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Broward leaders press state delegation to protect affordable housing, shore up eviction-prevention programs
Summary
County and state officials told the Broward legislative delegation that affordable housing and homelessness must remain top priorities, flagging Sadowski funds, HUD cuts and an eviction-prevention program that county officials say has kept more than 600 families housed.
Broward County and state lawmakers on Thursday prioritized affordable housing and homelessness as the top items in the county elegation genda and urged continued state support for local programs and funding safeguards.
The delegation and county commissioners said the county—aces ongoing shortages of permanent supportive housing and warned that potential state and federal budget actions could worsen the situation. "Eviction prevention has become such an important part of our homeless program," said former state senator Nan Rich, who asked legislators to back county efforts that she said have "saved over 600 families" since the program began and have protected "320 children" in those households.
The discussion centered on several concrete concerns: the status of Sadowski Trust Fund dollars designated for affordable housing, possible reductions in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development staff and grants, and the county's own eviction-prevention efforts and legal-aid expansions. Rich and other speakers urged the delegation to track which local programs rely on federal versus state funding and to press for protections or new funding if federal HUD resources are cut.
Commissioner Hazel Rogers emphasized homeownership as a route to household wealth while urging the delegation not to lose sight of permanently affordable units amid new higher-density rental development. "Homeownership wealth comes from owning properties," Rogers said, adding that county requests should include dedicated dollars for maintaining affordable homeownership and condo protections for seniors.
County staff and commission leaders described recent local measures supporting tenants and seniors: the county said it added another legal-aid team to its eviction-prevention program and is creating a team focused on senior housing cases. County officials also noted the addition of peer-support services and behavioral-health programming tied to housing stability.
The Broward Coordinating Council will run a virtual housing workshop series tied to the county ffordable Housing Master Plan, officials said. The series is scheduled to run March 12 through Dec. 12, 2025, and will cover homelessness, ownership, condo issues and housing for special-needs populations, county staff said.
Speakers pressed the delegation to watch for state-level changes that could affect local revenues and housing programs, including proposals that would alter property-tax structures or repurpose trust funds. Lawmakers responded that they had narrowed the delegation genda to items directly affecting the county and promised to follow up with county staff on specific funding and program questions.
The meeting did not include any formal votes on state legislation; commissioners and legislators said they would coordinate follow-up briefings in Tallahassee and requested further program-by-program funding breakdowns from county departments.
County and delegation staff said they would share more detailed program spreadsheets and that local offices would continue outreach to constituents and nonprofit partners to track potential funding disruptions.
