Fort Lauderdale Commission works to reduce the homeless situation
By David Volz
The Fort Lauderdale Commission is concerned about the city’s homelessness problem and is taking steps to improve the situation. During a recent meeting, the Commission began work on two properties that provide housing to lower income families and individuals.
The Commission adopted a resolution authorizing the conveyance of two properties located at 1200 NW 3 Street and 1145 NW 5 Avenue from the City to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for affordable housing development. The properties, zoned for residential multifamily use, will be transferred by Quit Claim Deed with all costs borne by the CRA. The CRA will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for development, ensuring eligibility criteria requiring residents’ incomes not to exceed 80% of the area median income and a seven-year residency minimum. The Northwest-Progresso-Flagler Heights and Central City Redevelopment Advisory Boards unanimously supported the conveyance.
City Staff provided an update on efforts to address homelessness in alignment with the City Commission’s priority. The presentation reviewed service requests under HB1365, outcomes from FIXITFTL submissions, and the results of recent town halls. Key initiatives included expanding shelter capacity, collaborating with service providers, and targeting homelessness hotspots through coordinated strategies among City departments. Future plans include joint state funding requests with United Way, the development of transitional housing, and ongoing evaluations of service effectiveness.
Also, the Commission received a presentation summarizing the findings of a study conducted by Stantec Consulting and City staff regarding the feasibility of establishing a dependent Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Special Taxing District. The proposed district would create a dedicated millage to fund EMS services, including future expansions. The presentation outlined statutory requirements, potential financial impacts on the City’s General Fund, and a sample implementation timeline. The Commission highlighted the need to gauge community interest and preferences through outreach efforts, with further discussions planned during the City’s goal-setting sessions.
