JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Florida's legislative session has come and gone, but some lawmakers are still pushing for what they say was not addressed: the affordable housing crisis.
If you aren't dealing with paying more for where you live, then you've heard the stories on First Coast News.
"I'm going to have to stay at an extended stay hotel," John Czech told First Coast News.
"Almost $400," Rebecca Ann Nelson said about a rent increase. "That's ridiculous."
"I haven't any idea of what the future's going to hold for me," said Michael Bowen.
In December, two dozen Florida lawmakers began their calls on Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency to address the affordable housing crisis. They signed a letter urging for the state's attorney general to look at any increase above 10% as price gouging. So what came of it?
"Unfortunately nothing has happened," said State Rep. Angie Nixon, (D) District 14.
Nixon is one of the lawmakers who signed the letter.
DeSantis pitched over $350 million for affordable housing in his latest budget proposal, and after years of diverting money meant for affordable housing, this year, state lawmakers fully funded programs to help with it.
The governor's office did not return answers to First Coast News's questions before the deadline. They did answer questions after the deadline and part of those responses are available at the bottom of this article.
DeSantis said the following in December about the lawmakers' letter.
"We should take that letter and we should forward it to Joe Biden in the White House because things are more expensive because of his policies," DeSantis said.
Nixon wants to see action to prevent more situations like the following.
"Receiving a call from a teacher who's telling me she has to live in a garage because she can't afford the high cost of rent," Nixon said.
The lawmakers who are still pushing for the state of emergency to deal with the housing crisis are Democrats and, as Nixon says, there's a limit to what they can do as the minority party.
Deputy Press Secretary Bryan Griffin responded to First Coast News' emailed questions after the deadline. He states the federal emergency rental assistance award to Florida totaled $1.6 billion and that there is about $59.8 million remaining for the program.
Here are two quotes from the statement:
"Those who are quick to insist on a state of emergency are those who believe that the government can and should solve every problem with the heaviest hand. Increasing government intervention into markets cannot solve complex problems like this – in fact, it tends to make those problems worse."
"As Governor DeSantis said at a recent press conference in Hialeah, there’s only one sure way to bring down the rents in a sustainable manner without adverse consequences that outweigh benefits: build more housing. He encouraged local governments to consider if housing construction and development in their jurisdictions is hindered by unnecessary red tape, and if so, to streamline the process."