Public Policy Institute Presents 2006 Housing Study
July 1, 2006 – OCALA - FLORIDA To provide leadership in identifying recommendations for an improved community, the Public Policy Institute (PPI) of Marion County will present the 2006 Housing Study: A Framework for Affordable and Workforce Housing to the community at a reception on Thursday, July 27, 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the Marion County Public Library Head Quarters at 2720 East Silver Springs Boulevard. The event is free and open to the public.
Dr. Charles Dassance, PPI Board Chair, will outline the vision and mission of the organization. Pete Tesch, Housing Study Chair will present an overview of the study and the study management team will discuss key study recommendations that address a plan of action to ensure the availability of safe, adequate, and affordable housing to meet the needs of the present and future residents of Marion County. Crystal Flynn, Director of the Public Policy Institute will moderate the program and will also introduce the 2007 Study: Access to Health Care.
In November 2005, Dr. Robert Stroh, Director of the Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing at the University of Florida provided an update on the state of affordable and workforce housing within Marion County and throughout Florida in his keynote address to kick-off the study process. Over a six-month period, the housing study committee met weekly to identify recommendations to explore the critical housing needs of Marion County residents. The group was comprised of over 25 representatives from the community with a diverse balance of interests related to the scope of study.
Study objectives included the need to determine housing demand and supply, to examine the roles of public and private organizations in affordable housing development and support, to identify social and economic factors that affect housing availability and affordability, and to study funding sources and other incentives for affordable housing. In order to establish study recommendations, the study committee considered presentations from 36 resource speakers representing a broad range of organizations associated with housing issues.
About PPI: PPI (Public Policy Institute of Marion County) is dedicated to advancing the public interest, building democracy and community, and improving the quality of life by involving citizens in the process.