CLERMONT, Fla. — The Florida Senate recently passed Senate Bill 102, also known as the Live Local Act. The bill aims to make it easier for local governments and nonprofits to approve and fund affordable housing projects, addressing the affordable housing crisis happening in many Florida communities.

What You Need To Know

  • In part, the Live Local Act would allow local governments to bypass some administrative requirements for certain multifamily developments making it easier, and quicker, to build new affordable housing units

  • The bill also includes new property tax incentives for workforce housing

  • After advancing through the senate this week, the Live Local Act is now in the Florida House

​Steve Smith owns and operates New Beginnings in Clermont. The non-profit has a thrift store allowing Smith to focus and fund affordable housing projects in the Lake County community. An issue he's addressing head on.

"The need for affordable housing in the area is an all-time high," said Smith.

Smith told Spectrum News currently there’s 32 affordable housing developments in Lake County. But with the county’s constant growth, Smith said it’s not enough.

"Prices have increased of home ownership, they increase for the rentals. Now we’re seeing people can’t afford to live here," said Smith.

Lake County isn’t alone with needing affordable housing. That’s why the Live Local Act was introduced. It would allow local governments to bypass some administrative requirements for certain multifamily developments making it easier, and quicker, to build new affordable housing units.

The bill also includes new property tax incentives for workforce housing. Something Smith said his non-profit, as well as others in the area can benefit from.

"New Beginnings, we feel we would benefit just like many other non-profits that have a desire to build affordable housing. We’d have more access to capital and we’d have more access to land," said Smith.

Spectrum News talked with Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks about how this bill may change the way his county talks about affordable housing.

"It sort of forces us to have the discussion of higher densities in the more urban areas, especially in some of our cities that are in Lake County. I think it might sort of force more of that discussion about putting affordable housing projects and reducing the barriers in the in the areas, particularly the cities and urban parts of the county, where, where they should be," said Commissioner Parks.

After advancing through the senate this week, the Live Local Act is now in the Florida House.