Half of all households in Broward can’t afford to live here. Why are our wages so low and our cost of living so high?
South Florida residents are among the poorest paid of 33 major metro areas. At the same time, we are one of the most expensive areas in the U.S. for housing. The gap between low wages and the high cost of housing has made South Florida unaffordable to our teachers, firefighters, wait staff, architects, nurses, custodial workers, police officers, and clerks.
Can we bridge the wage gap between what our working population is earning and what they have to pay simply to live here? The current shortage of units for low- and moderate-income buyers is more than 45,000.
Have we reached a “tipping point?” Hear the opinions of our experts.
Dr. Ken Johnson, Ph.D., Housing Economist at Florida Atlantic University College of Business
Johnson is a professor and associate dean of graduate programs at FAU College of Business in Boca Raton, and co-author of the Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent Index.
James Carras, Principal, Carras Community Investment, Inc.
Carras is adjunct lecturer in Public Policy. For over twenty-five years, he has concentrated on designing and implementing responses and solutions for community and economic development opportunities.
Ned Murray, Ph.D., AICP, Associate Director,
Metropolitan Center at Florida International University
Murray is a leading expert on economic and housing market issues in South Florida. He recently completed and presented Housing Market Update and Municipal Scorecard studies for Palm Beach and Broward Counties and the South Florida Workforce Housing Needs Assessment.
Kelly Kolb, Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney
Kolb has represented a variety of clients in the public and private sectors. His commitment to affordable housing led him to join the Habitat Broward Board of Directors, where he serves as chair.
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