Cap Repeal Bill Clears First Committee
House Bill 655 by Representative Aubuchon, the omnibus affordable housing bill that repeals the cap on Sadowski trust funds, was reported favorably by unanimous vote of the Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee (Wednesday, March 3). After this, the bill has two more committees to clear (Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development and Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council). Senator Bennett is expected to move forward the companion cap repeal bill in the Senate (SB 262).

Local Government Resolution to Save the State and Local Housing Trust Funds
It's time to stop the loss of state and local housing trust funds! The Sadowski Coalition, which includes the Florida Housing Coalition, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties, among its 25 statewide organizational members, is already at work to stop the loss of SHIP and state housing trust fund monies.

We are asking that every SHIP recipient (all 67 counties and SHIP municipalities) adopt a resolution urging the Florida Legislature to repeal the cap on the state and local housing trust funds and fully fund Florida's affordable housing programs in 2010.

Here is the model/sample resolution, which can be modified or enhanced with local information. The model/sample resolution was prepared by Jaimie Ross, facilitator of the Sadowski Coalition.

The "Impact of Sadowski" is a white paper analyzing the economic impact of funding from the Sadowski Act. Once the resolution is executed, please email a copy of the executed resolution to richards@flhousing.org. These resolutions will be used before and during the 2010 legislative session when advocates are meeting with legislators. And they will make a difference! If you have any questions, please email jaimieross@aol.com.

House Bill 665 is also available. Housing advocates can thank Representative Aubuchon for filing HB 665 which repeals the cap on the trust funds and directs the trust fund monies to be used to create housing related jobs, move existing inventory, and preserve/rehabilitate existing affordable housing. The SHIP program may be temporarily prohibited in the next fiscal year from funding any new construction.  House Bill 665, which was filed on January 14 for the upcoming Florida legislative session, addresses this topic in section 13 on page 25, and proposes the temporary prohibition through July 1, 2011.  However, HB 665 does not restrict the use of such funds to assist with the purchase of newly constructed homes that were completed prior to December 31, 2009, or the acquisition and rehabilitation of apartments that received their initial certificate of occupancy prior to December 31, 1995.

Over the last few months, there have been several editorials and articles throughout the state addressing affordable housing trust fund dollars. See the following articles:

Affordable Housing: Repealing Trust
Florida Times-Union, March 4, 2010
There are some Florida leaders who don't believe in trust funds. All revenues ought to be available in the general fund, they say. But they don't repeal the funds, they repeal the trust. That has been the sad experience with the funds dedicated to building housing for working class people in Florida, known as the Sadowski Fund.

Editorial: State Budget ... Shortsightedness Today will be Costly Tomorrow
Naples Daily News, March 1, 2010
These are challenging times, especially when it comes to budgeting. Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature will be tested to meet the health-care, education, transportation and other needs of our state. A budget plan put forward by Crist proposed to do so and even increase spending, yet the price seems too dear. Crist proposes to tap — some would call it raid — funds already collected and set aside for other purposes ranging from drug rehabilitation to invasive plant control. Specifically, we call attention to a trust for affordable housing.

Work Smart, Go After the Money Owed
Miami Herald, February 28, 2010
As Florida legislators prepare for another tough budget year they must focus on the state's core functions to do the least harm possible to Florida's most vulnerable: children, the elderly and families struggling to survive this recession.

Manatee Officials See Increased Need for Assistance, Less Money
ABC 7, Manatee, February, 26 2010
The unemployment rate is Manatee County is around 12.7%. That means more than 18,500 people are looking for jobs. With so many struggling to find work, the foreclosure rate is continuing to rise.

Don't Divert Funds from Affordable-Housing Projects
Miami Herald, February 22, 2010
The Sadowski Coalition, a diverse collaboration of 25 statewide organizations, was disappointed to see Gov. Charlie Crist's proposed budget diverting more than half the money in trust for affordable housing.

Crist's Housing Sweep
Tampa Tribune, February 22, 2010
The Sadowski Coalition, a diverse collaboration of 25 statewide organizations, was disappointed to see that Gov. Charlie Crist's proposed budget diverts from affordable housing more than half the money in the trust fund for this initiative. The governor's plan calls for taking $101 million from the fund.

Letter to the Editor: Preserve Funding
Florida Times-Union, February 18, 2010
The Sadowski Coalition, a diverse collaboration of 25 statewide organizations, was disappointed to see the governor's proposed budget diverting more than half the money in trust for affordable housing.

Crist Budget Relies on Gambling, Trust Fund Bucks
Naples Daily News, January 31, 2010
Affordable housing efforts and tobacco-funded health programs would take the biggest hit under a $69.2 billion spending request unveiled by Gov. Charlie Crist last week that has some legislative leaders scratching their heads.

Tough Times May Benefit Affordable Housing Efforts
Naples Daily News, January 24, 2010
The late Rep. Mike Davis spent the latter part of his legislative career championing efforts to put more Floridians in homes they could afford.

Using Housing Tax Funds for Housing
Tampa Tribune, January 15, 2010
It would be hard to think of a better taxing mechanism than the 1992 Sadowski Act to provide a painless, reliable stream of revenue to help make housing more affordable for low-income families, retirees and the disabled.

Affordable Housing Push Gains Critical Supporter
News Service of Florida, January 10, 2010
Advocates thwarted in recent years in targeting money for affordable housing may have more luck this session as a key Senate lawmaker says he’ll support the effort if it reduces the glut of existing housing stock and puts builders back to work.

Our Opinion: Investing in Housing Trust Fund Will Boost Economy
Tallahassee Democrat, December 6, 2009
It's almost irrefutable that the most meaningful thing Florida policymakers can do to help fire up the economy is get the housing market moving again. Residential housing is overbuilt in many areas, and folks are on the brink of foreclosure in others or already out of their homes.

Editorial: Keep Hands Off Housing
Orlando Sentinel, December 3, 2009
Florida's sky-high unemployment rate means creating jobs must be a top priority for state leaders.