Legislative Advocacy
Pin Point Results (PPR) is the legislative advocate for FCH and its members. This is a summary of the advocacy work completed for FCH and its members since 2013.
Legislative Advocacy
| Yearly Appropriation Advocacy Success | |||||
| Year | Recurring Staffing Grant | Non-Recurring Staffing Grant | Recurring Challenge Grant | Non-Recurring Challenge Grant | Total Staffing / Challenge Grant Funding |
| 2019 | $3,000,000 | $0 | $3,181,500 | $0 | $6,181,500 |
| 2018 | $3,000,000 | $0 | $0 | $3,181,500 | $6,181,500 |
| 2017 | $3,000,000 | $0 | $5,000,000 | $0 | $8,000,000 |
| 2016 | $2,700,000 | $300,000 | $5,000,000 | $0 | $8,000,000 |
| 2015 | $2,000,000 | $50,000 | $3,800,000 | $0 | $5,850,000 |
| 2014 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $3,800,000 | $6,800,000 |
| 2013 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $0 | $3,000,000 |
| Legislation Advocacy Success | ||
| Year | Legislation | Importance To FCH |
| 2019 | HB 1353 / SB 1218 – Homeless Statute rewrite | Homeless statute rewrite. SB 1218 by Senator Book and HB 1353 by Representative Altman updates Florida’s current statutes governing Homelessness Programs administered by the State Office on Homelessness to more effectively and efficiently prevent and end homelessness in our State. HB 1353 passed the Full House, however; SB 1218 was one of the many bills stuck in Senate Appropriations due to budget posturing between the two Chambers. Both members have already agreed to re-file the bills for the upcoming 2020 legislative session. |
| 2017 | HB 1013 / SB 854 – Affordable Housing Task Force | Affordable Housing Task Force – FCH advocated for, and was successful in securing, an amendment to include ‘a homeless advocate’ as a task force member. |
| 2016 | HB 1235/SB 1534 – Housing Assistance | The original bill text attempted changes to current law that were adverse to FCH’s efforts. FCH successfully advocated for a number of amendments to the bill in FCH’s favor. |
| 2015 | HB 1291/SB 586 – Amendment 1 Implementation | The bill amended the underlying doc stamp distribution statute to implement Amendment 1. FCH advocated to protect the provisions within the bill to preserve the existing distributions to the Housing Trust Funds. Because of FCH’s legislative advocacy, the doc stamp distribution to the housing trust funds were held harmless preserving critical funds for ending homelessness in the State of Florida. |
| 2014 | HB 203/SB 260 – Unaccompanied Homeless Youths | Establishes the legal authority for an unaccompanied homeless youth to consent to certain medical procedures and care or consent to a forensic medical examination without a parent’s permission. |
| 2014 | HB 979/SB1500 – Homelessness | The bill modified the training and technical assistance program under the Affordable Housing Planning and Community Assistance Act (Act), to provide that an acceptable use of the Act is to meet the needs of the homeless. Further, the bill also modifies qualifications and eligible activities for “Challenge Grants” administered by the Office of Homelessness within the Department of Children and Families. FCH successfully advocated for a number of amendments to the bill in FCH’s favor. |
| 2013 | HB 93/SB 402 – Homeless | The bill allows voluntary contributions of $1 per applicant for motor vehicle registration, renewal of registration, license application, renewal issuance or renewal extension, to aid the homeless. As of May 31, 2016, $178,566.88 has been collected. |
Reduction in Homelessness
Florida is now third in homelessness. During the 2018 annual Point in Time count, there were 31,030 individuals and persons in families who were homeless.
Although the number of homeless individuals appear to be decreasing, the rate of decrease is still not acceptable. Although the State of Florida saw the fourth largest decrease in homeless from 2007-2018 at 35.4, the rate of decrease is slowing, over the past two years, Florida has only seen a 4% reduction in homelessness annually.
More Affordable Housing is Needed
There is not a single county in the country where a minimum wage worker can afford a one bedroom apartment at the local fair market rent without working more than 40 hours per week.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition Out of Reach Report, efforts to house and support a family on such wages are next to impossible and perpetuate inequalities in educational, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Housing insecurity presents a huge issue for single parent families with children and particularly in the case where generational gaps exist in families. More and more grandparents are caring for grandchildren on fixed and limited incomes in communities where the growth in market rents has far outstripped income growth.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition Housing Needs by State, Florida has a shortage of 428,622 rental homes affordable and available for extremely low income renters. 80% of Florida’s low income renter households are cost burdened, paying over 50% of their income for housing.