The State of Florida's Assisted Rental Housing

Publication Date: June 2009

Publisher: Shimberg Center for Housing Studies, University of Florida

Author(s): Douglas White; Patricia Roset-Zuppa; William O'Dell; Diep Nguyen; Anne Ray

Research Area: Social conditions

Keywords: subsidized housing; assisted rental housing; housing

Type: Report

Coverage: Florida

Abstract:

This report examines the characteristics of Florida's stock of assisted rental housing, finding that the 253,826 income- and rent-restricted units throughout Florida can be characterized as follows: 1) located in large metropolitan areas; 2) occupied by tenants with incomes below 60% of the area median income; 3) open to the general low-income population, rather than specific groups; and 4) relatively new. The report goes on to trace changes in the housing stock since the 1960s, revealing that as housing assistance in the state has shifted from HUD and RD funds to being financed primarily by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, there has been a growing emphasis on famliy housing and for-profit ownership. Lastly, the report examines preservation risks to older assisted properties that may result in the loss of affordable housing.