“If they want to do our job, they can come and do it,” Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla said. “It seems like they don’t want us doing anything and they’re not helping either.”
Florida’s Republican-Led, Nearly Unanimous Housing Reforms
“What’s happening right now is not the way renting has traditionally been done. We now have these huge corporations that are buying up all these rental properties, even single-family homes,” Bonilla says. “They don’t have any connection with people or their tenants. It’s just about how much money they can make their shareholders.”
Florida’s local elected officials worry state preemption bills could ‘chill’ local policymaking
“As Floridians weather the worst affordable housing emergency of our lifetimes, our state legislature has filed multiple bills that will make it even harder for local governments to help our communities keep a roof over their heads,” said Orange County commissioner Emily Bonilla.
Legislature must stop interfering with local efforts to lower rent
“Meanwhile, the human toll from Florida’s escalating housing emergency is already staggering. More than a quarter of voters polled said they had recently experienced homelessness due to skyrocketing housing costs, or near homelessness such as being forced to sleep in their car or on a friend’s couch. Housing instability profoundly affects our lives, families, communities, and economies. If state lawmakers aren’t going to do something about it themselves, they should at least stop interfering with local efforts to address this crisis,” said Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla.
Office of Tenant Services – Grand Opening
We are now addressing our Orange County residents’ and tenants’ needs in one office. The Office of Tenant Services ensures residents know their rights under Florida law. The office can also investigate complaints and make referrals to other agencies. I appreciate the board’s support of my request to require this office to collect data and provide reports to the board on how our housing situation is progressing.
Rent Freeze Effort
Bonilla was asking the other members of the board to approve a special public hearing to take place on June 30, in order to get a rental increase freeze on the November ballot. If the proposal makes it to the ballot, Bonilla said it would go in effect for a year. She said the freeze would only allow for landlords of rentals consisting of three units to increase rent equal to a property tax increase. “Everyone is struggling right now and I keep hearing stories of people who have lost their jobs. They are struggling to pay their rent. A lot of people right now are paying their rent with credit cards,”
Preocupación ante aumentos de renta en medio del coronavirus. Aquí lo que nos cuentan los expertos.
“Es verdaderamente asqueante que un arrendador le suba la renta a su inquilino en estos momentos”, añadió Emily Bonilla, comisionada del Condado de Orange.
Local officials discuss the need for more affordable student housing
Bonilla shared her story as well as her own views on the issue. She said the situation has worsened for students through the years, as tuition costs have risen sharply and graduate students are often burdened with paying back student debt. “The increase in tuition has gone up so much and so fast,” Bonilla said. “And when you are out of college most of your income goes to paying off that student loan, which increases your chances of needing affordable housing even more after you graduate. So, you’re in this perpetual situation and there doesn’t seem like there’s any way out.”
Vamos4PR Housing Press Release
Honor to speak at the Vamos4PR press conference today.
Orlando advocates call out affordable housing crisis in Central Florida
“Rick Scott likes to talk about Florida’s economy when he’s on the campaign trail,” says Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla. “But the reality is that nearly half of Floridians qualify as working poor. … Instead of doing something to help low-income families find safe, clean and affordable housing, Rick Scott and the Republican leadership in Tallahassee have taken the money and swept it into the general budget to cover for their own poor accounting skills.”