​​W. Ajibola Balogun

BHC Category

Broward League of Cities - City Manager of a City with Less than 50,000 residents

Occupation

City Manager, City of West Park

Current involvement with other organizations:

​​To work with the Council in addressing the preservation of housing stock through rehabilitation of existing affordable housing inventory; to explore and assist with establishing/ strengthening foreclosure prevention through counseling workshops, banking assistance, home-buyer education courses, HUD assistance and other initiatives; to address homelessness; and to explore and establish incentives for the development of affordable homes and rental housing using resources such as Opportunity Zones. 

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B​eth Daly​

​BHC Cat​egory

The Realtors® Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale

​​I am humbled and grateful to be an appointed member of our Broward Housing Council.  

Homelessness and housing for lower income families has always been a subject near and dear to my heart.  

As a Realtor, I have always done my best to educate my Friends, Neighbor's, Seller's, Buyer's and anyone else who will listen, as to the situations our Homeless are facing. Among other things, I always suggest donating anything and everything at all possible.. Clothes, household items, linens, furnishings, yard equipment, etc.  There is always someone who is grateful to have that and that little donation may just really change that persons life in a very special way.  I try to do this every day.  I do my best to make a difference.  

As a Trustee with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtor Charitable Foundation I have learned so much about the daily struggles of so many in our community who have absolutely no where to turn for assistance. These struggles are real and in each one of our communities.  I feel that I have to be part of the solution and find way to involve each person in our community.  

I have always been eager to learn how to motivate, educate and excite people about banding together to make our communities better.  I am blessed to be learning of avenues and possibilities that our low income & homeless population may employ & utilize, enhancing their lives and the lives of their families and neighbors.  Sharing the information to help more and more. 

As a Member of our Broward Housing Council I promise to do what I can to help raise the quality of life for our lower income folks and the homeless.  Certainly, we are all committed to make our beautiful Broward County all it can be!  

So grateful for the opportunity to serve!

Personal thoughts:

It has been a blessing to watch and learn from the Council Meetings. I thank you for including me and look forward to working together toward our common goals! ​

​​The BHC fulfills a commitment to a mission and vision for the less fortunate of Broward County.  It is a privilege to be the voice filling a seat designated as a representative of a recognized non-profit agency serving a special needs population - the homeless.  As operator of Broward County's Central Homelessness Assistance Center (Ft. Lauderdale) and North Homeless Assistance Center (Pompano Beach), the Broward Partnership (BP) provides short term housing, health care, job training and education to over 500 men, women and children every day.  BP also operates multiple permanent supportive and rapid rehousing programs throughout Broward County and looks forward to breaking ground on its first 72-unit mixed-use residential housing community designed for those citizens at or below 60% of the area's median income.  

Hou​sing alone does not end homelessness.  Housing combined with the community's array of support services (health care, education, transportation, job training) ends it.  Lack of affordable housing for the homeless and workforce populations is now a national topic of community crisis.  In service as an advisory group to the Broward County Commission, the Council deftly crafts its work, research and advocacy in support of the development of affordable housing.  I value the opportunity to work with a membership that reflects the municipalities, business owners, government officials, and non-profit organizations that are all mutually committed to the end goal of providing high quality affordable housing.  Hence, building a stronger community for all.​

I was ap​​pointed to the Broward Housing Council and subsequently to the Broward Continuum of Care Board. I was very interested in the areas of affordable housing and homelessness. At the time, I was dealing with a homeless family with a student, who were living on the streets and in their car. ​

I have always had a passion for community service.  Attending Great American Realtor Days in Tallahassee with Florida Realtors opened my eyes to how much influence we can have as a collective body.  We lobby the Hill each year to push for full funding of the Housing Trust Fund and I've seen the difference we can ma​​ke when our voice is truly heard.  With Broward County topping national lists of those affected by a lack of affordable workforce housing, I wanted to ensure the residents of my County were heard just as loud.  I learned of the BHC at a Mayors Breakfast.  I immediately did my research and reached out to Mayor Dale Holness to inform him of my interest in serving the community.  It was one of the most fulfilling calls of my career.  Knowing I can truly make a difference in someone’s life fills my heart with joy.  We have a long road ahead of us in terms of affordable housing reform statewide and here in our local community.  I hope to take on as many miles of that road as I can to leave the journey for those who come after me as short as possible.​ ​​​​​

BHC​​ Cat​egory

Broward County School Board​

Occupation

Broward County School Board Member, County At-Large Seat 9

Current involvement with other organizations:

Why I'm involved with the BHC

​​I believe in the financial empowerment and stability that results from homeownership. I also hope to see the possibility of it becoming more acce​ssible to everyone.  Having spent much of my career advocating for Seniors and low-income families, I do have a unique point of view that I hoped to be able to share as a member the Broward Housing Council. Mortgages can be intimidating. Whether using a Conventional, VA, FHA, or a Reverse Mortgage loan as a tool to achieve homeownership is not as important as the knowledge that these programs exist. When topics such as affordability and low-income housing are discussed, all types of financing should be considered as solutions. I only represent a portion of the Mortgage industry, but it is my goal and hope that offering my experience in combination with the wealth of knowledge available in our other Council Members, we will find solutions to help more people become homeowners.​

Affordable Housing, Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Aging out of Foster Care have been prime areas of concern for me for several years. My appointment to the Broward Housing Council was the epitome of meaningful service opportunities to identify, advocate for and work with a cohort of other dedicated community stakeholders, to address the areas of greatest need in Broward County. To have been selected by my peers to serve as Chair, has been the best compliment of all. 

As we continue to fight against COVID-19 and its ravaging collateral damage to our residents, children and our economy, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain accessibility to safe and affordable housing. If we don't, our most vulnerable and under-resourced families are at risk from a collapse of the system, an increase in hunger, homelessness and disease. We, as Americans, cannot let this happen.​

​​My motivation to serve on the Broward Housing Council (BHC) was mission alignment.  The BHC's mission, to address housing affordability and homelessness, aligns with my passion for community development and equitable housing.

As an entrepreneur, I believe that the business community can, and should, play a more significant role in addressing the issue of affordability.  South Florida's housing crisis is far-reaching, with socioeconomic impact countywide.

The magnitude of Broward's affordable housing challenge requires a multilateral effort from a collective of residents and public and private stakeholders.  My entrepreneurial perspective helps the BHC shape housing strategies for such an effort and foster greater stakeholder engagement.​

​​Proudly leading Broward Housing Solutions (BHS) as CEO since 2008, and as the original board member of the Broward Housing Council since 2009, the decision to serve made sense: I’m a proud provider of affordable housing that addresses Broward County’s serious social issue surrounding homelessness!  

A fierce advocate for the need of affordable housing, specifically for the low-income, chronically homeless residents with disabilities who also have a mental illness, it is a privilege to serve this beautiful community. Here are three reasons that solidify why affordable housing for benefits everyone:  

1. Prevents Homelessness: Affordable and supportive housing prevents at risk populations such as Young Adults aging out of foster care, Seniors, Veterans and families from becoming homeless. Coupled with community partnerships offering an array of support services, it encourages a permanent exodus from the streets. 

2. Provides Opportunity: Affordable and supportive housing provides a safe home where all have the opportunity to stabilize, recover and reintegrate back into society achieving long-term, self-sufficiency. 

3. Social Benefit: Affordable housing serves as a greater platform addressing the immediate needs for productive citizens reducing substantial financial strains on our communities (taxpayers), such as incarceration at $150 per night and over-utilization of emergency rooms at approximately $720 per night. 

Nobody said it better than Muhammad Ali, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth”, and I’m honored to serve as a board member of the Broward Housing Council!​