A group of activists and religious leaders are urging Broward Commissioners to prioritize county budget dollars to help alleviate the county鈥檚 鈥渟evere鈥� affordable housing shortage.
Faith leaders across the county, led by BOLD Justice, held a news conference Tuesday morning in downtown Fort Lauderdale to raise awareness of the countywide affordable housing shortage. They say only one in four families in Broward County can afford a place to live due to shortage of 75,000 rental units.
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鈥淲ithout clear policy direction that prioritizes affordable housing over time, this crisis will continue to deepen and destabilize families and communities across the county,鈥� BOLD Justice leaders said in a statement.
They specifically are calling on county commissioners to devote a greater share of 鈥淭ax Increment Financing,鈥� or TIF, dollars to affordable housing. TIF comes from a portion of tax revenues from rising property values within a Community Redevelopment Agency zone.
鈥淚t would be an injustice for our elected officials to allow Broward County to become a place where the people who teach our children, take care of our sick, and protect our communities can not afford to live鈥�, said Brother Brian Anthony Campbell, senior Pastor of 15th St. Church of Christ in Pompano Beach.
Among those in search of affordable housing is Jasen Arroyo, a 27-year-old father, who told reporters Tuesday that he and his fianc茅e and 2-year-old son rent a room in a house for $1,025 a month.
"That鈥檚 all we鈥檝e got 鈥� one room to sleep, cook, play with our son, try to live as a family," said Arroyo.
"There have been times where I didn鈥檛 know how I was gonna pay for diapers or or groceries," he said. "I鈥檝e sat there with my fianc茅e late at night, both of us just tired wondering how much longer we can do this."
"No family should have to live like this," he said. "I am here today because I know our County Commission can do something about this."
The county commission, says BOLD Justice, is expected to vote on the affordable housing policy on Feb. 17.
鈥淭he people are crying out for justice and it is time that our leaders respond," said Pastor Aaron Lauer of United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale.
