Tallahassee, FL: The Florida Housing Coalition, the state’s nonprofit provider of training and technical assistance dedicated to affordable housing from ending homelessness to first-time homeownership, announced the receipt of a $50,000 grant from Truist Financial Corporation to further the Coalition’s most critical work.
“Truist has been committed to the Florida Housing Coalition’s mission as a Partner for Better Housing for more than a decade, through its predecessor banks, BB&T and SunTrust,” stated the Coalition’s President and CEO Jaimie Ross. “It is partners like Truist that enable the Florida Housing Coalition to support the construction and preservation of housing statewide.”
Affordable workforce housing is a pressing issue for the state. In its recently released Home Matters report, the Coalition notes that even before COVID-19, close to 1.97 million low-income Florida households were paying more than 30% of their incomes for housing, the maximum amount generally considered affordable. The report states that the gap between rents and renter incomes was wider in 2019 than it was at the height of the housing boom in 2006-2007.
“We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with the Florida Housing Coalition,” stated Chris Mills, Truist market president. “Helping local communities develop the capacity they need to serve Florida residents aligns with our purpose to build better lives and communities. Partnering with the Florida Housing Coalition on workforce affordable housing has never been more important.”
In a previous statement, Ross said, “More than ever, this next year, communities all over the state need to address the dire need for affordable housing.” This grant will enable the Coalition to address those needs.
As a result of COVID-19, the Coalition’s in-person trainings and the annual statewide Home Matters Conference, which draws more than 900 housing professionals and advocates from across the state and is hosted by the Florida Housing Coalition, will now be held entirely online. Truist will serve as a Platinum level Partner for Better Housing for the Florida Housing Coalition’s annual conference. It will take place at the same time: August 31-September 2, 2020.
“Our conference this year will be bigger than ever and will highlight housing and healthcare with a focus on race and housing and housing recovery from the pandemic,” stated the Coalition’s President and CEO Jaimie Ross. Registration for the popular conference is now open and is available at www.flhousingconference. org.
