2023 Work Program
​​​​​The Broward Housing Council updated its 2023 Work Program schedule on December 9, 2022.  This schedule is designed as a living document and will be updated as the need constitutes.

​​Purpose

To serve in an advisory capacity to the County Commission and to facilitate coordination between the County, Municipalities, the business community and not-for-profit groups to address housing issues including, but not limited to, affordable housing, workforce housing and homelessness.

1. Facilitate Coordination

  • Seek regional collaboration with other agencies to address affordable housing issues.
  • Sponsor an annual Affordable Housing Workshop for municipal, business and legislative leaders.
  • Report on all Broward Housing Council activities for the year and submit to the Board of County Commissioners for acceptance.
  • Maintain the Broward Housing Council website with a focus on affordable housing policy, research and studies.
  • Prepare quarterly newsletter and distribute via e-mail.​
  • Maintain the countwide Housing Dashboard with the most current available data.
  • Participate in stakeholders' meetings for Broward County Ten-Year Affordable Housing Master Plan.
  • Review existing broward County Charter and propose modifications to Sec. 1106 regarding the Broward Housing Council membership, residency requirements and other items as identified by BHC.

​2. Increase Affordable Housing Stock

  • Support the allocation of Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funding for affordable housing.
  • Support policies that address flexible sources of “gap financing” for affordable housing (i.e. second mortgage programs).
  • Engage the development community to increase affordable housing production especially for very low income rentals.
  • Continue to recommend the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) allocate set-aside of units for Broward County tax credit projects, based on need.
  • Support partnership between Broward County and South Florida Community Land Trust.
  • Monitor the status of developers' voluntary commitments to construct affordable units as an approval condition of a Broward County Land Use Plan Amendment.
  • Review and address retention of affordable units with expiring affordability restrictions (i.e., 15 years or 30 years).

​3. Enhance Housing Stability

  • Develop an outreach campaign to educate local municipal, business and legislative leaders on affordable housing issues and funding strategies.
  • Invite presenters to share information about affordable housing initiatives at bi-monthly Broward Housing Council meetings.
  • Support the acquisition and rehabilitation of existing affordable housing inventory that will preserve the housing stock.
  • Update local leaders on affordable housing policy issues.
  • Encourage foreclosure counseling workshops by HUD certified agencies and local banks, and encourage local funding of foreclosure counseling/assistance programs and homebuyer education courses.
  • Highlight locally successful neighborhood improvement programs and other affordable housing projects.
  • Encourage Improved transportation programs that support affordable housing.​

​4. Advocate for Legislative Change

  • Support legislation that provides full apropriation and recuring revenue for affordable housing initiatives such as the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) and State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL).
  • Advocate affordable housing programs and policies that include workforce housing.
  • Support policies that assist renters and homebuyers by reducing the gap between household income and housing costs.
  • Seek to leverage business community​ involvement in affordable housing advocacy efforts.

5. Streamline Process

  • Support the Affordable Housing goals, objectives and policies in BrowardNEXT.
  • Support bonus densities and other land use policies to incentivize affordable housing construction.
  • Provide planning support to the County's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) in identifying affordable housing incentives for the annual AHAC Report.​

6. Address Homelessness

  • Support the county-wide homeless services of the Broward County Continuum of Care without duplication of efforts.​
  • Encourage local institutions to adopt a coordinated discharge plan addressing individuals' needs such as housing and other services.

​7. Support Countywide Financing

  • Support Broward County’s continued allocation of public funding towards the Broward County Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
  • Work to leverage private sector investments in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund that support the production and preservation of affordable housing units.
  • Encourage the County Commission to pursue multiple funding opportunites identified through the Ten-Year Affordable Housing Master Plan.