PANAMA CITY BEACH — Florida has the third largest homeless population in the U.S., and Realtors across the state are working to reduce that number.
Realtors from across the Panhandle converged in Panama City Beach last week for a Florida Realtors Conference to discuss lobbying efforts to combat homelessness statewide. Formerly the Florida Association of Realtors, Florida Realtors is the state’s largest professional association, with 127,000 members and 61 boards.
Vince Price, vice president of the local Florida Realtors chapter, said reducing the number of homeless Floridians is at the forefront of the organization’s goals.
“As an association for the state, it’s our passion,” Price said. “We feel like (homeownership is) at the core of helping citizens become productive and helping the economy in Florida and across the U.S.”
According to survey data provided by Florida Realtors, there are 301 homeless residents in Bay, Franklin and Gulf counties, with 162 residing in transitional housing, 39 in emergency shelters and 100 unsheltered. Additionally, one in 17 Bay County students are classified as homeless, a number that has seen a dramatic uptick over the last four years.
In light of those numbers, the organization advocated for state legislation such as House Bill 979, which provides grant funding for local nonprofit organizations that assist homeless populations. The bill passed the Legislature, but had not yet made it to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk as of Wednesday.
Other efforts proved successful Monday, as Scott signed the 2014-2015 budget into law, with an additional $4 million earmarked for homeless programs within the Florida Department of Children of Families.
The budget also appropriates $167 million from the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund for its intended purpose for the first time since 2007. The fund was established in the early 1990s as a way to support affordable housing programs through an increase in Florida’s Documentary Stamp Tax on real estate transactions. However, following the economic downturn, the funds were instead appropriated to the state’s general fund budget.
“This year, they’re actually going to let the money go to its intended purpose,” Price said.
Of the $167 million appropriation, $100 million will be directed to the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) to aid low-income families with home restorations, lease-purchase assistance and down payment assistance. The remaining dollars are earmarked for State Apartment Incentive Loans, which provides rental assistance.
“We try to be good citizens in our communities across the state and show people that we’re interested in supporting private property rights and the American Dream of home ownership for everyone who can attain it,” Price said. “We want them to have the easiest access possible to the American Dream.”