AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING:
WORKING TOWARD A SOLUTION
Broward County has the highest disparity between low
wages and the high cost of housing in Florida. We
are ranked 67th of the 67 counties in the state.
That’s unacceptable. And that’s why working to solve
the affordable workforce housing crisis was among my
top priorities when I was elected to the Broward
County Commission.
Through my service on the Broward Homeless Continuum
of Care Board as well as the Coordinating Council of
Broward, I have been working with various
non-profits, city and county officials, the business
community, and housing activists to determine the
best methods for solving this intractable problem.
Recently, over 200 individuals participated in the
Broward Housing Summit at Nova Southeastern
University. Business, community, and government
leaders came together to find solutions for
Broward’s affordable workforce housing crisis. They
agreed that we need a new, dedicated source of
funding. The Governor and Legislature need to stop
raiding the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund, to which
Broward has contributed $100 million more than it
has received over the past six years. Unfortunately,
Florida House Speaker Corcoran believes the Sadowski
Trust Fund has become too generous in easing costs
for “fully salaried and employed” citizens. Speaker
Corcoran doesn’t appear to understand the purpose of
the trust fund. It was created to serve exactly
those citizens – the population that suffers because
Broward has the most cost-burdened housing market in
the nation, with the greatest disparity between low
wages and high cost of housing.
HOMELESSNESS
The Broward County Homeless
Continuum of Care Board, on which I serve, is a Broward
County advisory board that makes recommendations to the
County Commission for the establishment and implementation
of joint local homeless assistance and the Homeless
Initiative Partnership (HIP) programs with municipalities
and private entities within Broward County. The Broward
County Commission voted unanimously to adopt the Homeless
Continuum of Care Board’s proposed recommendations to the
Board of County Commissioners regarding alternative
solutions to the criminalization of homelessness, and to
authorize and encourage the Continuum to discuss these
alternative solutions with the County’s municipalities.
The proposed recommendations
include the creation of comprehensive systems of care that
combine housing with behavioral health and social service
support, collaboration between law enforcement and
behavioral health and social service providers, and the
implementation of alternative justice system strategies to
reduce involvement with the criminal justice system. The key
to ending homelessness is rapid re-housing and permanent
supportive housing combined with intensive case management
services. Expansion of housing stock rather than shelter
beds is essential to implementing community-wide plans to
end homelessness.
"The
key to ending homelessness is rapid re-housing and
permanent supportive housing combined with intensive case
management services.
2017 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION UPDATE
Opioid Epidemic
Declared a Public Health Emergency
An executive order from the
Governor declaring the opioid crisis a state health
emergency has qualified Florida for more than $27 million in
federal grant funding. The money will be allocated to the
Managing Entities across the state for disbursement
consistent with local needs. And Broward has many needs due
to this epidemic. Last year there were 582 deaths due to
opioid overdoses and 1,000 are expected this year! We
anticipate our Managing Entity, the Broward Behavioral
Health Coalition (BBHC) will receive approximately $2
million to expand Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
services as a part of a comprehensive plan to address the
opioid crisis. MAT is the use of medications in combination
with counseling and behavioral therapies to provide a
holistic approach for the treatment of substance abuse
disorders.
State Representatives Lori Berman and Joe Geller,
Commissioner
Nan Rich and State Representative Richard Stark
Homestead Exemption
Bill Costs Far More Than It Saves
During the 2017 Legislative
Session, the Florida Legislature passed HJR 7105, a
resolution that will allow voters to decide whether to
increase the homestead exemption by another $25,000. It’s
great politics, but bad public policy. While the average
homeowner may save a little over 50 cents a day, $644
million will be slashed from budgets across the state
including $32.4 million from Broward County. This bill is
extremely short-sighted and completely politically
motivated. The Legislature needs to focus on a financially
viable tax base that funds the essential needs of
Floridians. Voters will need to decide whether a property
tax break of an average $200 for eligible homeowners is more
important than the painful cuts Broward County government
may be forced to make to human services, libraries, parks,
and public safety.
5th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE BROWARD VETERAN’S TREATMENT COURT
Recently, I had the privilege
of attending the 5th anniversary celebration of the Broward
Veteran’s Treatment Court. This ceremony had special meaning
for me because the Veteran’s Court was created in 2012, my
last year in the legislature, and I attended the opening
ceremony 5 years ago! Many veterans return home with mental
health issues connected to the trauma of combat. Sadly, some
turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with everyday life and
ultimately end up in the criminal justice system. The
Broward Veteran’s Treatment Court serves as an alternative
to the traditional court setting and was developed to avoid
unnecessary incarceration of veterans who have developed
mental health and/or substance abuse problems. Over 600
veterans have entered the program to date. Judge Ed Merrigan,
a distinguished veteran and Colonel in the U.S. Army,
compassionately presides over Broward’s Veterans Court.
Judge Ed Merrigan and Commissioner Nan Rich
THE BROWARD COUNTY
COMMISSION PASSES A RESOLUTION OPPOSING WITHDRAWAL
FROM THE PARIS AGREEMENT
On June 6, 2017, Mayor Sharief,
Commissioner Udine and I co-sponsored a resolution opposing
the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change by
the United States. The resolution was unanimously
co-sponsored and approved by all the Commissioners. The
resolution affirms that the Broward County Commission has a
history of leadership on climate change initiatives and has
long acknowledged that global climate change, the
sustainability of our environment and economy, and our
quality of life are affected by greenhouse gas emissions and
our commitment to renewable energy. We therefore remain
committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least
80% below 2010 levels by 2050 and recommit to the Southeast
Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.
As Chair of the Broward Climate
Change Task Force, I have become heavily involved in
achieving the goals set forth in The Broward Climate Change
Action Plan. This plan, originally published in 2010,
contains recommendations for a countywide action plan to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the
consequences of climate change. As of this year, there are
94 specific strategic actions that are to be implemented by
local governments, community partners, and residents.
Fortunately, almost 73% of the 94 action recommendations are
partially or fully addressed. If you are interested in
reading the full action plan, you may find it at
http://www.broward.org/NaturalResources/ClimateChange/Pages/default.aspx.
Co-Sponsors of the Resolution: Mayor Barbara Sharief,
Commissioner Michael Udine and Commissioner Nan Rich
DENIM DAY!
April was “Sexual Assault and
Child Abuse Awareness Month.” The Broward County Commission
recognized it by officially declaring April 25th as “Denim
Day.” Denim Day is a symbol of protest against erroneous and
destructive attitudes about sexual assault. I presented
proclamations to six agencies and organizations that assist
victims of sexual violence and child abuse, including the
Nancy J. Cotterman Center (NJCC), Broward’s 40- year-old
rape crisis and children’s advocacy center. In 2016 alone,
the dedicated employees of the NJCC assisted over 4,000
victims! Prevention is possible by increasing awareness,
educating our community, supporting survivors, and
shattering stigmas surrounding sexual violence.
CALLING ALL ANIMAL
LOVERS!
Last year, the Department of
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles updated the “Animal
Friend” plate with a brand new design! I am particularly
proud of this plate because I sponsored the bill to create
it when I served in the Legislature. (I have one on my car
too!) By purchasing a Florida Animal Friend License plate,
you help fund free and low-cost spay and neuter programs
across the state. Your individual annual donation adds up to
dozens of large grants to non-profit organizations across
the state. If you already have a Florida Animal Friend plate
and want to switch to the new one, click this link for more
information:
http://floridaanimalfriend.org/purchase-a-plate/
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