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Abstract
While their structure and targets vary, state housing trust funds offer an increasingly common form of assistance designed to flexibly meet local housing needs. Frequently they are generated through real estate transaction fees, making them particularly relevant in high growth states such as Florida. For 16 years, Florida's housing trust fund (SHIP) has consistently met its major funding targets, assisting housing initiatives from rural counties to the largest urban centers. A survey of local SHIP administrators provides insight on defining characteristics and key policy dilemmas. Although this critical housing program fails to consistently meet certain goals, those stakeholders involved in its passage, maintenance and implementation consider it a success. Given these conditions, strengthened state oversight to ensure consistency with housing plans and increased state support for other programs, particularly those targeting rental strategies and the lowest income, rather than major legislative changes, could result in more informed, effective and equitable local implementation.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Charles Connerly, Susan McGorray and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions. This study received support from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Urban Scholars Fellowship Program.
Notes
1 In July 2008 after resubmittal of this article, a national housing trust fund was established as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.