Local governments and developers will likely clash in 2024, as plans are filed for taller and denser projects allowable under Florida’s new affordable housing law.

Earlier this year, housing advocates and the public agency charged with stemming homelessness in Miami-Dade County hailed a major cash infusion designed to put a big dent in the enduring problem.

"Pero en Miami-Dade, la mitad de los residentes están pagando más que eso; de hecho, el 90% de los inquilinos que ganan menos de $50,000 al año están pagando más de lo que pueden pagar por su vivienda. Entonces, hay una gran brecha entre lo que la gente puede permitirse, el lujo de pagar y los salarios que ganan", aseveró Anne Ray, investigadora del Centro Shimberg de Estudios de Vivienda de la Universidad de Florida.

Renters and frontline workers are the hardest hit by Miami-Dade County’s shortage of affordable housing options, according to a new analysis of Census and employment data from the University of Florida’s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies (on behalf of Miami Homes for All).

Miami-Dade has a shortage of housing priced within reach for South Florida workers. Even before the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, people were priced out of paradise by foreign buyers and investors. Would-be buyers would lose to cash offers or bids well above the listing price, and renters faced steep competition.

Thousands quit looking or moved elsewhere. Data from U.S. Census Bureau reported Miami-Dade had a population loss of 28,000 residents from 2020 to 2022, the biggest decline for any county in the state.

Housing stability is a cornerstone of individual and public health; without it, we cannot achieve optimal health. It is the bedrock upon which healthy communities are built and sustained. That is why we held Miami’s first-ever Housing and Health Summit on Nov. 29, with hundreds of local leaders in attendance.

Community leaders, policymakers and housing advocates will meet Wednesday for the first-ever “Miami Housing and Health Summit” to formulate solutions to improve access to affordable housing and healthcare in Miami-Dade County.

The tale of how the city has decided to develop single-family homes and sell them at a loss as part of a strategy to address the affordable housing crisis offers insight into what experts warn could be a city government that fails to see the big picture, and is throwing money at pet projects instead of spending taxpayer money effectively.

How to Participate in the September 2023 County Budget Hearings. Includes the “Guide to Public Hearings” and the proposed budget from the Mayor’s office. FY 2023-2024, Miami-Dade County.

It’s 2040, and all Miamians live in safe, quality homes that they can afford, paying no more than 30% of their income on the rent or mortgage. These apartments or houses are close to jobs, schools, grocery stores, and places for the community to gather and recreate. Parents can get home in time to make and enjoy dinner with their families or take part in restorative activities like exercise and recreation. Black and Hispanic residents have equitable access to these homes.

We certainly need them. According to the University of Florida, Miami-Dade lacks 68,400 affordable homes for households earning up to about $55,000, or 80% of the area median income (AMI). By comparison, there is only a shortage of 2,500 units for those earning up to about $82,000 per year, or 120% AMI. This proportionate need is similar within the city of Miami.

JP Morgan Chase said Friday it’s going to spend $7.45 million to help build sustainable affordable homes in Miami-Dade and close the gap in home affordability among people of color.

Annie Lord, executive director of Miami Homes for All, hopes that the housing upgraded and built with the banking company’s grants can help displaced residents in lower-income communities.

Regalado, a sponsor of the ordinance, said this new law allows for affordable housing that ensures those who have ADUs in their homes are not doing it illegally.

“These kinds of dwellings are probably already in existence,” Lord said. “I think we all kind of know people who live in a situation where they are renting a unit on someone else’s property.”

The federal government and Miami-Dade County enacted moratoriums on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic to help those who were financially impacted. When the county's moratorium expired last July, Miami-Dade saw a wave of evictions as landlords rushed to oust tenants once the barrier was down.

As Miami-Dade residents try to heal and return to normal after navigating the lingering crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, we now face an unprecedented spike in the cost of basic necessities, including — and especially — the cost of rent.

However, in March the average rent in Hialeah for a studio apartment went up 18% to $1,150 a month. And the cost of a one-bedroom apartment rose 7% to $1,550 a month, while average rent for a two-bedroom place jumped 10% to $2,099, according to Zumper, an online rental platform.