Florida Coalition for the Homeless, Habitat for Humanity, Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Home Builders Association, held a news conference and called for lawmakers to allocate state and local housing trust-fund money to affordable housing programs.

“Fully funding affordable housing goes a long way toward enhancing our state’s workforce and business climate,” said Brewster Bevis, senior vice president of the Associated Industries of Florida.

“If we can ensure that Florida’s employees, at all income levels, can find a safe and reliable affordable home near their job, our state can continue to be one of the best places to do business.”

The 2017 legislative session begins Tuesday. The groups want lawmakers to appropriate about $293.4 million for housing programs.

In his $83.5 billion budget proposal, Scott recommended shifting about two-thirds of the money out of a trust fund earmarked for lowincome housing.

The trust fund receives a portion of money produced by real estate documentary stamp taxes.

“These funds help Floridians of modest means to find rental and homeownership opportunities,” said Carrie O’Rourke, vice president of public policy for the Florida Realtors. “Those could be in the form of affordable housing, affordable apartments, down payment assistance to purchase a home or even money to repair a home.”