Nancy Robin, Habitat Broward CEO (center) participates in panel at workshop presented by the Broward Housing Council, October 26, 2018 to discuss affordable housing strategies and solutions.

We hear a lot about the affordable housing crisis, but what does that really mean? At a recent workshop by the Broward Housing Council, it was defined by the numbers. In Broward, it means that 62% of our residents spend more than 30% of their monthly income on housing. 36% spend more than 50% of their income on housing. This leaves little else for healthy food, transportation, clothing and medical care. To see more statistics, click here.

Broward County has proposed the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, to tackle the high cost of housing for our customer service personnel, health care workers, teachers and more who fall into the affordability gap. In fact, Broward has the largest affordability gap in the U.S. when we combine housing and transportation costs vs. income. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund will develop programs and solutions to close this gap and make housing more accessible to the workers and fellow residents upon whom we rely every day.

That is why Habitat votes “YES” for the Broward County Affordable Housing Trust Fund.