A Drop in the Bucket
Housing is a human right, yes, even in Florida. If we continue to allow the women and femmes of the state to lead us then we will surely win. On January 29th over 200 of these grassroots housing leaders came together in Tallahassee for a multi-day convening consisting of a march, press conference, legislative visits, panels, workshops, presentations and a celebration of divine feminine energy.
The convening was the first major effort by grassroots housing organizations across the state to present a unified agenda to the Florida government. Among the different demands are the following;
- SB 480 Moratorium on Evictions during Declared State of Emergency
- SB 1362 Rental Agreements
- SB 1852 Landlords and Tenants
- SB 1528 Landlords and Tenants
- SB 910 Rent Control Measures
- SB 274 Residential Tenancies
The significance of these efforts cannot be understated because there is always hope that all of the demands will be met but if not, women, girls and femmes have started a statewide conversation about how to solve the affordable housing crisis. Before this year there was no structured cohesion among housing activists in Florida. Now not only are we organized but we are presenting a unified platform that empowers other areas of progressive policy making and intentionally centers the disproportionately impacted black and brown women and femmes in our communities. If we as a movement have been looking for our moment to present a new way of thinking and living that improves our lives in comparison to the capitalist status quo, this housing campaign is that opportunity for Florida.
We celebrate a tremendous victory this year, with the full preservation of the Sadwoski Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This is a fund dedicated to the development of affordable housing in Florida, which has been hobbled for the last 13 years because the state continues to siphon funds away from Sawdowski and into the general operating budget. The state of Florida has an annual budget of $78.3 Billion. This year is the first year that we have managed to keep it intact, however the funds available now are a drop in the bucket in comparison to the overwhelming demand for affordable housing in our state. In Miami Dade alone $45 Billion worth of affordable housing needs to be built in order to meet the demand.
As we continue to confront the challenges of COVID-19 we are taking every precaution but are also cautiously optimistic about the direction of our housing policy. Never before have we seriously considered eviction and foreclosure moratoriums, rent forgiveness and direct cash assistance, but we are. Senate Bill 480 has become beyond imperative as have all of the other bills that protect renters. Where else will we go? Let’s continue to follow the lead of black and brown women and femme leaders.
