(1) The research and planning functions of the department shall include the collection of data on the need for affordable housing in this state and the extent to which that need is being met through federal, state, and local programs, in order to facilitate planning to meet the housing needs in this state and to enable the development of sound strategies and programs for affordable housing. To fulfill this function, the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida shall perform the following functions:

(a) Quantify affordable housing needs in this state by analyzing available data, including information provided through the housing elements of local comprehensive plans, and identify revisions in the housing element data requirements that would result in more uniform, meaningful information being obtained.

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 420.6075

  • Affordable: means :
    (a) With respect to a housing unit to be occupied by very-low-income persons, that monthly rents, or monthly mortgage payments including property taxes and insurance, do not exceed 30 percent of that amount which represents 50 percent of the median adjusted gross annual income for the households within the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) or, if not within an MSA, within the county in which the housing unit is located, divided by 12. See Florida Statutes 420.602
  • Community-based organization: means a private corporation organized under chapter 617 to assist in the provision of housing and related services on a not-for-profit basis within a designated area, including a municipality, county, or area of more than one municipality or county. See Florida Statutes 420.602
  • Department: means the Department of Economic Opportunity. See Florida Statutes 420.602
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
(b) Document the results since 1980 of all programs administered by the department which provide for or act as incentives for housing production or improvement. Data on program results must include the number of units produced and the unit cost under each program.
(c) Inventory the supply of affordable housing units made available through federal, state, and local programs. Data on the geographic distribution of affordable units must show the availability of units in each county and municipality.
(2) By December 31 of each year, the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies shall submit to the Legislature an updated housing report describing the supply of and need for affordable housing. This annual housing report shall include:

(a) A synopsis of training and technical assistance activities and community-based organization housing activities for the year.
(b) A status report on the degree of progress toward meeting the housing objectives of the department’s agency functional plan.
(c) Recommended housing initiatives for the next fiscal year and recommended priorities for assistance to the various target populations within the spectrum of housing need.
(3) The Shimberg Center for Housing Studies shall:

(a) Conduct research on program options to address the need for affordable housing.
(b) Conduct research on training models to be replicated or adapted to meet the needs of community-based organizations and state and local government staff involved in housing development.
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