As a domestic abuse survivor, I (Jessy Correa) don’t take for granted the peace of mind that comes with having a safe place to call home.
After bouncing from hotel to hotel, I thought a sense of security would come when my children and I got the keys to our first apartment. However, erratic rent hikes have kept us vulnerable to instability.
Since moving into our 1,100-square-foot apartment in Orange County in Central Florida two years ago, our monthly rent has risen from $1800 to $2590 — and what was once a safe haven has now become a financial burden, forcing us to downsize significantly just to keep a roof over our heads.
Even though housing is a fundamental human right and need, I’ve learned firsthand that a sense of security is a luxury not provided to Florida renters.
In many states, local governments can ensure housing stability in their communities by enacting tenant protection ordinances. These ordinances traditionally address power imbalances between renters and landlords and prevent unfair practices by protecting tenants from discrimination, rent hikes, and unfair eviction notices.
Although Florida is widely regarded as the epicenter of the housing crisis, local governments are unable to provide housing security to their residents because of HB 1417, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last summer. This law eradicated an estimated 46 tenant protection ordinances in 35 cities across Florida and prevents local officials from making housing decisions for their own communities.
The trend of state government officials taking power away from local governments is not unique to Florida or to the issue of housing. This is an issue of state lawmakers abusing the legislative tool of preemption. Traditional preemption emphasized balance between state and local levels of government and often addressed equity issues, but policymakers across the country are now abusing preemption to prohibit local governments from advancing policies meant to address equity, housing justice, worker protections and more.
While abusive preemption and bills like HB 1417 are designed to scare us into inaction, we must keep speaking up against the bullies in Tallahassee. We know how discouraging it is to feel that the state has taken away our power, but we can’t give up the fight.
Frankly, we don’t have a choice. We are seeing more families on the streets because we don’t have the protections to help them. For many, especially more vulnerable populations, securing tenant protections is the difference between staying housed or being forced into homelessness.
Our challenge to local elected officials? Let’s get creative. We’ve seen what can happen when we think outside the box, like when Miami-Dade County agreed to Miami Workers Center’s demands in 2022 to fund legal representation in eviction court and ensure tenants were informed of available anti-displacement resources.
Whether it’s through extending local dollars to protect tenants, holding the line on ordinances not impacted by preemption or pushing state officials to hold their colleagues accountable for the onslaught of bills harming our communities, we must explore every possible avenue to keep people housed.
Even in the face of the challenges brought about by HB 1417, our collective determination as Floridians is strong. The fight against preemption stretches beyond party lines; this is about making sure all communities can thrive.
In addition to advancing local solutions, we must also come together to demand that our legislators introduce a statewide Tenant Bill of Rights in the 2025 legislative session.
Together, we can and will create a future where the right to a safe and secure home is a reality for all.
Jessy Correa is a program manager with Cornerstone Connections in Orange County, and is a survivor of domestic violence who advocates for women. Santra Denis is the executive director of the Miami Workers Center, a member-led organization organizing towards dignity, power, and self-determination with domestic workers, tenants and families in Miami.
Originally published in the Miami Herald on March 21, 2024: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article286689040.html#storylink=cpy