Legislative Advocacy
The Florida Coalition to End Homelessness (FCEH) members stand as one voice to improve policy and increase funding to prevent and end homelessness in the State of Florida.
Become an Advocate
Legislative Advocacy begins with you! FCEH welcomes you to join our team and advocate for our legislative priorities with your Florida State Representatives and Senators.
FCEH Members provided input and suggestions for each year’s State Legislative Priorities. The approved FCEH priorities for the 2024 Legislative Session have been approved by CoC members at our Annual Meeting on June 30, 2023. They are:
2024 FCEH Legislative Priorities
| Priority #1: | Continue Homeless Continuum of Care Staffing Grant Ask: Maintain current Fiscal Year Funding for the recurring base budget Homeless Staffing Grants ($5.2 million) FCEH supports the continuation of recurring funding for the Homeless Housing Assistance grants (A.K.A. "Homeless Staffing Grants”) for Fiscal Year 2024-25. CoCs continue to incur additional costs to complete the required tasks as outlined in s. 420.644, FS. Without the Staffing Grant, Florida’s CoC system, which draws down and administers over $110 million annually to the State, would not be able to operate. The Staffing Grant provides $185,900 for operational expenses to each of the State’s 28 CoC Lead Agencies. A few examples of the operational expenses include salaries, office rent, equipment, electricity, internet, telephone, and supplies. On average, each CoC supports three full-time staff positions with this funding. CoCs are responsible for a wide array of services to address homelessness in their communities and have done exemplary work to increase collaborative partnerships to keep homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Without appropriate staffing levels, this momentum is not sustainable. |
| Priority #2: | Continue Homeless CoC Recurring Challenge Grant Funding Ask: Maintain current Fiscal Year Funding for the recurring base budget Homeless Challenge Grants ($16.84 million) FCEH supports the continuation of recurring funding for the homeless Challenge Grants for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The legislature has funded this grant program each year consecutively since 2014. s. 420.644(4), FS, establishes the Challenge Grant Program and creates criteria for local grant awards, competitively procured through the State Office on Homelessness. This funding is used by the CoCs to meet emergency housing needs of the homeless and at-risk individuals and families, especially those needs which cannot be met by any other program. |
Members are encouraged to join the Advocacy Committee. For more information, please email Leeanne Sacino at info@fchonline.org
Calendar of Legislative Events
Florida Coalition to End Homelessness Advocacy Goals
Secure Funding
Florida Coalition to End Homelessness (FCEH) has been instrumental in securing recurring Challenge Grant and CoC Staffing Grant contracts. This work has resulted in a three-year unified contract for all CoC staffing, Challenge Grant, ESG, and TANF dollars. These funds are provided directly to all of the Continuum of Care Lead Agencies in the State of Florida. This allows the CoC to plan ahead and to identify and fund homeless programs throughout the State.
FCEH worked with the State Office on Homelessness to reduce the number of homeless contracts to the 27 Lead Agencies. The goal was to move all funding streams to a unified RFA for lead agencies with a 3-year contract. This has resulted in an extension of the expenditure window to a full 12 months year to year. This has also reduced the dollars being returned unspent.
Improve Policy
FCEH is a leading voice on state homeless policy. From advocating for improved state policy to analyzing enacted and proposed legislation, FCEH actively engages in the legislative process. FCEH works collaboratively with public, private, and nonprofit partners to develop, analyze, and advocate for policy solutions to end homelessness.
Sadowski Coalition Affiliate
FCEH is a Sadowski Coalition affiliate, one of 30 statewide organizations that agree that the state and local housing trust funds should be used for only one thing: Florida’s housing programs.
The State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP), provides funds directly to local Governments for eligible activities included in their Local Housing Assistance Plan. We strongly encourage our members to participate in the planning for affordable housing.
The State Apartment Incentive Loan Program (SAIL) provides low-interest loans on a competitive basis to affordable housing developers each year. FCEH continues to advocate for the homeless and special needs set-asides. FCEH also advocates for RFP policies for housing projects to have minimum requirements for application. Ensuring access to affordable housing by allowing those with zero income, those with poor credit or eviction histories, or those with criminal backgrounds is an initiative of FCEH to allow those experiencing homelessness to move into housing.