Florida’s housing affordability crisis casts long shadows over the dreams of countless Floridians. As we grapple with soaring prices and the evaporation of the homeownership dream for the average citizen, it’s evident that addressing this crisis requires more than piecemeal solutions or incremental adjustments. We need a paradigm shift, an innovative approach akin to starting with a blank sheet of paper.
Florida’s housing market is strained to its limits, with median home prices skyrocketing from under $300,000 in 2015 to over $450,000 by 2022. Meanwhile, median household income has fallen from $66,856 in 2019 to $59,734 in 2021. This disconnect between income and housing costs has rendered homeownership an elusive dream for many, particularly affecting young adults under 35 and disproportionately impacting Black and Hispanic communities.
Central to this crisis is Florida’s zoning framework, characterized by its restrictive nature, which significantly hampers the housing market’s ability to adjust to residents’ evolving demands. This framework, entrenched by the Growth Management Act of 1985 and slightly modified by the Community Planning Act of 2011, fosters a rigid system that stifles housing diversity and escalates costs.
Building on comprehensive research conducted by the DeVoe L. Moore Center at Florida State University, the Florida Policy Project suggests a transformative approach to tackling Florida’s housing crisis, proposing several actionable strategies:
- Upzoning: This can encourage the development of more housing units within cities, addressing the demand for affordable options.
- Light-Touch Density: Encouraging the development of duplexes, triplexes and other multi-family units can significantly increase the housing supply.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Legalizing ADUs can efficiently utilize existing lots, offering affordable housing without disrupting neighborhood character.
- Reducing Minimum Lot Sizes: This strategy can create more housing units per acre, alleviating the housing shortage.
- Adopting Form-Based Codes: Focusing on neighborhood character rather than rigid land-use restrictions allows for organic growth and evolution in housing development.
Incorporating these strategies requires a collective will to embrace change and challenge the status quo, envisioning a future where affordable housing is accessible to all Floridians.
However, to fully address the crisis, we must also consider the impact of housing vouchers, a critical tool for many low-income, working families in securing affordable housing. Recent research commissioned by the Florida Policy Project, including findings from the FSU DeVoe L. Moore Center, underscores the efficacy of vouchers in bridging the gap between the cost of housing and what these families can afford. Yet, the allocation and utilization of vouchers are often hampered by bureaucratic red tape and insufficient funding, limiting their potential impact.
To truly transform Florida’s approach to housing, it is imperative to not only reform zoning and encourage development but also to enhance the voucher system. Recommendations include: streamlining government funding, modifying the application process, and fostering partnerships between state agencies, local governments and private landlords to expand the availability of voucher-eligible housing. By doing so, we can make a more immediate and tangible impact on the lives of those struggling with housing affordability today.
The Florida Policy Project calls upon policymakers, community leaders and all stakeholders to come together and craft a new blueprint for Florida’s future — one that recognizes the critical role of housing in ensuring economic prosperity and social mobility. By starting with a blank sheet of paper and incorporating both long-term strategies and immediate supports like housing vouchers, we have the opportunity to rewrite the narrative of Florida’s housing crisis into one of resilience, innovation and collective action. Together, we can build not just more houses, but a more inclusive and equitable future for Florida.
Jeff Brandes served in the Florida Legislature from 2010 to 2022. After leaving office, he founded the Florida Policy Project, a nonpartisan organization that researches best practices and better outcomes in housing affordability, property insurance, criminal justice and transportation. He lives in St. Petersburg.
