her 6th-grade son.
Her story is one that is
becoming more common
as landlords seek
opportunities to increase
rental income on pace
with current demand.
Census data shows our
county population has
only increased over
the years, promising
more and ore renters
for limited housing
opportunities.
Latoya found success by
entering Family Promise
of Brevard with her
family. The emergency
shelter program allowed
her an opportunity to
save money for deposits
and work with a family
specialist to identify an
affordable property that
fit within her budget.
Each family specialist
is knowledgeable on
local resources and
works alongside the
parents to create lasting
stability through tenancy
education, budgeting,
and advocacy.
This intensive support
doesn’t end when a
family signs their lease,
but actually extends for a
full year, with 87% of all
families fulfilling their
lease and being offered
a renewal. This doesn’t
mean that a family’s
hard times are over, but
it does mean that they
have a trusted expert to
help guide them through
the vulnerable period of
rehousing.
While great outcomes
like these are our goal
each and every day, the
process to get there
is not simple or welldefined.
When families
are experiencing a
housing crisis, they are
often overwhelmed by
conflicting information
provided by agencies
with outdated materials
or well-meaning contacts.
Funds that support
homeless prevention
and rapid rehousing
activities change
regularly, as do the
means of accessing
them. This illustrates
the importance of
having a centralized
system to provide
services to households
in need. Currently the
organization designed
to support this need is
211 Brevard. Its ability
to respond 24 hours a
day to Brevard County
residents in crisis can’t
be matched, and they
are always seeking
better ways to make
and maintain contact
with residents whether
by telephone, email, or
most recently their new
texting platform.
state-levels monies
specifically designated to
create affordable housing
in our community. Since
2013, $19.5 million
dollars has been swept by
legislators out of Brevard
County ($2.2 billion
statewide) and into
other corners of the state
budget.
Another direction
is by supporting the
nonprofits serving
Brevard County that
IS THERE A
SOLUTION?
Is there hope for a
solution to affordable
housing in our
community? Yes. But
the proposed solutions
are nearly as diverse as
the families needing
affordable housing in our
county each night.
The housing crisis did
not develop overnight,
nor will it be solved so
quickly. As residents, we
must be willing to take a
hard look at the voting
records of our local
politicians who have
regularly surrendered
have watched their
grant funds dwindle
each year at the hands
of politicians. Those
options aside, perhaps
the first step to fixing
the housing crisis is by
recognizing that it won’t
be fixed by any single
action or organization,
it requires citizens of
every neighborhood,
background, and
political affiliation to
stand together for change
and accountability.
Family Promise of Brevard
321.209.3391
FamilyPromiseofBrevard.org
january ‘20 // 055
/FamilyPromiseofBrevard.org