Working together: Habitat and Sadowski

The April 24 editorial, Restore Affordable-Housing Funds, promoted the William Sadowski Affordable Housing Act and encouraged the Florida Legislature to avoid raiding the Sadowski Trust Fund dedicated to housing help for some of Florida’s poorest families.

Habitat for Humanity of Florida has for years supported funding for the Sadowski Act. Our organization, with 58 local affiliates in Florida, has long been a member of the Sadowski Coalition and advocated for the use of the trust fund monies for their intended purposes.

Florida legislature set to approve $200M mortgage settlement spending plan

Florida lawmakers are poised on Tuesday to approve a bill that spells out how the state will spend $200 million received from a landmark settlement with five of the nation’s largest lenders.

The settlement was announced more than a year ago, but it took months for the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and Attorney General Pam Bondi to reach agreement over who would have the final say over how the money would be spent.

Lawmakers approve $200 million bank settlement

More than a year after reaching a major settlement with some of the nation's leading lenders, Florida is finally spelling out how $200 million of that money will be spent.

The Florida Legislature on Tuesday sent to Gov. Rick Scott a measure that spreads money from everything from domestic violence shelters to affordable housing programs and Habitat for Humanity.

Lawmakers approve $200 million bank settlement

More than a year after reaching a major settlement with some of the nation's leading lenders, Florida is finally spelling out how $200 million of that money will be spent.

The Florida Legislature on Tuesday sent to Gov. Rick Scott a measure that spreads money from everything from domestic violence shelters to affordable housing programs and Habitat for Humanity.

Perspective: Restore affordable-housing funds

We’ve seen this sleight of hand before. Two decades ago, state legislators used money from the Florida Lottery to supplant education funding — not, as they had promised, to supplement it.

EDITORIAL: Restore Affordable Housing Funds

We’ve seen this sleight of hand before. Two decades ago, state legislators used money from the Florida Lottery to supplant education funding — not, as they had promised, to supplement it.

Despite tax-fattened coffers, lawmakers still raid housing fund

TALLAHASSEE – Despite a cash-flush budget that has policymakers considering a grab-bag of corporate and stadium incentives, Florida lawmakers are still raiding a fund created two decades ago to help provide low-income housing.

EDITORIAL: Keeping the trust

When you make a promise, keep it — especially when it involves taxpayers’ money. This simple rule is one legislators conveniently forget when they balance the state budget by dipping into trust funds that were set up for other purposes. Like azaleas blooming on the Capitol grounds, it’s one of Tallahassee’s enduring spring rituals — but not so pretty.

EDITORIAL: Trust fund distrust: Give more public scrutiny to big-dollar 'sweeps'

When you make a promise, keep it -- especially when it involves taxpayers' money. This simple rule is one legislators conveniently forget when they balance the state budget by dipping into trust funds that were set up for other purposes. Like azaleas blooming on the Capitol grounds, it's one of Tallahassee's enduring spring rituals -- but not so pretty.

EDITORIAL: Renew commitment to affordable housing

For four years, Florida lawmakers unwilling to have broader discussions about raising revenue have used the same excuse to undercut the state's longtime commitment to affordable housing: Cash-strapped state budgets required them to raid affordable housing programs to cover other general government needs. Now it's a habit Republican leaders apparently aren't willing to break — and the House is even hiding behind the ill-gotten gains of the nation's biggest banks to do so. With the state's finances improved, it's time to restore Florida's commitment to affordable housing.

EDITORIAL: Struggling homeowners stiffed by Florida Legislature

Florida's Legislature is once again planning to violate the public trust by raiding the trust fund established to create more affordable housing, diverting $200 million to such priorities as teacher pay raises and health care. At the same time, lawmakers plan to spend $200 million from the state's share of a national mortgage settlement over bank foreclosure and mortgage abuses on things other than aid to struggling homeowners -- its intended purpose.

Jaimie Ross: Florida Legislature must use housing trust funds for housing

This year, the Legislature faces no budget deficit and a recovering economy that has generated an estimated $200 million in Sadowski state and local housing trust funds ($53.40 million for state programs, like SAIL, and $151.41 million for SHIP), as well as an Attorney General settlement that has brought $200 million in bank settlement funds to be appropriated for housing-related activities.

Guest Editorial: Stop diverting the state’s housing fund

Heading into the 2013 legislative session, things were looking good. No budget deficit and a recovering economy that has generated an estimated $200 million in Sadowski state and local housing trust funds, as well as an attorney-general settlement that has generated an additional $200 million in bank settlement funds to be appropriated for housing related activities.

Jaimie Ross: No excuses for raids on housing trust funds

Halfway through the 2013 legislative session, things are looking good. No budget deficit, and a recovering economy that has generated an estimated $200 million in Sadowski state and local housing trust funds ($53.4 million for state programs such as SAIL, and $151.41 million for SHIP), as well as an attorney general settlement that has generated an additional $200 million in bank settlement funds to be appropriated for housing-related activities.

House and Senate split on affordable housing money

Looks like House Republicans are alone in completely stripping a trust fund set aside for helping homeowners hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis.

EDITORIAL: Stop pilfering from fund for affordable housing

For the past four years, Florida lawmakers have raided money from a state trust fund for affordable housing to help close budget deficits. They can't use that excuse in this legislative session; state economists are now projecting a budget surplus next year of more than $1 billion.

Hands off Sadowski Fund

OUR OPINION: Legislators should not divert money from designated accounts
By The Miami Herald Editorial

For the first time in years, economic forecasters believe Florida might have a surplus instead of a deficit as it prepares its annual budget, so the time is ripe for lawmakers to end the dishonest practice of diverting funds from specific accounts for use in general revenue.

EDITORIAL: Time for Legislature to Invest in Florida

When legislators convene in Tallahassee on Tuesday, they’ll face the unusual challenge of dealing with a projected surplus in revenue, according to Gov. Rick Scott, instead of another one of the annual deficits that have wreaked havoc on education, environmental protection and a broad array of services in Florida.

EDITORIAL: Sadowski housing trust fund should be spent as law outlines

The William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act is one of those altruistic government programs that serves multiple purposes. Primarily designed to as a dedicated funding source to create more affordable housing for vulnerable and needy Floridians, the 1992 act also provides jobs in the housing industry.

Pam Bondi: Foreclosure victim relief available

Florida was one of the hardest hit states when the real estate bubble burst, sending thousands of homes into foreclosure and creating backlogs in the court system. My office, along with the Department of Justice, 48 other attorneys general, and the District of Columbia, investigated five of the nation's largest mortgage servicers, Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, for allegations of foreclosure-related misconduct.

A quartet of economists optimistic about Tampa Bay area's future

Snowbirds aren't the only ones flocking to Tampa Bay this time of year.

Gov. Scott asks for money for housing program

Gov. Rick Scott has requested $50 million under his 2013-14 budget plan for a popular affordable housing program that has gone unfunded for several years.

Trickle Down Foreclosure Settlement - Faucet is On

“Real relief for real people,” that is Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s slogan for distributing funds from the $25 Billion National Foreclosure Settlement with the five largest banks.  

Eyeing Re-Election, Scott Ends Austerity: $4 Billion Extra Spending in $74.2 Billion Budget

Gov. Rick Scott’s $74.2 billion budget proposal unveiled Thursday is the largest in the state’s history and includes a $4 billion spending increase that targets constituencies Scott hopes to win back as he seeks re-election in 2014, among them teachers, environmentalists and what state workers will remain on the payroll.

RELEASE: Sadowski Coalition Commends Governor Scott for Taking Lead on Funding for Housing

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Sadowski Housing Coalition commends Governor Rick Scott today for recommending $50 million to fund the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program in his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14.

Scott Follows Thru on Budget Promises, More Giveaways

 As promised, Gov. Rick Scott’s $74.2 billion budget request includes millions in tax breaks for manufacturers and more to help state economic developers to entice companies to relocate or expand in the state.

More housing help could be on the way

 Florida Gov. Rick Scott today requested $50 million under his 2013-14 budget plan for a popular affordable housing program that has gone unfunded for several years.If approved by Florida Legislature, the earmark would help find housing for an estimated 4,000 recession-battered Sunshine State families through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, according to program administrator Florida Housing Finance Corp.

Florida to get $8.6 million in 'robo-signing' settlement

Florida will get an $8.6 million share of a national settlement with a loan-processing company over so-called "robo-signing" and other improper mortgage foreclosure practices.

Financial assistance available for homeowners affected by housing crisis

An $8 billion effort to compensate Floridians who were caught up in the mortgage fraud that enveloped the country has only reached about half of those affected by crisis, state officials said last week.

Mortgage help on the way for Floridians

Florida is preparing to hand out $35 million in mortgage assistance to Florida home buyers as a result of the national mortgage settlement.

Formerly homeless Jacksonville man now works for affordable housing nonprofit

When Micheal Cochran heads downtown at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday to begin the annual count of Northeast Florida's homeless, he will meet people who live on the streets, under bridges and in vehicles. And he will remember when he was one of them.

Push to restore funding to affordable housing programs

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Real estate agent Fredrick Fletcher knows firsthand how much extra cash can help. He received $10,000 from the Sadowski Trust Funds' "SHIP" program. 

Foreclosure rate in Florida leads the nation

 Florida posted the nation's highest foreclosure rate in 2012, but the crisis that began six years ago appears to be winding down "comfortably past the peak," the RealtyTrac listing firm says.

State Makes Final Push To Locate Homeowners for Piece of Federal Mortgage Settlement

 TALLAHASSEE | Time is running out for tens of thousands of Floridians who may be eligible for claim payments as part of a national settlement with five major lenders.

Editorial: Should Florida do a foreclosure favor for lenders?

 Five years after the housing market crash saw thousands of Floridians lose their homes — fraudulently, in many cases — state legislators are poised to consider yet another bill designed to expedite foreclosures through the court system, where cases often languish for more than a year.

Santa Rosa legislators meet with constituents

A few concerned Santa Rosa County residents turned out tonight to tell their representatives in the state Legislature what they think is important for them to focus on in the 2013 session.

Florida keeps top foreclosure ranking

Florida maintained its leading spot nationally for foreclosure activity last month with a filing rate more than twice the national average.

Data show Florida’s housing market still healing slowly

 New data on home foreclosures and negative home equity illustrate that Florida’s battered housing market is continuing to inch toward recovery but remains far from healthy.

EDITORIAL: Keeping housing funds in order

An agreement between Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and lawmakers should ensure the bulk of the state's mortgage settlement goes to deserving Floridians.

EDITORIAL: Bondi struck bad deal on $200 million from mortgage fraud settlement

Attorney General Pam Bondi assured Floridians that $300 million from a national mortgage settlement would go to distressed homeowners. She can’t keep that promise, though, because she’s given the Florida Legislature control over most of the money.

Holding up housing help for Florida

An agreement between Attorney General Pam Bondi and the state's incoming legislative leaders over how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars from a national settlement over foreclosure abuses is too vague and too late. Bondi has been rightfully pushing to get the money spent quickly on help to homeowners facing foreclosure, but state lawmakers have been standing in the way. What they have finally agreed upon would delay most of the help until well into next year without specifically designating how the money would be spent. The agreement appears to be more concerned with the prerogatives of the Legislature than the interests of Florida's struggling families.

Editorial: Good deal on fraud settlement

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and legislative leaders have tentatively settled a dispute over how to distribute $334 million from the state's mortgage-fraud settlement. Good for them and, if the Legislature keeps its end of the deal, good for Florida.

Pam Bondi reaches deal over $300 million foreclosure settlement

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday she has reached a deal with the state lawmakers over how to use $300 million in foreclosure settlement money that has sat dormant since April as top officials have haggled over who had authority to spend the cash.

Deal on $300 million foreclosure settlement

TALLAHASSEE (AP) - After a months-long feud, Florida's attorney general and the state Legislature reached a deal Friday intended to clear the way for more than $300 million in mortgage settlement money to finally start flowing to those affected by the foreclosure crisis.

Florida AG and lawmakers commit $260M bank settlement to help homeowners

 Florida Attorney General Palm Bondi has come to an agreement with the leaders of the Florida Legislature to use $260 million of the national mortgage settlement from big banks for homeowner relief in the state.
Bondi’s office helped secure $8.4 billion as part of the $25 billion settlement between 49 state attorneys general and the largest mortgage servicers. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Citigroup (NYSE: C) and Ally Financial/GMAC (NYSE: ALLY) were accused of filing foreclosure lawsuits with faulty information.

Fla. AG reaches deal over $300 million settlement

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is signing off on a deal with the GOP-controlled Legislature over $300 million intended to help homeowners.

Why Florida is Sitting on $300 Million Meant to Help Homeowners

Florida has the highest percentage of home loans in foreclosure in the country. So why is more than $300 million that could help homeowners sitting unused?

Attorney General Pam Bondi, lawmakers haggle over millions in foreclosure cash

Florida is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the number of homes in foreclosures and the number of people on the verge of losing their homes.

Lawmakers shouldn't raid the settlement fund

Given Tallahassee's chronic budget shortfalls and lawmakers' love of found money, it's no wonder some of them are casting covetous eyes on the $334 million pot of gold that Florida received as its share of a $25 billion settlement with mortgage banks. 

EDITORIAL: Hands off the money

Given Tallahasee’s chronic budget shortfalls and lawmakers’ love of found money, it’s no wonder some of them are casting covetous eyes on the $334 million pot of gold that Florida received as its share of a $25 billion settlement with mortgage banks.

Cautious optimism over Fla. foreclosure deal funds

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Six months after the announcement of a 49-state settlement with lenders over mortgage foreclosure abuses, Florida still hasn't done anything with its share, but a homeowner advocate said Thursday she was "cautiously optimistic." 

Homes still out of reach

The American Dream is elusive for some, despite lower home prices in many markets.
Though median home prices fell since 2011 in the majority of markets, home ownership still was not within reach for one-third of the 74 occupations studied, according to a report to be released today by the Center for Housing Policy.

LETTER TO EDITOR: Housing fund should help all

Thanks to The Miami Herald for supporting the Sadowski Trust Fund, Florida’s affordable housing fund that is the envy of other states, but has been woefully underfunded in recent years. Thanks to Attorney General Pam Bondi for seeking public input on how best to allocate Florida’s portion of the national mortgage settlement. 

Last day to tell state how to spend giant mortgage settlement

Florida is now sitting on about $300 million in mortgage-settlement funds, and everyone from real-estate agents to victimized homeowners has been advising state Attorney General Pam Bondi on how to spend it. 

EDITORIAL: Florida's $300-million housing bounty

Advocates of affordable housing in Florida, listen up: You have a chance to weigh in on how the state uses $300 million to ease the pain of the foreclosure crisis, but you must act quickly. 

Florida Realtors: Spend $100M of banks' settlement money on workforce housing

As a strong advocate for affordable housing, Florida Realtors urges Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to put the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund at the top of the state’s list to receive some of an expected $300-plus million due from the recent foreclosure legal settlement with five of the nation’s largest banks. 

Realtors Suggest Housing Trusts for Mortgage Settlement Money

EDITORIAL: Florida's $300-million housing bounty

Mortgage Fraud: Suggest Settlement Ideas

Florida Realtors®: Spend $100M of Banks' Settlement Money On Workforce Housing

Florida Realtors®: Spend $100M of Banks' Settlement Money On Workforce Housing

EDITORIAL: Florida’s $300-million housing bounty

Advocates of affordable housing in Florida, listen up: You have a chance to weigh in on how the state uses $300 million to ease the pain of the foreclosure crisis, but you must act quickly. 

Group wants foreclosure fraud settlement money for affordable housing programs

Lawmakers again swept document stamp tax funds this year that were supposed to go toward affordable housing programs, but a multi-state foreclosure fraud settlement has given groups supporting those programs new hope.

Florida Morning: Tough GOP v. GOP battles; Allied Vets: We don't need to open our books

FORECLOSURE FUND SETTLEMENT: Attorney General Pam Bondi has discretion on how to spend $300 million from a foreclosure fraud settlement, and the Sadowski Coalition wants her to spend at least one-third of it on affordable housing. Florida Current: http://bit.ly/JmR804

Tuesday Morning Reads: Presidential politics, housing and loans

* A coalition that advocates for affordable housing wants money from foreclosure settlements to go toward affordable housing programs, the Florida Current reports.

EDITORIAL: Salvation Army's plan would spare some families from homelessness

 The Salvation Army's idea to build affordable housing for families -- and put a small plug in the gaping hole of local residential options for low-income workers -- merits an open and honest community discussion. In the current market, apartment rents are out of reach for many with minimum-wage jobs and part-time employment. 

EDITORIAL: Legislative session creates a slew of messes

The Florida Legislature ended its 60-day session with nothing to help cash-strapped homeowners or college students or those struggling to get a job or to ensure safety for the frail elderly at state-licensed facilities. Yet legislators delivered plenty of indiscriminate business tax breaks. 

EDITORIAL: Missed opportunities

2012 session summary: Real Estate and Growth Management

Legislators hit hardest the pocketbooks of state workers, college students

State needs to keep its trust funds

The state of Florida has long played a cynical game with its trust funds, turning the term on its head.

One example is the Sadowski fund, which is designed to make housing more affordable. It was perfectly designed to produce funds based on documentary stamp taxes. When prices are high, the taxes produce more revenue.

Despite drop in housing prices, affordability in Florida declines for 'working' households

Wake up and good morning. It feels wrong at first. How can Florida -- where housing prices have dropped like a stone for years -- rank No. 2 behind pricey California as the state with the highest number of "working households" paying at least half of their income on housing costs? According to this new Center for Housing Policy survey, a third of Florida working households pay more than half their income on housing. 

State Rep. Hazelle Rogers: Why I oppose the new state budget.

 "It also drains the housing trust fund by $91 million. This concerns me because wages have stayed flat over the last decade while housing cost has increased by 51 percent. There is an affordable housing crisis in Broward County.  These funds housing assistance funds could assist in remedying this situation."                                                    

EDITORIAL: Use sales taxes for jobs, children

It’s time for state leaders to do something about online retailers, many of them out of state that fail to remit sales taxes on Internet purchases. 

Scott raided trust funds to help balance budget

As a businessman outsider, Rick Scott promised to ditch the old tricks politicians used when it came to passing the state budget. Part of that pledge was to balance the budget "without gimmicks, one-time revenues, borrowed funds, temporary funds, or tax increases." 

Florida Legislative Preview – 2012

Redistricting won't completely dominate the legislative landscape in January. A look at other issues percolating in the background and who wants what.  

Editorial: No more raids on housing funds

With the Legislature again facing a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall, Florida's affordable-housing trust funds will once more be at risk.

Florida Revenue Shortfall: Stop Housing-Fund Raids

With the Legislature again facing a revenue shortfall for some $2 billion, Florida's affordable-housing trust funds will once more be at risk. 

Scott Needs to Put Housing Dollars Into Housing Projects

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature have the ability to create nearly 9,000 jobs and $900 million in economic impact in fiscal year 2012-2013, by appropriating the state and local housing trust fund money for housing, rather than sweeping those funds dedicated to housing into general revenue.

Paul Flemming: Trust Funds are Targets Again

The broom's smaller, but the sweeping goes on. Since 2008, the state has relied on $2.8 billion swept out of dedicated trust funds — money set aside by legislative act and theoretically reserved for specific purposes — to allow the state to balance its budget in lean times.

EDITORIAL: Stop Raids on Housing Funds

With the Legislature again facing a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall, Florida's affordable-housing trust funds will once more be at risk.

Use dedicated funds solely for housing

Gov. Scott and the Florida Legislature have the ability to create almost 9,000 jobs and $900 million in economic impact in fiscal year 2012-13, by appropriating the state and local housing trust fund money for housing, rather than sweeping those dedicated funds into general revenue.

Jaimie Ross: Use Florida housing dollars for housing

Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature have the ability to create nearly 9,000 jobs and $900 million in economic impact in Fiscal Year 2012-13, by appropriating the state and local housing trust fund money for housing, rather than sweeping those funds dedicated to housing into general revenue.

Homelessness and Hope

In a network news show last Sunday, "60 Minutes" presented viewers with "Hard Times Generation: Families living in cars," a real-life, heart-rending portrait of homelessness.

Our take on: Hands off housing

Almost 20 years ago, Florida legislators increased a tax on real-estate transactions to create a trust fund that would finance state and local affordable-housing initiatives. They did so at the urging of a coalition of business groups, local governments and advocates for the poor and elderly.

Stop raiding the housing trust fund

There’s a smattering of good news on unemployment. Florida’s jobless rate fell to 10.3 percent in October, its lowest rate in 28 months. Job growth is continuing, though slowly, with 94,000 jobs being created in the state in the last year, according to the state Department of Economic Opportunity.

Sadowski coalition looks to prevent affordable housing trust fund raid this year

The Sadowski Housing Coalition, an association of business groups, charities and advocacy groups for the poor and elderly, is hoping to prevent a fourth straight year of heavy raids on the Florida's affordable housing trust fund.

Advocates fear loss of state fund to help Jacksonville homebuyers Florida Times-Union

The Jacksonville Housing and Neighborhoods Department approved 26 Jacksonville residents last week to receive about $15,000 each in down payment assistance so they could qualify to purchase new or existing homes.

'Redeploy the money'

On April 7, the state Senate approved a bill that would maintain the document stamp tax funding the Sadowski trust, but would divert the money to the state's general fund. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, chairman of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations, said the bill was introduced in response to a proposal by Gov. Rick Scott to eliminate the Sadowski trust fund.

Foreclosure assistance program taking claims

A $1 billion program aimed at helping homeowners avoid foreclosure kicked off Monday, though it is less ambitious than originally proposed.

Senate panel diverts low-cost housing funds

TALLAHASSEE -- A proposal that would permanently divert at least $194 million annually in real estate-related taxes from Florida's affordable housing program to general state spending won approval Friday from the Senate Budget Committee.

Senate Proposes to End Affordable Housing

A coalition of affordable housing advocates is urging the Senate to drop a proposal that would permanently redirect real estate transaction tax revenue from the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund to General Revenue.

Jaimie Ross: Use Florida housing trust funds to help rehabilitate foreclosed, abandoned homes

Contractors and subcontractors constitute a substantial number of those who are now unable to pay their mortgage or rent. But Florida has work for them to do. We have thousands of foreclosed and abandoned homes in need of rehabilitation; in need of all the skills they can provide.

Jobs and housing: Use housing trust funds as intended

Contractors and subcontractors constitute a substantial number of those who are now unable to pay their mortgage or rent. But Florida has work for them to do.

Use trust funds to rehabilitate foreclosed homes

Contractors and subcontractors constitute a substantial number of those who are now unable to pay their mortgage or rent. But Florida has work for them to do. We have thousands of foreclosed and abandoned homes in need of rehabilitation; in need of all the skills they can provide.

Ross: Let housing fund fulfill its purpose

Contractors and subcontractors constitute a substantial number of those now unable to pay their mortgage or rent. But Florida has work for them to do. We have thousands of foreclosed and abandoned homes that are in need of rehabilitation; in need of all the skills they can provide. And we have the money to put them to work: We have approximately $193 million in dedicated revenue from Florida's state and local housing trust funds in fiscal year 2011-2012. If the Legislature appropriates that money for its intended purposes, it will create nearly 15,000 jobs and more than $1.4 billion in economic activity.

Jaimie Ross: Affordable housing means Florida jobs

Contractors and subcontractors constitute a substantial number of those who are now unable to pay their mortgage or rent. But Florida has work for them to do. We have thousands of foreclosed and abandoned homes that are in need of rehabilitation; in need of all the skills they can provide. And we have the money to put them to work: We have approximately $193 million in dedicated revenue from Florida’s state and local housing trust funds in FY 2011-12. If the Legislature appropriates that money for its intended purposes, it will create nearly 15,000 jobs and more than $1.4 billion in economic activity. 

Florida tops list of decreasing affordable housing

In Florida, roughly 855,000 working households had a severe housing cost burden in 2009. This represents 33 percent of all working households, a significant increase from 30 percent since 2008, a new study reports.

No Promises to Pay Back Money Taken from Sadowski Fund

Senate budget chairman J.D. Alexander, who led negotiations with the House on the budget fix that includes taking $190 million from the Sadowski Trust Fund for affordable housing, ruled out on Wednesday the possibility of those funds being repaid with federal stimulus dollars.