Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing

In 1991, 1000 Friends of Florida established an affordable housing program to promote the provision of safe, decent and affordable housing for each and every Floridian. That year, 1000 Friends of Florida initiated the Sadowski Act Coalition to establish a dedicated funding source for affordable housing, and reconvenes the coalition each year to monitor achievements and advocate for continued funding. Sadowski Act Coalition partners include the Florida Home Builders Association, Florida Association of Realtors, Florida Association of Counties, Florida League of Cities, Florida Legal Services, Department of Community Affairs, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Florida Impact, Florida Catholic Conference, and the Florida Housing Coalition.

Our affordable housing program is based on the understanding that the magnitude of the affordable housing shortage is immense, and it will take unprecedented coordination, cooperation, and participation by both public and private sector interests to bring about meaningful change.

Looking for Affordable Housing? (click here to find out how to find affordable housing in your community)

To find out more about 1000 Friends' Affordable Housing Program, contact:

Ms. Jaimie Ross, Affordable Housing Director
1000 Friends of Florida
926 East Park Avenue
P.O. Box 5948
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5948
Phone: 850.212.0587
Fax: 850.222.1117

You may also wish to contact:

Florida Housing Coalition

Florida Housing Finance Corporation

Here is some additional information on affordable housing:

The Florida Community Land Trust Institute -- This partnership between 1000 Friends of Florida and the Florida Housing Coalition provides assistance with establishing community land trusts. Find out more at the Florida Community Land Trust Blog.

Accessory Dwelling Units: A Smart Growth Tool for Affordable Housing -- 1000 Friends' Jaimie Ross describes how accessory dwelling units can be used to promote smart growth. 2006.

Creating Inclusive Communties In Florida: A Guidebook for Local Elected Officials and Staff on Avoiding and Overcoming the Not In My Backyard Syndrome (pdf)

Balanced Residential Communities: Including Affordable Housing in Smart Growth and New Urbanist Development -- Affordable Housing Director Jaimie Ross outlines strategies to promote affordable housing in new development. 2004.

Affordable Housing Director Jaimie Ross Named James A. Johnson Community Fellow -- In 2004, 1000 Friends' Jaimie Ross was recognized for her outstanding accomplishments by the Fannie Mae Foundation.

Creating Inclusive Communities in Florida -- This manual offers local officials and affordable housing advocates tools for overcoming NIMBYism, or the Not In My Back Yard syndrome. 2002.

The Link Between Growth Management and Housing Affordability: The Academic Evidence -- This February 2002 report prepared for The Brookings Institute addresses the impacts of growth management on affordable housing.

Smart Growth and Affordable Housing in Florida --(This appears in the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Spring 2001 NIMBY Report) - This provides a comprehensive overview of Florida's affordable housing program.

Social Equity -- This is a compilation of a series of articles from the Fall 2001 issue of Foresight that focus on the interrelationships between social equity, affordable housing, and smart growth. Authors include Jaimie Ross, Charles Pattison, and Jack Wilson.

The NIMBY Report: Does Design Make A Difference? By the National Low Income Housing Coalition - Edited by 1000 Friends' Affordable Housing Director, Jaimie Ross, this report includes a series of articles exploring how better design can help allay community concerns about affordable housing. 2001.

The NIMBY Report: Smart Growth and Affordable Housing, by the National Low Income Housing Coalition - Edited by 1000 Friends of Florida's Jaimie Ross, this report summarizes efforts to better interface affordable housing and smart growth in New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, Vermont and Maryland. 2001.

1000 Friends' Affordable Housing Program - Since launching its Affordable Housing Program in 1991, 1000 Friends has worked to secure adequate funding for affordable housing, ensure the fair allocation of housing resources, and provide technical assistance to housing providers and advocates. 1997-1998.

Funding for Affordable Housing in Florida - Florida has a variety of funding sources available for affordable housing. 1997.

Relationship Between Affordable Housing and Growth Management - Florida is a recognized leader in planning for affordable housing, and has made affordable housing an integral component of its growth management legislation. 1997.

Energy Conservation and Affordable Housing - Energy conservation is one of the many areas where good planning for the environment and good planning for affordable housing overlap. 1998

Expedited Permitting - Developers and builders of affordable housing know that time is money. Not as well known is that expedited permitting is required for all affordable housing land use decisions in every entitlement city and Florida county. 1999.

Linkage Fees and Inclusionary Zoning - Smart growth can fall seriously short of its goals if it fails to include affordable housing. Linkage fees and inclusionary housing ordinances are two land use tools that can be used to promote affordable housing. 2000.

NIMBYism (Affordable Housing NIMBYism: Citizen Participation Gone Awry, Foresight, Winter 2001) - When does citizen participation cross the line and become NIMBYism? (Lee County Approves Rezoning For Pueblo Bonita, Foresight, Fall 1997) - After more than a year of legal challenges, an affordable housing village for migrant farm workers will be allowed to proceed.