After an extended session Florida leadership just vetoed millions from affordable housing projects. As an advocate working daily for justice and equity, I see clearly who gets hurt most: Black communities, renters at risk of eviction, and families struggling to buy their first home.
In the recent 2025 budget, these critical housing projects were cut ( see links to appropriations forms linked with more detail):
- $1.46 million for the Oaks at Ridgecrest Community Center (Pinellas County)sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Berfield, serving predominantly Black residents.
- $100,000 for the RESTORE affordable housing initiative in Duval County.
- $1.5 million for Broward County’s Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program.
- $750,000 each for affordable homeownership programs in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties.[1]
Why These Cuts Matter
1. Black Communities Lose Essential Support
The Oaks at Ridgecrest was meant to provide stable housing and crucial community services in a historically Black neighborhood. Removing this funding means fewer resources to combat decades-long barriers to economic stability and wealth-building.
- The Oaks at Ridgecrest is a low-income seniors will soon have hundreds of new affordable housing options, with some units dedicated to households earning just 40% of the area median income.
- The Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA) recently acquired an undeveloped parcel in northeast St. Petersburg that will house Flats on 4th, an 80-unit senior housing development. The first phase of an 80-unit redevelopment project in unincorporated Largo is nearing completion, and demolition on the second begins this week.
2. Renters at Risk Face Increased Evictions
In Broward County, many renters, especially Black and immigrant families, struggle with rising rents and frequent eviction threats. Without rental assistance, these families face losing their homes, children being displaced from schools, and parents unable to maintain jobs.
Too many families are one slip away from homelessness. In Broward County:
- Eviction filings more than doubled after federal protections ended in 2021 Broward County Clerk of Courts
- Low-income renters—especially Black and immigrant families—make up most of these cases
Cutting $1.5 million in aid means fewer people can get help before it’s too late. No short-term rent support means more children miss school, and parents can lose jobs .
3. Homeownership Becomes Even Less Achievable
Affordable homeownership programs in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando were designed to help working families afford their first homes. With rising housing costs, removing these supports further limits families’ ability to transition from renting to homeownership, undermining long-term financial security.
The Real-Life Consequences
When funds for housing vanish, families don’t just lose buildings—they lose stability, opportunity, and hope. Communities become less resilient, gaps in wealth and health widen, and the cycle of poverty continues.
- Students without stable homes miss more school and fall behind Courier Mail+5Tacoma Housing Authority
- Families living in temporary housing have worse health and struggle to work and learn
- One national study found that children in stable homes are more likely to stay in school
What Can We Do?
We must speak out and demand better. Stable, affordable housing isn’t a privilege—it’s a fundamental human right.
Join me in urging state and local leaders to restore and protect affordable housing investments. Together, we can build safer, healthier, and fairer communities.
Citations:
[1] Florida 2025 Line-Item Veto List, State of Florida Legislature (2025).
