This is an e-mail I received from the Florida Housing Coalition. I can’t say that I agree with everything they say but I thought you may want to see this newest Legislative proposal.
Remember the 2008 Legislative session-when $303 million from the Sadowski funds was appropriated for housing and $250 million from Sadowski funds was swept to general revenue? That was pretty bad news for housing. But it
could be getting even worse right after the holidays. The Legislature is going to meet in special session the first week in January with the intention of cutting spending and “sweeping trust funds.”
What does that mean?
It means that although $303 was appropriated for housing in 2008-09, it may
not actually be distributed. Monies that program administrators have
obligated thinking they were going to receive may never be distributed- that
goes for local programs such as SHIP and state programs such as SAIL.
What should you do?
Contact 4 key people:
Senate President Jeff Atwater
Capitol Office Phone (850) 487-5100
District Office Phone (561) 625-5101
House Speaker Ray Sansom
To
aspx?MemberId=4262&SessionId=34> Email Click Here
Capitol Office Phone: (850) 488-1170
District Office Phone: (850) 833-9328
Your State Senator in the district office – find contact info here-
Your State Representative in the district office- www.myfloridahouse.com
What should you say?
- Taking money from the state and local housing trust funds is not the way to balance Florida’s budget. Housing money stimulates the economy;
- We are in an economic crisis- putting people back to work on housing will accelerate Florida’s economy;
- We need the construction and other housing related jobs generated by rehabilitating foreclosed multi-family and single family housing;
- This is the time to get people into existing housing stock withdown payment and closing cost assistance;
- The federal government gets it-interest rates have never been
- lower. Florida needs to get it too-the housing industry needs to be fueled,not starved.
- Let’s accelerate Florida’s economy by using the housing trust fund monies as intended- FOR HOUSING.
When should you do this?
NOW.
Thank you very much. Happy Holidays from the Florida Housing Coalition.
