I can't write a full letter today due to family reasons but I want to highlight Florida's worsening affordable housing crisis. Rent has increased by 25% or even more per year in many areas since COVID-19 struck, which is driving so many to homelessness or nearly so. At the same time, Republican leadership has continually defunded the state's affordable housing trust fund. Please take some time to read up a bit on the crisis:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Florida+affordable+housing+crisis
Florida's Affordable House is NOT there. Especially in Volusia County where the average rents are $1500 for a 1 bedroom, $2750 for a 2 bedroom apts. The average per person salary in Volusia County is $41,000 to $62,000 per year. However try to land that $41,000 per year job in Volusia County it is not impossible but very unlikely. The majority of Volusia employment is in the service industry being hotels, motels, restaurants, retail stores and of course cops, fire fighters and in the medical field. Let's say that the average person lands a job in the service industry at $13.00 per hour that's a whopping $27, 040 gross earning per year. Even two people making this low wage can NOT afford a $1500 dollar monthly rent. Florida's salaries and Volusia County salaries are barley a living wage. Most people get a lawn mower and a bug sprayer and go into business for themselves because they are not going to make ends meet at $13.00 bucks per hour. It's a sad ending.