Home » Publications » Housing News Network Journal » Vol. 28, No. 3
Contents Download Full Issue (3.6 MB) 4 – State of the State and Public Policy Plenary Highlights 9 – Ending Veteran Homelessness 10 – Making Affordable Housing Green 13 – Multi-Family Energy Efficiency Upgrades 14 – Demystifying Financial Statements 17 – Nonprofit Raffle Winners and 2013 Statewide Annual Conference 18 – Income Qualification – Key to A Successful Program 21 – Consulting Services 22 – Keynote Address from Secretary Shaun Donovan 23 – Keynoter and Advancement Project Co-Director Judith Browne Dianis Provides Post-Election Remarks 24 – Keynote Address from Senator Ken Pruitt 25 – SHIP and Legislative Advocacy 27 – Florida Nonprofit Housing Advocates Network 28 – Capacity Corner – Tips for Running A Successful Homebuyer Program 30 – Update on Hardest Hit: Working to Help Troubled Homeowners 31 – 2012 Foreclosure Counselors Caucus 32 – Ship Clips 34 – About The Coalition – Coalition Board Updates and Recognition |
From The Editor
Now that the elections are over it is time for housing advocates (and that means everyone who is reading this journal) to make appointments with their newly elected or returning representatives in the house and senate. Legislators need to hear from constituents that you want them to support using the housing trust funds for housing when they come up to Tallahassee for the 2013 session. The legislative session begins March 5th. All meetings at the local level need to happen before that time. Go to www.flsenate.gov and click on Find your State Legislators on the left side of the home page. You will be asked to put in your zip code to find the name and contact info for the legislators who represent you. You can access the House members from the Senate website. If you don’t know anything about your elected official you can go to his or her website and get biographical info that will provide insight about priorities and personal background. Think about who you know in the community that shares interests with the legislator. Gather together a group of people who may have things in common with your legislator and who are also housing advocates. It is easy to find housing advocates. Just look at the list of statewide organizations that are members of the Sadowski Coalition at www.sadowskicoalition.com and reach out to your local counterparts—faith-based groups, Realtors, business groups, etc. Keep the group small. If you find someone in the group that knows the legislator, you may want that person to make the appointment, but that’s certainly not necessary; legislators are more than happy to meet with any and all of their constituents in the home/district office. We have materials for you to use during your visit and a form for submitting the results from your visit. Please contact me either before or after making your appointment. As facilitator of the Sadowski Housing Coalition, I am keeping a record of which legislators have and have not been contacted by constituents. These are the weeks when legislators will be available to meet with you in their home/district offices:
Affordable housing is a cross-cutting strategy for implementation of the state’s five year strategic plan developed by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The estimated $175 million in state and local housing trust funds available for appropriation in the 2013 session, if used for housing (not swept into general revenue, as has happened the last four years) will generate over 13,000 jobs and over $1.3 billion in positive economic impact. See www.sadowskicoalition.com for a full set of materials on Sadowski funding. And PLEASE let me know when you will be meeting with your legislator. I can be reached at ross@flhousing.org or jross@1000fof.org or by phone directly 850-212-0587. The Florida Housing Coalition relies on its staff and board to provide training and technical assistance expertise, and we rely upon our members to work locally to produce, preserve, and advocate for affordable housing. We appreciate all you do. |