M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Members of the Town Council
From: Honorable Mayor Tim Meerbott
Date: July 29, 2020
Re: Supporting the South Dade Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee's
Efforts to Establish a Military Housing Rental Program within South Dade
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE SOUTH DADE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S ESTABLISHMENT OF A MILITARY HOUSING RENTAL PROGRAM WITHIN SOUTH DADE TO ASSIST ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS, RESERVISTS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES TO OBTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Town of Cutler Bay (the "Town") is a vibrant community and offers quality homes, excellent schools, and other family-friendly amenities that enrich the lives of military families. From the moment I began serving as Mayor, the Town has engaged with the Homestead Air Reserve Base in an effort to better understand the challenges military personnel face and help find ways to support our local military personnel.
The lack of available housing and associated moving costs (known as the "affordability crisis") has forced military personnel to obtain housing outside of South Dade, to areas north of the City of Doral and as far northas Broward County. As rising rents and home prices push low- and middle-income households further away from major urban centers - where the greatest number of jobs and the most robust public transit systems tend to be - lower housing costs in suburbs and exurbs are offset by increased spending on transportation.
The Town has a reputation as a military-friendly community; however, high upfront rental deposits (usually three-months rent), utility deposits, and other moving expenses exceed most military personnel budgets and deter military families from choosing to live in the Town. There is a great need to ...
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