NEWS
Florida Housing Coalition talks Live Local Act at the 2023 Homes for Pinellas Summit
On April 28, 2023, Ashon Nesbitt, the Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Housing Coalition, spoke at the 2023 Homes for Pinellas Summit, joining over 120 housing advocates to discuss the challenges faced by Pinellas County residents in finding safe and affordable housing. As part of the summit, the Pinellas County Housing Authority launched its Housing Action Plan, which aims to improve access to affordable housing options for low-income individuals and families in the county.
During the summit, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the Housing Action Plan and provide feedback on the proposed initiatives. The Pinellas County Housing Authority also discussed the importance of community partnerships in addressing the housing crisis and emphasized the need for continued collaboration and support from local organizations and government agencies.
The plan, which outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing the housing crisis in Pinellas County, seeks to address rising housing costs and a shortage of affordable housing options. It includes a range of initiatives, including the development of new affordable housing units, the preservation of existing affordable housing, and the expansion of rental assistance programs.
The Live Local Act Signed Into Law
This morning, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Live Local Act into law today. The Live Local Act provides a record amount of funding for affordable housing initiatives in the state’s history. The Senate staff analysis provides a thorough summary of the wide-reaching and impactful affordable housing policies contained in the bill.
The Florida Housing Coalition proudly supports the Live Local Act. The Act fully funds SHIP and SAIL plus an additional $150 million/year for 10 years for the SAIL program – demonstrating a meaningful financial commitment to the production of affordable rental housing. The Act’s combination of record levels of affordable housing funding, property tax incentives, and land use planning tools will spark the development of new and affordable homes which Florida so desperately needs. The Coalition applauds the Senate President, House Speaker, Senator Alexis Calatayud, and Representative Demi Busatta Cabrera for championing this meaningful piece of housing legislation.
For more information on the Live Local Act and what it means for affordable housing in Florida, contact the Coalition’s Legal and Policy Director at glazer@flhousing.org.
Ashon Nesbitt named new CEO of Florida Housing Coalition
Board Chooses Experienced Affordable Housing Expert to lead Statewide Organization
The Florida Housing Coalition, the state’s leading nonprofit provider of training and technical assistance dedicated to affordable housing, announced that Ashon Nesbitt has been named CEO effective January 1. Nesbitt succeeds Jaimie Ross, the Coalition’s long-time President and CEO, who announced her retirement last June.
After Ross announced her retirement, the Board engaged a CEO search consultant to conduct a national search for qualified candidates. Out of a pool of 300 applicants from across the country, six top candidates were interviewed, and the Board of the Coalition unanimously chose Mr. Nesbitt.
“Speaking on behalf of our entire board, I could not be more pleased that Ashon will be the new head of the Coalition,” said Suzanne Cabrera, Chair of the Coalition Board. “His extensive experience in housing financing and development, his vision and professionalism and his championship of all our major initiatives make him the best choice. Ashon is known for building partnerships across public and private, for-profit and nonprofit sectors – he has the right combination of leadership skills, policy expertise, and commitment to affordable housing to lead the Coalition.”
As CEO, Mr. Nesbitt will lead all of the Coalition’s housing affordability production and preservation initiatives. “There is no doubt, we are in a housing affordability crisis in Florida. We need to work together closely with our statewide members and our Partners for Better Housing to implement strategies which will strengthen Florida’s affordable housing production and preservation,” stated Mr. Nesbitt. “It’s exciting to be a part of the Coalition’s next chapter, and I look forward to working with our talented Board and staff as we further build successful strategies and champion housing affordability best practices.”
Learn Best Practices
Whether you are an experienced housing professional, an advocate, a non-profit housing provider, or new to the field — our weekly webinars, online training courses, and in-depth consultations can make you more effective at your job, and a better advocate for affordable housing in your community.
Our Mission.
The Florida Housing Coalition’s mission is to bring together housing advocates and resources so that all Floridians have a home that is affordable in a suitable living environment.
Our Vision.
In every Florida community there is an ethic to ensure all members of that community, including the most vulnerable and low income, can live in a home of that person’s own choosing that is affordable to them, and that each community has at least one community-based organization with the capacity to play an important role in delivering housing and related services in that community.
Cultivate. Collaborate. Connect.
The Florida Housing Coalition is commonly acknowledged as the foremost authority in Florida for providing training and technical assistance on everything related to affordable housing, from ending homelessness to first time homeownership. We provide consulting services at the local level, and we advocate at the state and national levels for people in need of affordable homes.
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