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Building Blocks for Housing Affordability

Miami-Dade faces an urgent affordability crisis and Mayor Levine Cava is committed to doing everything possible to meet residents' housing needs and protect quality of life.
 
That's why the Mayor declared an affordability crisis and released an executive directive calling on county staff to accelerate housing solutions for residents. This initiative – the Building Blocks program – will bring relief to residents by expanding local protections and increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing.
 
On May 11, the Mayor officially opened the new Office of Housing Advocacy to help residents access housing resources. Call the Housing Advocacy hotline, 786-469-4545, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
 
In partnership with our Board of County Commissioners, local stakeholders, and community advocates, we are committed to finding solutions that work for all Miami-Dade residents.
Track Our Progress in housing affordability

Contact Us

Housing Advocacy Hotline: 786-469-4545
Email: [email protected]

Legislation

The Approach

Through the Building Blocks program, Miami-Dade County is investing in two simultaneous tracks to bring relief to residents - increasing the supply of housing units and creating a comprehensive suite of resident protections.

Strengthening Local Protections:

  • Miami-Dade County has distributed more than $110 million in emergency rental assistance, preventing the evictions of 17,000 families
  • Updated the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to serve residents facing significant rent hikes
  • Launched CourtHELP with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit to assist tenants and landlords in settling evictions cases
  • Adoption of legislation creating greater transparency for condominium and homeowners associations through a new online database
  • Adoption of legislation requiring 60-day written notice before substantial rent increases or when ending month-to-month rental agreements
  • Increased the Fair Market Rent standard to make it easier for voucher holders to rent homes during price hikes
  • Adoption of a new Tenant Bill of Rights to increase tenants’ awareness of their rights and available resources
  • Launched the Office of Housing Advocacy to prevent displacement, train tenants on their rights, and coordinate programs to expand affordable housing options

Increasing Supply of Affordable and Workforce Housing:

  • Miami-Dade County is currently developing 14,000 affordable and workforce units to increase the supply of housing
  • Supporting first-time homebuyers through down payment assistance programs provided by the Miami-Dade Housing Finance Authority, Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust, and Public Housing and Community Development
  • Launched the Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) Rehabilitation Loan Program for property owners to renovate and update their buildings in exchange for capping their rents at affordable rents
  • Adoption of legislation allowing open and rolling application process for all homeownership developments to expedite development process
  • Mayor issued an emergency directive to cut regulatory barriers, identify new funding sources, and the development of affordable and workforce housing
  • Awarded funding to a community land trust to offer long-term affordability opportunities
  • Hosted the first cross-Mayors’ roundtable between the County and municipalities to better coordinate and align resources
  • Creation of the Building Blocks Fund, an impact pool that brings together private and nonprofit funders to finance the development of affordable and workforce housing
  • Launching an upcoming Housing Summit to explore new solutions and partnerships to address the housing crisis

Information & Assistance

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Eligible households experiencing financial hardship can apply for rental assistance in Miami-Dade.

Homeownership Assistance Program

Get help with the down payment and closing costs to purchase your first home.

Office of Housing Advocacy

The Office of Housing Advocacy assists renters with safe, stable and affordable rental housing.

Housing Advocacy Action Committee

A committee was launched to prevent displacement, train tenants on their rights, and coordinate programs to expand affordable housing options.

CourtHELP

Tenants and landlords can get help to resolve disputes online with or without court mediators.

Miami-Dade Housing Finance Authority

Learn about various programs that serve homebuyers, renters, developers and the community.

News & Events

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Miami-Dade hosted a summit on affordable housing

The Mayor's housing summit featured expert speakers, breakout sessions on subjects critical to Miami-Dade's housing supply and affordability crisis.

Miami-Dade launches fund for affordable housing

The $70 million fund will be used to build new affordable and workforce housing projects in Miami-Dade County.

About Mayor Daniella Levine Cava

Daniella Levine Cava was elected Miami-Dade County’s first-ever woman Mayor in November 2020. She enters the Mayor's office following a nearly 40-year career as a relentless advocate for South Florida families in public service and elected leadership.

As Miami-Dade County’s Mayor, she oversees a metropolitan government with more than 31,000 employees serving nearly 3 million residents, managing an annual budget of approximately $12 billion.

A social worker, lawyer, and community activist, she was first elected in 2014, and re-elected in August 2018, to serve as the Miami-Dade County Commissioner representing District 8.