Miami-Dade County resolution would require five-year affordable housing plan

A resolution approved Tuesday by the Miami-Dade County Commission today would require a five-year plan to be drafted to address the region’s affordable housing crisis.

Resolution 11(A)(4), which was passed via the consent agenda or with no formal vote or discussion, tasks County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava or someone she designates to write a plan to support the building of affordable housing to meet the county’s demands. The plan must also include recommendations for county commissioners.

Previous coverage – 

• Miami-Dade Mayor Levine Cava announces relief program to help working families pay rent
• Bad reputation? Miami-Dade County's affordability problem continues to vex officials
• Too high: Rents, home prices blowing up in Miami-Dade County
• Evictions, high rent: Renters in South Florida continue to struggle

The resolution, sponsored by former state Sen. and current Commissioner René García, received no pushback in committee and during the meeting, getting a stamp of approval with no discussion. It comes as Miami-Dade County has some of the highest rent prices in the country.

The City of Miami is the fifth-most expensive city to rent an apartment in the United States. About 250,000 Miami-Dade County households pay more than they can afford in their rent or mortgage. 

Secretary for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marcia Fudge said the county is “the epicenter of the housing crisis in this country.”

The resolution requires the plan to take stock of current affordable housing in the county, have future housing locations identified, and the development of affordable housing programs to meet resident needs. 

The plan must be submitted within a year, with a status report due within six months. An affordable housing plan would be due again every five years if the resolution is passed by the commission.

Levine Cava has prioritized affordable housing during her tenure in office, declaring an affordability crisis in the county last year and pushing for large budget allocations toward housing. 

A request for comment from Levine Cava’s office is pending.

Editor's note – This story was updated 2 p.m. Tuesday.