RENT CONTROL AND STABILIZATION FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA

LOOK OUT! FLORIDA RENTERS OF APARTMENTS AND HOMES WITH INCOMES OF $30,000 AND UP ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING HOMELESS. SOME ARE ALREADY, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF THEIR YEARLY INCREASE AND THE AMOUNT OF JUST RENTING OF HOMES AND APARTMENTS. THERE WILL BE NO LOWER PLACE TO RENT BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MIDDLE CLASS NOT EVEN FOR FOOD STAMPS. FLORIDA EVICTIONS PLAGUE FLORIDIANS. THE STATE HAS SOME OF THE WEAKEST TENANT PROTECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY. MOST WILL NEVER EVEN GET A HEARING BEFORE BEING EVICTED. RENTERS IN BLACK AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS PAY MORE OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT THAN ANY RENTERS IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS. I AM A SINGLE SENIOR CITIZEN, RETIRED LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, TO HAVE MY RENT GO UP TO 42 % OF MY INCOME IS REALLY HARD ESPECIALLY WHEN THE INCREASE OF YOUR RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING THAT IS CONSTANTLY RISING. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE FL HOUSE, TAMPA'S CITY COUNCIL, AND ATTENDED TOWN HALL MEETINGS ALONG WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. ALL ARE IN AGREEANCE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT NO SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.