HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge visits South Florida to get firsthand look at housing crisis
MIAMI - A key member of the Biden administration visited South Florida Tuesday to see the extent of the housing crisis for herself.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge's first stop was Lauderhill Point, a HUD apartment complex for 176 low-income families currently undergoing renovation.
"It is so different when you see it for yourself, that's why I'm here, it is important that we address the housing crisis," she said.
Meeting with local officials, the secretary was told South Florida is ground zero in the housing crisis.
"We just saw articles that said only 8% of Broward residents can afford the median price of a home, which is $600,000, so this is a huge crisis we take seriously," said Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
The Biden administration has allocated $10 billion dollars for housing grants administered by HUD and has requested $30 billion more. Millions of dollars are headed to Florida, but the relief may not be seen in the short term because of the severity of the housing shortage.
"There is a shortage, availability is the issue," said Lauderhill Mayor Ken Thurston. "And some families can't afford rent even with two jobs, they cannot find rents at fair prices."
Later in the day, Fudge was joined by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in Liberty City. She toured Liberty Square, a low-income housing project in Liberty City with 600 units already built and another 110 on the drawing board.
The housing crisis is leaving many desperate for help. That's why CBS News Miami wants to share your stories to show the crisis you're in or how you navigated the system. We will highlight these issues and work to get answers and solutions. Send us an email at housing@cbs.com.
