The Housing Leadership of Palm Beach County is steadfast in its mission to establish 20,000 affordable housing units within the coming decade. The comprehensive housing assessments have been collaboratively developed with the support of HLC’s dedicated partners and volunteers. These assessments act as a strategic guide, shedding light on the current housing landscape, identifying areas that require attention, and highlighting the critical gaps that need to be addressed.
Updated 2023 State of Workforce and Affordable Housing Report
This report seeks to present a comprehensive snapshot of the present
state of affordable and workforce housing developments, drawing from data
acquired from various sources, including the most populous municipalities,
Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs), Housing Authorities, and other
governmental and nonprofit development bodies.
Housing Equity Study Assessment
The Palm Beach County Housing Equity Study is the first of its kind in the county. Other studies, including the 2021 Palm Beach County Affordable Housing Needs Assessment have addressed the scope and scale of Palm Beach County’s affordable housing supply and demand conditions.
Palm Beach County Housing Plan
Guided by the Palm Beach County Housing Needs Assessment, HLC developed a Housing Plan for All to serve as a blueprint for how to achieve a significant increase in workforce and affordable housing. Meeting records and resources can be found at the bottom of this page.
Palm Beach County Affordable Housing Needs Assessment
The 2020 Palm Beach County Affordable Housing Needs Assessment provides a current market perspective on the key demand and supply factors impacting the production and availability of affordable housing in the County and major municipalities. The report provides a clear understanding of the scope and scale of Palm Beach County’s affordable housing issues and includes a data-driven platform for policy direction.
Housing Plan for All Meeting Resources
Goal: Develop a Housing Plan that will outline how we will address the housing crisis in Palm Beach County. The recently completed Palm Beach County Housing Needs Assessment will guide these efforts and will be used to create benchmarks.
The Housing Leadership Council will fund the plan development and be guided by the Palm Beach County Housing Steering Committee which meets the second Wednesday of each month from 9:00am-10:30am. Contact info@hlcpbc.org to be included in these meetings which are being held virtually at this time. This group includes housing stakeholders and this group will thoroughly research the following topic areas by having topic experts speak at each meeting.
Want to get involved with our Housing Plan Initiative? Join us every third Wednesday of the month from 9:00am – 10:30am. Email info@hlcpbc.org to get full meeting details.
Meetings
December 8, 2021 Steering Committee Meeting
December 8, 2021 Meeting Summary
November 10, 2021 Steering Committee Meeting
November 10, 2021 Meeting Summary
October 13, 2021 Focus Area Meeting – Neighborhood Revitalization
October 13, 2021 Meeting Summary
Coleman Park Revitalization Presentation
The Role of PHAs in Neighborhood Revitalization Presentation
Revitalization of Carver Estates Presentation
September 9, 2021 Meeting – Planning & Regulatory Barriers
2021 Palm Beach County Housing Programs Presentation
Housing and Density in Palm Beach County
August 11, 2021 Focus Area Meeting – Bond Financing
August 11, 2021 Meeting Summary
ARPA Recovery & Resilience Plan PPT
Bonds Information for Affordable & Workforce Housing
DRAFT FY 2021 Miami-Dade County Request for Application
FY-2021 Third Quarter Report Completed Projects
July 14, 2021 Focus Area Meeting – Understanding Racial Equity
June 9, 2021 Focus Area Meeting – Neighborhood Revitalization
June 9, 2021 Meeting Summary – Strategies for Density & Housing Presentation by Hugh Morris
May 12, 2021 Focus Area Meeting – Planning & Regulatory Barriers
May 12, 2021 – Workforce and Affordable Housing Programs Presentation by Michael Howe – PPT Transcript
April 14, 2021 Focus Area Meeting – Finance
Meeting Recordings
October 13, 2021 Meeting Recording Passcode: Uu!R%+r0
September 9, 2021 Meeting Recording Passcode: sG8qn3%V
Resources
Neighborhood Revitalization Resources:
- Adaptive Reuse: https://www.flhousing.org/retailguide
- 15-Minute City – On Common Ground Magazine: https://www.nar.realtor/on-common-ground/spring-2021-the-15-minute-city
- Repurpose hotels and motels into multi-family housing. https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/case-studies-on-repurposing-vacant-hotels-motels-into-multifamily-housing
- Value of Walkable Land: Developer Chris Leinberger researched how walkable neighborhoods and communities increases land value. https://chrisleinberger.com/research
- Better Block Foundation (BBF): a 501(c)3 nonprofit that educates, equips, and empowers communities and their leaders to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods.
- Develops a revitalization strategy that encourages zoning changes to create different vision for neighborhoods and commercial districts. Ex: Obtained a permit for a city block party with pop-up businesses such as bakeries hair salons, an art gallery to help residents envision what a revitalized neighborhood might look like, but what might be illegal under current zoning codes (such as putting cafe tables out on a street under current old zoning codes) https://www.betterblock.org/
- Urban Infill: https://railyards.com/blog/5-incredible-examples-of-urban-infill
- Repurposing Vacant Retail Malls: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/case-studies-on-repurposing-vacant-retail-malls
- Joe Minicozzi (architect and urban planner at Urban-3 in Asheville, NC): Analysis of what the land uses are and how much those land uses provide to the local governments.
- How land uses are managed determines the long run fiscal stability of a community. https://www.urbanthree.com/about/staff/joe-minicozzi-aicp/
- Urban neighborhoods: Edgewood Station (Atlanta) https://whatnowatlanta.com/new-mixed-use-office-space-opens-at-edgewood-marta-station/
- National Landing Business Improvement District (BID): a non-profit organization that thrives on its strong private-public partnership with Arlington County VA and induces more development and revitalization by putting people before cars. https://nationallanding.org/
- Racial and Ethnic Equality Action Summit https://wpbequalitytaskforce.org
- Palm Beach County Housing Needs Assessment as of January 2021: https://www.hlcpbc.org/housing-resources/research-and-reports/palm-beach-county-affordable-housing-needs-assessment/
Speakers
Speakers for our October 13 Meeting: Neighborhood Revitalization
Shirley Erazo
President/CEO
Delray Beach Housing Authority and Delray Housing Group, Inc.
Ms. Shirley Erazo has been with the organization since 1995. Ms. Erazo currently serves as the staff liaison to the Board of Directors and is ultimately responsible for the agencies activities and has over 30 years in the Housing Industry. Prior to her appointment in 2019, Ms. Erazo served as the Chief Operations Officer from 2003-2019 and in that capacity, she was responsible for the administrative functions of the agency; monitored HUD compliance, Grants, Audits, implementation of policies and procedures; fiscal budgets and successfully sustained the agencies High Performance Status consecutively for 26 years.
Renée A. Jadusingh
Executive Director
Delray Beach CRA
Renée A. Jadusingh is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. Alongside her work with the Delray Beach CRA, Renée serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Redevelopment Association. Prior to working with the Delray Beach CRA, Renée was Staff Counsel for the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency where she oversaw all legal matters and was responsible for drafting grant agreements, leases, board resolutions, and other legal documents. She has extensive experience in the public and private sector working with redevelopment and management in the South Florida area. She is dedicated to working for the public interest and revitalizing communities in the areas in which she serves. Ms. Jadusingh received her Juris Doctorate and LL.M. in Intercultural Human Rights from St. Thomas University School of Law and serves on the Board of Directors as Treasure for Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse.
Annetta Jenkins
Director of Neighborhood Services
Riviera Beach CRA
Executive Director
Riviera Beach CDC
Annetta Jenkins is a seasoned community and economic development professional, with more than 30 years of national, statewide and local experience. She is currently the Director of Neighborhood Services for the Riviera Beach CRA and Executive Director of the Riviera Beach CDC, formerly the Assistant Director for Miami-Dade County Department of Housing and Community Development and the Executive Director for South Florida LISC. She is an appointee to the Palm Beach County Housing Summit Steering Committee. She serves on Palm Beach County’s Housing Leadership Council, is a former long-time board member of Florida Housing Coalition and was an appointee to the State of Florida Affordable Housing Study Commission.
Terri Murray
Executive Director
Neighborhood Renaissance
Terri Murray is an accomplished community development professional with over 30 years of nonprofit management and affordable housing experience. Throughout her career, she designed, implemented or oversaw a range of affordable homeownership and rental housing projects as well as small business and workforce development programs. She was instrumental in the implementation of neighborhood citizen planning initiatives resulting in mixed-used zoning districts and affordable housing. Under her leadership, Neighborhood Renaissance, Inc., a Palm Beach County based nonprofit development corporation, expanded from a community driven start-up to become a proven nonprofit developer with net assets of $15 million. In the past 6 years, Renaissance’s projects generated $46 million of investment in underserved neighborhoods.
Linda Odum
Interim Executive Director
West Palm Beach Housing Authority
Linda Odum began working for the West Palm Beach Housing Authority (WPBHA) in 1991 and currently serves as its Interim Executive Director. She has extensive experience in the assisted and affordable housing industry and brings exceptional administrative and operational leadership to the Authority. As Interim Executive Director, Ms. Odum is currently involved in several affordable housing initiatives. These include building single-family homes and Townhomes in MerryPlace Estates, contracted with the Board of County Commissioners to build 17 single-family cottage homes for the homeless in West Palm Beach, and is currently working with a developer to redevelop the 80-year-old Southridge development.
Speakers for our September 9 Meeting: Planning & Regulatory Barriers
Ana Maria Aponte
City Urban Designer
City of West Palm Beach
Ana Maria Aponte, AICP, has been practicing planning for the public sector for over 20 years, initially at the National and local level in Colombia, and since 2003 at the local level for the City of West Palm Beach in Florida. As the City’s Urban Designer, she has been responsible for the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan, a form-based code that has guided the successful redevelopment of downtown West Palm Beach. Ana Maria has participated in the design of public projects such as the City Commons and waterfront park, and more recently the Clematis Street streetscape redesign. Ana Maria has a degree in architecture from the University of Los Andes in Colombia, and a Master in Development and Planning from the University College London in England.
Bryan Davis
Principal Planner/Urban Designer
Palm Beach County Planning Division
Bryan Davis is a Principal Planner/Urban Designer with the Palm Beach County Planning Division. He’s been at the County for 18 years, and 16 years in the Planning Division. He is the head of the Development/Implementation Section within the Planning Division, which oversees the day-to-day implementation of the County’s Comprehensive Plan through the Zoning and permitting processes. He was also the County’s Project Manager for the Urban Redevelopment Area (URA) Master Plan effort (2006-‘11). This effort resulted in all new land use designations, zoning districts, and land development regulations being adopted and implemented along existing commercial corridors within the URA.
Ralph Stone
Executive Director
Housing Finance Authority of Broward County
Ralph Stone is currently the Executive Director of the Housing Finance Authority of Broward County. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University.
Mr. Stone has held a number of senior positions in local government in Florida including City Manager, Assistant City Manager for Economic Development, Executive Director of Downtown Development Authority, Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director and Planning Director supervising programs including Housing, Planning, Zoning, Building and Permits, Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Services.
Mr. Stone has written or directed plans and/or programs that have received over thirty national or state awards in various areas of expertise, including the Governor’s Award for the Best Large City Comprehensive Plan in the State of Florida.
Mr. Stone has also provided private sector services as a sole proprietor and as a senior manager in a national Engineering, Environmental Sciences and Planning firm. Mr. Stone has been accepted by both Federal and State courts as an expert witness.
Speakers for our August 11th Meeting: Bond Financing
David Brandt, Executive Director, Housing Finance Authority of Palm Beach County
David Brandt has served as the Executive Director of the Housing Finance Authority of Palm Beach County (HFA) since 2009. The HFA is an issuer of tax exempt revenue bonds for the funding of first time homebuyer mortgage programs with down payment and closing cost assistance targeted to person and families of moderate and middle income. The HFA also is an issuer of bonds to provide financing to developers of affordable rental housing most of whom utilize the 4% low income housing tax credit as well as other state and local loans or grants. David began his career in 1978 as an independent financial advisor serving primarily HFA’s and special districts.
Clarence Brown
Division Director Public Housing and Community Development
Miami-Dade County
Clarence Brown serves as the Division Director for Community Development, within the Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) Department of Miami-Dade County. Prior to this post he served as Director of Housing Asset Management for the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Program Administrator for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Clarence joined the County in January of 2007. He served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Housing Agency before joining HCD, which merged with the public housing agency in 2011. At PHCD he is responsible for project management and compliance of activities utilizing all funding sources, such as HOME, CDBG, ESG, SHIP, Surtax and NSP. While in the department he has worked and continues working with our homeownership and rehabilitation programs. The division is also responsible for the management and operations of 1445 non-public housing units. Clarence has over (30) years of experience working with affordable housing programs. He relocated here from Tampa, where he served as the Director of Assisted Housing for the Tampa Housing Authority. Clarence is a proud Gator and active alumnus of the University of Florida.
Jonathan Brown
Director
Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Development
Jonathan serves as the Director for Palm Beach County’s Department of Housing & Economic Development (HED), which oversees the County’s business, community and affordable / workforce housing programs and initiatives. Prior to his current position, Jonathan worked as the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Manager, as well as the Northwest Progresso-Flagler Heights Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Manager for the City of Fort Lauderdale. Jonathan has over 20 years of experience in affordable and workforce housing, economic development and banking/lending.
Morris G. (Skip) Miller
Partner
Greenspoon Marder
Morris G. (Skip) Miller is a partner in the West Palm Beach office of Greenspoon Marder. His practice focuses on public finance and representation of non-profit entities. He has extensive experience in municipal finance transactions of all types, including taxable bonds, bond issues for not-for-profit organizations, mini bonds, community redevelopment financing, special taxing districts, single- and multi-family housing revenue bonds and lease financing. Mr. Miller’s clientele in municipal finance transactions include issuers, underwriters, lenders, not-for-profit and for-profit borrowers and trustees.
Mr. Miller has been on the Board of Directors of the Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County since 2016, is a past Chair and is currently Chair of the its Public Policy Committee. He is also general counsel to the Housing Finance Authority of Palm Beach County, and in such capacity has represented the Authority on numerous bond issues and loans to provide affordable housing in Palm Beach County.
Mr. Miller received his undergraduate degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 1976, and his law degree from the University of Florida in 1979.
John “Jack” Weir
Principal & President
Eastwind Development, LLC
John F. “Jack” Weir is the Principal and President of Eastwind Development, LLC. Eastwind, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was founded in 2007 and focuses on the development of multifamily rental housing throughout the state of Florida. Eastwind has developed market, independent senior, workforce and affordable rental residential communities. Eastwind has completed seven residential rental communities in Palm Beach County and a total of twenty multifamily rental developments over the last eight years. It recently opened The District Flats in the West Palm Beach Warehouse District, and Solera at City Centre in Palm Beach Gardens. Eastwind has successfully developed over 3,000 units, and has four projects, totalling over 1,000 units, in predevelopment. At present, Eastwind is primarily focused on the development of conventional market, independent senior and workforce residential communities, and has also participated in a number of mixed-use projects with several commercial partners.
Lawrence Zabik
Partner
Zabik and Associates
One of the founding partners of Zabik & Associates (1997), Mr. Larry Zabik has been managing construction projects since 1980. Mr. Zabik’s undergraduate degree is in Electrical Engineering from Norwich University, B.S.E.E. Cum Laude. He also has a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Zabik has also completed graduate studies in Engineering and Educational Leadership.
Mr. Zabik is responsible for daily operations, direction of staff and specializes in pre-construction services. In addition, Mr. Zabik prepares Marketing and Economic Impact Studies to assist clients with project approvals.
Deborah A. Zomermaand, Zomermaand Financial Advisory Service
Ms. Zomermaand has served as financial advisor to the Housing Finance Authority of Broward County, Florida since April 2004 and has worked in Florida with housing finance authorities, Florida Housing Finance Corporation (“FHFC”), other governmental entities and private developers since 1993 in the capacity of financial advisor, investment banker and/or private developer. Prior to 1993, Ms. Zomermaand lived in Texas where she held the position of Vice President within the Real Estate Banking Group of a super regional bank and a real estate corporate entity.
Speakers for our July 14th Meeting: Understanding Racial Equity
Barbara Cheives
President & CEO
Converge & Associates Consulting
Barbara Cheives is the President and CEO of Converge & Associates Consulting. Converge specializes in race and ethnic relations consulting, employee relations and community engagement. Converge has developed a training niche in Racial Equity, Cultural Competency, Implicit Bias, Respectful Communication in the Workplace and Workplace Bullying and Harassment. Their client base includes government entities; law enforcement and public safety; not for profit organizations; media; education; and corporations.
Barbara has planned and executed county wide community engagement and community dialogue projects with difficult to reach communities for the YWCA, Children’s Home Society and Community Partners of Palm Beach County and statewide for the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
Additionally, Barbara is a Trained Mediator; a certified Ethics Trainer with the Palm Beach State College Center for Applied Ethics; and a national trainer for NeighborWorks America; a Senior Associate for Everyday Democracy in Hartford, CN.; and a trainer with the Racial Equity Institute in Greensboro, NC.
John Sapora
Disaster Recovery and Resiliency Manager
LISC Jacksonville
John Sapora works as Disaster Recovery and Resiliency Manager for the Jacksonville office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). In this role he serves as Vice-Chair of the Northeast Florida Long Term Recovery Organization for Hurricane Irma, currently managing a home repair program for low-income seniors and families. John is also founding Chair of the Duval COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster), a coalition of over 40 nonprofits and government agencies active in addressing storm disasters and COVID-19 community impacts. He recently served as a citizen expert with the Jacksonville City Council’s Special Committee on Resiliency. John has worked for nonprofits for the last 20 years, and previously practiced real estate law in Jacksonville.
Kristopher Smith
Community Development Officer
LISC Jacksonville
Kristopher joined the LISC Jacksonville staff in April 2020 and in his role as Community Development Program Officer, Smith oversees LISC’s Jacksonville Urban Core Initiative and its efforts to advance economic growth in urban core neighborhoods. Kristopher brings nearly 20 years of experience in community engagement and development, grant making and capacity building to the organization. Prior to joining LISC he served as Director of Community Services for the Community Action Council in Lexington managing the organization’s community centers and Head Start initiatives focused on reducing poverty and financial oversight for the agency’s $42 million annual operating budget. Kristopher has a MPA from Nova Southeastern University and is a Jacksonville native.
Speakers for our June 9 Meeting: Neighborhood Revitalization
Armando Fana
Assistant City Administrator
City of West Palm Beach
Armando Fana is Assistant City Administrator with the City of West Palm Beach. His experience with housing and social service issues in South Florida spans over 15 years. During his tenure as a Program Manager for the Broward County Workforce Development Board he played an important role in the implementation of welfare reform and workforce development programs within Broward County, FL. Armando was also the Director of the Hollywood, FL Workforce One Center from 2001-2003 where he managed the delivery of workforce development and welfare programs. He joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2005 as the Field Director for the Miami Field Office. The Miami Field Office is responsible for oversight of HUD programs within the 10 southernmost Florida counties. In his role as Field Office Director Armando served as the highest-ranking local HUD official and the Secretary of HUD’s local representative, ensuring that HUD programs and services were being delivered effectively to the community.
Hugh Morris
Manager, Community Development & Growth
National Association of REALTORS®
Hugh serves as Editor of NAR’s On Common Ground magazine, staff executive of the Smart Growth Advisory Board and co-staff executive of the Sustainability Advisory Group. He oversees resources such as the growth polling program, large association grants, and smart growth education curriculum. He helps REALTOR® associations access and leverage these resources that support community engagement around issues of land use and transportation.
Ralph Stone
Executive Director
Housing Finance Authority of Broward County
Ralph Stone is currently the Executive Director of the Housing Finance Authority of Broward County. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University.
Mr. Stone has held a number of senior positions in local government in Florida including City Manager, Assistant City Manager for Economic Development, Executive Director of Downtown Development Authority, Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director and Planning Director supervising programs including Housing, Planning, Zoning, Building and Permits, Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Services.
Mr. Stone has written or directed plans and/or programs that have received over thirty national or state awards in various areas of expertise, including the Governor’s Award for the Best Large City Comprehensive Plan in the State of Florida.
Mr. Stone has also provided private sector services as a sole proprietor and as a senior manager in a national Engineering, Environmental Sciences and Planning firm. Mr. Stone has been accepted by both Federal and State courts as an expert witness.
Houston Tate
Director, Office of Community Revitalization
Palm Beach County
Houston Tate has devoted more than 25 years working as a public servant in Palm Beach County, FL. His first 13 years in business were spent in Corporate America.
In October 1999, Tate was hired as an Assistant Director, Public Works and Water Utility in Belle Grade, eventually becoming the division’s Director. He was subsequently appointed the Interim City Manager, followed by a promotion to City Manager.
In April 2007, Mr. Tate was appointed Director of the Palm Beach County Office of Community Revitalization (OCR), where he has served for 14 years. In this capacity, Tate is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the County’s neighborhood revitalization program and community outreach initiatives.
As Director of the Palm Beach County OCR, Tate plays a critical role in educating neighborhood residents and organizations through workshops, seminars and individualized training and meetings. He often attends community meetings and delivers presentations regarding County government and OCR programs and initiatives. He arranges speakers on subjects related to community organizing and revitalization. He also serves as a conduit for citizen complaints about neighborhood issues and coordinates with other County departments and outside organizations to better serve the public.
John “Jack” Weir
Principal & President
Eastwind Development, LLC
John F. “Jack” Weir is the Principal and President of Eastwind Development, LLC. Eastwind, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was founded in 2007 and focuses on the development of multifamily rental housing throughout the state of Florida. Eastwind has developed market, independent senior, workforce and affordable rental residential communities. Eastwind has completed seven residential rental communities in Palm Beach County and a total of twenty multifamily rental developments over the last eight years. It recently opened The District Flats in the West Palm Beach Warehouse District, and Solera at City Centre in Palm Beach Gardens. Eastwind has successfully developed over 3,000 units, and has four projects, totalling over 1,000 units, in predevelopment. At present, Eastwind is primarily focused on the development of conventional market, independent senior and workforce residential communities, and has also participated in a number of mixed-use projects with several commercial partners.