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Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Why a Miami lawmaker was one of just two votes against Florida's state budget
When Florida lawmakers finally landed on a finalized budget after over a month of debate and infighting, nearly everyone in the Legislature voted yes — except for two House Democrats. One of them was Dotie Joseph, a term-limited state representative from North Miami who represents Florida's 108th House District. She took issue with a number of budget items, adding that since she has just a year and half left in office, she is especially careful to endorse things that benefit her district. She said a lack of funding for affordable housing and cuts to hundreds of vacant positions were major sticking points for her. The other 'no' vote was Rep. Angie Nixon, a Jacksonville Democrat who cited similar concerns. Lawmakers touted a slimmer budget this year, managing to slash $3.5 billion in an attempt to mirror the Trump administration's efforts to cut down on federal government spending and brace for a possible economic downturn. Still, the Florida budget has swelled by more than 26% since Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, took office in 2019, outpacing population increases and often inflation rates. For Joseph, the state's priorities didn't add up, especially when it comes to affordable housing. State-sponsored efforts to encourage affordable housing development through the Housing Finance Corporation saw major cuts. They amounted to a loss of $223.8 million in areas like the State Apartment Incentive Loan program and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, as well as the Hometown Heroes program that provides down-payment assistance to first time home buyers. In the current budget proposal, Miami-Dade County does receive $3 million for its own individual affordable housing project, but that doesn't make up the difference, Joseph said. Almost 60% of renters in the greater Miami area are cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least 30% of their monthly income on housing, according to a 2023 Census Bureau survey — the most of any metropolitan area in the country. 'I don't approve of that [the cuts] at a time where we need it quite a bit,' Joseph said. Meanwhile, state and local immigration enforcement got a major boost, including an offer of a $1,000 bonus per officer for any local law enforcement office that agrees to work directly with ICE. The Legislature set aside $3 million for the program this year. The city of Miami controversially voted to enter into the agreement earlier this week. And DeSantis' Florida State Guard, a separate entity from the National Guard made up of volunteers that he has sole control over, nearly doubled its funding to $36.5 million. The guard was not active until 2022, when it was revived to respond to 'man-made and natural disasters,' according to its website. But officials have also discussed its revival in the context of aiding law enforcement with riots and illegal immigration. It has faced controversy in the past for its militaristic training. Those enforcement-based focuses did not align with Joseph's vision for the state budget, she said. She thinks the money could have gone toward state employee salaries rather than slashing 1,700 vacant positions across a variety of departments, the current solution on the table. The positions are empty because the state doesn't pay enough, she said, not because they're unnecessary. 'It doesn't mean that the need goes away,' Joseph said. 'So we just cut the positions? No, you address what the underlying issue is.' She also listed a variety of other issues. The per-student allocation in the education budget, though it was raised, hasn't kept up with inflation. The Florida Forever program, meant to acquire lands for conservation, took a $500 million hit. Though the state's Medicaid reimbursement rate for retirement homes was increased, there are other home healthcare options that don't have reimbursement options. There are some things she takes as a win, like $10 million set aside for sickle cell research and a 2% statewide employee pay raise, which is 'not always the case,' she said. And the cuts she's disappointed in could have been worse, she said. House speaker Rep. Danny Perez, a Miami Republican, was initially pushing for nearly $6 billion in cuts in the House's initial proposal. Those would have targeted what Joseph sees as essential health and human services. 'If this came down to my one vote that would make it pass or fail, I might have voted in favor of it,' Joseph said. 'There are a lot of good things in the budget that I argued for, fought for and even got appropriations for. But because my vote was not critical, I saw no need to vote yes when there are things I absolutely, vehemently object to.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five things to know about the county's $100,000 down payment plan for first-time home buyers
For first-time eligible homeowners, a state program administered by the county is offering residents up to $100,000 that can be used as a down payment toward the purchase of a home. The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program is a Florida-based initiative that offers a huge assist for affordable housing. The goal is to help low and moderate-income families access affordable homeownership and rental housing. Local governments receive funds based on a population-based formula and then counties must outline their strategies. Funds are awarded as a deferred loan secured by a recorded mortgage, but the loan is forgiven at the end of the 30-year term. Here are five things to know and how the process works: The online application portal will open Monday, May 5 and close Friday, May 23, or until 100 applications have been submitted. About 40 awards are expected to be issued this year, with most of them at the $100,000 level. The program is only for first-time homebuyers, according to Sherrian Smith, who helps oversee the program. The county's allocation this year from the state is $3 million. Applications must be submitted online and will be processed on a first-submitted, first-qualified, first-served basis, subject to the money being available. Applicants must have a valid drivers' license or state identification card for all adult household members. An applicant may not currently own or have liquid assets exceeding $200,000. You can check the documents checklist webpage and also a list of eligibility requirements. Other things to know: A valid email address is required. Only one application per household will be considered. If the application is missing documents, the application will be marked incomplete. The applicant must complete and upload all required fields on the application for all household members 18 years and older. The application can be completed on a computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet or iPad. Internet Explorer does not support the application portal. Once someone is approved, the applicant must then find a house that falls within the program's guidelines and obtain a first mortgage for it. It is expected to take up to six weeks for county officials to begin making awards. The loan is forgiven at the end of the five-year term. Payment is deferred until one of the following events occurs: Sale of the property, transfer of property, property is no longer owner occupied or term has expired. The SHIP program in Palm Beach County is overseen by the county Department of Housing and Economic Development, Mortgage and Housing Investments. For more information about the program, applicants should visit the department's website. Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@ Help support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 5 things to know about $100,000 down payment plan for first-time homeowners
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$100,000 down payments available for first-time homebuyers in Palm Beach County
Betty Legendre was tired of moving from house to house. Sometimes she and her family had to move because her landlord decided to sell. Once, a landlord asked her to leave because he found someone willing to pay more in rent. When an apartment complex wanted to raise her monthly rent to $3,000, she and her family decided it was time to see if they could buy a home. In October, Betty, her husband and two children moved into a Wellington house they purchased for about $500,000. It would never have happened if it were not for a state program, administered by the county, that offers eligible first-time homebuyers up to $100,000 that can be used as a down payment toward the purchase of a home. Funds are awarded as a deferred loan secured by a recorded mortgage but the loan is forgiven at the end of the 30-year term. 'You don't have to make a payment as long as you continue to live in the home,' noted Legendre. 'This was a lifesaver for us. The constant moving was causing anxiety issues for my daughter.' The Legendres took advantage of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Purchase Assistance Program. It is again being offered in Palm Beach County. The online application portal will open on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 12 p.m., and close on Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (or until 100 applications have been submitted). About 40 awards are expected to be issued this year, with most of them at the $100,000 level. The program is only for first-time homebuyers, according to Sherrian Smith, who helps oversee the program. The county's allocation this year from the state is $3 million. Applications must be submitted online, and will be processed on a first-submitted, first-qualified, first-served basis, subject to funding availability. Applicants must have a valid drivers' license or state identification card for all adult household members. An applicant may not currently own or have liquid assets exceeding $200,000. Virtual pre-application orientations will be held in April on the 24th and 29th. The final one will be held May 1. The sessions, while not mandatory, educate applicants as to how to save for a down payment and shop for lenders. Once someone is approved, the applicant must then find a house and obtain a first mortgage. The Legendres had rented for decades. 'There is no question that we would still be renting if it were not for the SHIP program. It is a program that people should try to take advantage of. Our family is very happy.' It is expected to take up to six weeks for county officials to begin making awards. Once an applicant is approved, he or she must then find a home to purchase that falls within the program's guidelines. MORE: Affordable housing hobbled by parking-space rules to get relief from Palm Beach County MORE: Subsidies approved for two workforce housing projects, but can workers afford the rents? The SHIP program in Palm Beach County is overseen by the county Department of Housing and Economic Development, Mortgage and Housing Investments. For more information about the program, applicants should visit the website. Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@ Help support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: $100,000 grants available for first-time Palm Beach County homebuyers
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Daytona housing fair aims to help first-time buyers, those seeking to avoid foreclosure
DAYTONA BEACH — With potentially massive budget cuts looming for federal programs that help first-time homebuyers as well as struggling homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure, the annual Daytona Beach Housing Fair & Financial Wellness Clinic is needed more than ever, its organizers say. This year's event, which is free and open to the general public, will take place on Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Allen Chapel AME Church at 580 George W. Engram Blvd. in Daytona Beach. The housing fair will offer up-to-date information on available resources, one-on-one counseling, and mini-classes on topics such as how to build good credit, navigating the home-buying process, and foreclosure prevention. "The purpose of the event is to educate the public," said Lydia Gregg, executive director of the nonprofit Mid-Florida Housing Partnership, which puts on the annual housing fair in partnership with the City of Daytona Beach. The yearly event is held each April in observance of National Fair Housing Month and the enacting of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status or religion when it comes to selling or renting housing units or providing mortgage loans or insurance policies for homes. MFHP recently held a similar housing fair in Palm Coast that drew more than 100 people. "This event is for the homebuyer, particularly first-time homebuyers. It's also for the homeowner who is looking for the resources that might help them save their home," said Gregg. The event will offer a wide range of experts including MFHP and City of Daytona Beach staff, Realtors, home inspectors, lenders from financial institutions, and insurance industry professionals. "They'll all be there to answer questions and teach classes," said Gregg. "We're also bringing back the very popular free-credit pools so participants will be able to pull their credit reports, completely free of charge with no impact to their credit score." The federal government is currently undergoing massive budget cuts across the board. Looming potential cuts, both in funding and staffing, to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development could hit close to home for many in Florida. Both the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (S.H.I.P.) and Home Investment Partners program (commonly referred to as "Home Money") rely on federal funding for the grants that the state and local governments use to create affordable housing and provide down-payment assistance programs. "We get several calls a week from people reaching out for help for the first time, people at risk of losing their home," said Gregg. MFHP board member Lucy Stewart-Desmore, a broker associate with LPT Realty, said she has been getting an increasing number of people turning to her for advice because "they've gotten into a bad spot." The problem, Stewart-Desmore said, is that people often wait until it's too late to avoid losing their homes to foreclosure. "Especially when it comes to property ownership, you've got to keep up with every little thing," she said. Addressing problems early on can make a huge difference. It is also important to know what resources are out there that homeowners and prospective homebuyers can tap — if they act now, said Gregg and Stewart-Desmore. "I don't want to say that the sky is falling, but it would be a mistake to assume that there will always be those programs out there," said Gregg. "We're in a time of change and uncertainty like never before." For details, visit the Mid-Florida Housing Partnership's website at or call 386-274-4441. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona housing fair aims to inform first-time buyers, existing owners
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Escambia County, Florida, resident gets new home through assistance program — how it works
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — An Escambia County, Fla., woman has a new place to call home thanks to a county assistance program. From addiction to hope: Meet Fairhope's Dancing Queen According to an Escambia County, Fla., news release, Luverne Bonner had lived in her home for more than 25 years when issues from age, such as electrical problems, major leaks, roof and flooring issues and more, became too much for Bonner to handle. 'In need of help, she applied for the Escambia County Neighborhood and Human Services Department's Housing Demo and Replacement Program, which demolishes deteriorating houses and replaces them with brand new houses for income-eligible residents in need,' the release said. The program is funded by the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program. 'It is incredibly rewarding to see lives changed for the better through county programs like this, which help greatly to improve the quality of life for residents in need of a helping hand in our community,' District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. 'Thank you to our county staff for their hard work to make this possible, and congratulations to Ms. Bonner and her family on this exciting new chapter. I wish you many happy memories together in your new home,' Barry said. Bonner said getting the new home has been a life-changing event for her. 'It means everything to me,' Bonner said. 'With the old house, I really couldn't have my kids or grandkids come stay with me. If they did, they couldn't stay long, and I didn't feel comfortable with them being here, because there was so much work to be done in the house.' Bonner said it's nice to have a worry-free home. Escambia County, Florida deputies find meth, cocaine and stolen car while searching home 'Now I can just be comfortable,' Bonner said. 'I can just relax and not worry about things. It's amazing – I just don't have the words. I really, really appreciate it so much.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
