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Building Smart~ real affordable housing
The Challenge:
Marathon and the Florida Keys face a housing crisis. Teachers, nurses, police, hospitality workers, and first responders struggle to live where they work. High land costs, limited ROGO/BPAS permits, and hurricane evacuation rules restrict supply.
Affordable Workforce Housing with Public-Private Partnership
The Solution – A Keys Workforce Housing Partnership
- Public land for public good: Lease city and county-owned land to nonprofits for $1/year to build affordable housing.
- Employer-assisted housing: Partner with hospitals, schools, and businesses to secure units for their employees.
- Adaptive reuse: Convert aging motels and apartments into deed-restricted workforce rentals.
- Early-evacuation allocations: Prioritize new “early evac” ROGO permits for rental housing for essential workers.
- Funding stack: Use state tools like Live Local, LIHTC, and SAIL, combined with local SHIP funds and Land Authority dollars, to make projects viable.
The Results:
A Keys Workforce Housing Partnership
Protect the Keys’ workforce and small-town character. Deliver housing that is hurricane-resilient, permanently affordable, and reserved for local workers. Keep Marathon strong for the next generation.
Gerrit C. Hale
