♪ >> RIGHT NOW ON "CHRONICLE" -- ADRIAN: WE HAVE $800, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR RENT. >> THEN WE’RE NOT GOING TO EAT? >> OH, MAN. >> HARD CHOICES ARE HAPPENING EVERY DAY HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IN A STARTLING AMOUNT OF HOMES. OR WHEREVER FAMILIES CAN FIND TO LAY THEIR HEADS. JAMES: ALL UP AND DOWN 192, FULL OF FAMILIES. JIM: TONIGHT, WE EXAMINE MORE OF THE FACTORS FEEDING CENTRAL FLORIDA’S HOUSING CRISIS. FROM A POPULATION BUSTING AT THE SEAMS -- CHIP: THAT’S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF NEW PEOPLE, AND WE’RE NOT DEVELOPING NEARLY ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THAT DEMAND. >> TO THE BURDEN JUST GETTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK PUTS ON LOW-WAGE WORKERS. JIM: ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TAKE THE BUS? >> AT LEAST GIVE YOURSELF AT LEAST A TWO-HOUR WINDOW IF YOU ARE GOING ANYWHERE. >> THIS IS "WESH 2 CHRONICLE: PROJECT COMMUNITY." JIM: WELCOME TO "CHRONICLE." I’M JIM PAYNE. IT SEEMS WHEREVER YOU GO IN CENTRAL FLORIDA THESE DAYS, SOMETHING IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE INTERSTATE, HIGH-RISES, AND A SEA OF NEW COMMUNITIES ARE SPROUTING WHERE PASTURE AND ORANGE GROVES ONCE STOOD. ALL OF IT TO COPE WITH THE CRUSH OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CALL CENTRAL FLORIDA HOME. THE LATEST PROJECTIONS SHOW 1500 PEOPLE A WEEK MOVING HERE. WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO WORK? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE? AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET BACK AND FORTH? WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE ALL OF THAT, WITH "CHRONICLE: PROJECT COMMUNITY. FIRST UP, THE HOUSING SITUATION. WE HAVE THE VERY LATEST DATA ABOUT HOMES AND LIVING COSTS FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA. AND THE NUMBERS PAINT A REALLY BLEAK PICTURE OF OUR FUTURE. IN OUR EIGHT-COUNTY REGION, WE ARE CURRENTLY SHORT MORE THAN 108,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES. FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE, CONSIDER THIS. FROM 2000 TO 2017, THE GREATER ORLANDO AREA ADDED JUST OVER 165,000 RENTAL UNITS AT ALL PRICE POINTS AT THAT PACE, IT WOULD TAKE 11-YEARS TO MAKE UP FOR THE CURRENT HOUSING SHORTFALL, BUT ONLY IF NO ONE ELSE MOVED HERE. WHICH BRINGS US TO THE DILEMMA CITIES AND COUNTIES FACE TODAY -- HOW TO FAST-TRACT THOUSANDS OF HOMES THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO BUILD AND RENT. HERE’S GAIL PASCHALL BROWN. >> SO IT’S GOING TO BE A CORNER LOT. >> A CORNER LOT. >> YES IT’S A CORNER LOT RIGHT , HERE, ADD PRETTY MUCH THE OTHER HOUSES WILL START GOING THIS WAY. GAIL: THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE WITH WANDA WELCH AND HER SONS, NATHAN AND JASHUN, THEY WERE AT THEIR LOT IN PINE HILLS WHERE THEIR NEW HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME WILL BE BUILT. IT WAS HUGE PILE OF DIRT. WHERE IS THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE GOING TO BE? ONE: IT WILL BE OVER THERE. GAIL: BUT WE SOMEHOW WE COULD SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT. WANDA: THE FRONT WILL BE OVER THERE. THE GARAGE WILL BE IN THE BACK. >> SO THIS MOUND IS PROBABLY THE KITCHEN, YEAH I SEE IT. >> YOU SEE? >> YEAH, I SEE IT. WANDA: JUST BEING OUT THERE IT MADE EVERYTHING FEEL REAL LIKE THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING THIS I S MY LOT. MY LAND, I DON’T WANT TO SAY MINE CAUSE IT’S OURS. GAIL: IT WILL BE THEIRS NEXT SPRING. CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE DONE IN MARCH. THEN TYPICALLY IT TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO CLOSE. WANDA USED TO RENT A TOWN HOUSE. BUT IN 2017, THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS FORECLOSED ON, LEAVING WANDA AND THE BOYS SEARCHING ALL OVER FOR A PLACE OF THEIR OWN. THIS ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL TEACHER COULDN’T FIND ANYTHING SHE COULD AFFORD. WAND ORANGE COUNTY RENT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE, AND WHEN I SAY EXPENSIVE, $1800, $1900, $2000, $1300, ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS, BUT I’M BLESSED TO HAVE A FAMILY. GAIL: RIGHT NOW, THE LIVE WITH THRE WANDA’S MOTHER IN HER THREE-BEDROOM, TWO-BATHROOM HOME. WANDA’S TWO UNCLES ALSO LIVE THERE. ONE OF THE REASONS WE’RE IN THIS HOUSING MESS, THERE JUST AREN’T ENOUGH PLACES TO LIVE. AT ANY PRICE POINT. WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MIDDLE AND LOW INCOMES FAMILIES, THE NUMBERS ARE BLEAK. JUST IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, IN ORDER TO HOUSE ALL THE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHO NEED A PLACE TO LIVE, WE’D NEED MORE THAN 108,000 HOMES. THAT FIGURE IS CALLED RENTAL UNIT DEFICIT. AND IN ALL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, ORANGE COUNTY HAS IT WORST. CHIP: WE’VE SEEN UNPRECEDENTED POPULATION GROWTH AND IT’S PROJECTED TO INCREASE JUST IN ORANGE COUNTY ALONE BY 46% BY 2040. GAIL: CHIP TATUM IS CEO OF THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER ORLANDO. IT’S LIKE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE APARTMENT INDUSTRY. CHIP THAT’S A MASS AMOUNT OF NEW : PEOPLE AND WE’RE NOT DEVELOPING NEARLY ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THAT DEMAND. >> THE AVERAGE FAMILY CANNOT AFFORD -- GAIL: TATUM ALSO SITS ON THE ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING FOR ALL TASK FORCE. MAYOR DEMINGS CONVENED THE GROUP AND TASKED THEM WITH DEVELOPING REAL, ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS. CHIP TATUM SITS ON THE DESIGN AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEE. THEIR FOCUS IS ON POLICY AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES. THEIR TASK, SPURRING HOUSING FOR ALL TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT IN ORANGE COUNTY. CHIP: THERE’S HUGE EMPHASIS ON NOT JUST CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT CREATING MORE HOUSING IN GENERAL IN WHICH WE WOULD AGREE WITH THIS THE RIGHT STRATEGY. >> OUR LOCAL HOUSING NEEDS -- GAIL: THE TASK FORCE’S WORK ISN’T DONE YET. BUT TATUM SHARED WITH US SOME OF THE CHANGES THEY’RE EXPLORING TO INCREASE THE QUANTITY OF PLACES TO LIVE. THINGS LIKE FLEXIBILITY IN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SMALLER APARTMENTS. CHIP: 400-SQUARE-FEET RIGHT NOW KIND OF THE MINIMUM, WELL THERE’S OTHER MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE 200 SQUARE FEET OR SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT’S WHEN YOU START TO SEE SOME OF THESE EFFICIENCIES, COMMUNITY LIVING , AND PROVIDING SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT MORE UNITS IN A SMALLER AREA, AND KIND OF CREATE SOME NATURALLY OCCURRING HOUSING THERE. GAIL: ANOTHER IDEA TO CREATE DENSITY. CHIP: PROVIDING HOME OWNERS THE OPPORTUNITY AND MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH CREATING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS. THINK THAT APARTMENT ABOVE THE GARAGE OR THAT GRANNY FLAT AND THINKS LIKE THAT. GAIL: AND YET ANOTHER IDEA IS BORROWING FROM A CONCEPT BEING USED IN CALIFORNIA. CHIP: TAKING SOME OF THESE, WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT CALL MCMANSIONS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, AND CONVERTING THOSE INTO LIKE SMALL SCALE APARTMENT COMMUNITY STUDIO TYPE ROOMS AS WELL AND CREATING MORE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAY. AND THAT’S SOMETHING OTHER MARKETS ARE DOING AND SEEING SOME SUCCESS WITH. GAIL: WE ASKED TATUM ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES, ALSO STRUGGLING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE WANTED TO KNOW WHO THE TASK FORCE WAS LOOKING TO FOR EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS STORIES. CHIP I THINK THAT CHARLOTTE HAS : A PRETTY STRONG PROGRAM. WE’VE BEEN LOOKING A LOT AT THAT , AND THEIR PROGRAM SURROUNDS CREATING A POOL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF MONEY THAT’S ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, BUT FUNDED THROUGH BONDS, AND SO LIKE BANK OF AMERICA, I BELIEVE, IS A HUGE CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT, BUT IT’S PRIVATE SECTOR-PUBLIC SECTOR SOLUTION. IT’S SOMETHING THAT THEY’RE WORKING ON TOGETHER, AND THEY’VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING QUITE OF UNITS OUT OF GROUND WITH THAT. GAIL: TATUM SHARED WITH US A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY TOOLKIT BY HIS ORGANIZATION AND THE FLORIDA APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. IT OUTLINES THE CAUSE OF FLORIDA’S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM AND SOME SOLUTIONS. CHIP: OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RESPONDED PRETTY COMMANDINGLY THAT IF THERE WERE SOME FLEXIBILITY WITH IMPACT FEES IN EXCHANGE FOR OBVIOUSLY A SET ASIDE OF A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOWEVER THAT MAY LOOK, I THINK THERE’S SOME REAL POSSIBILITIES ON THAT FRONT. GAIL: IMPACT FEES ARE WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHARGES A DEVELOPER TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE ACCESS TO. THINGS LIKE ROADS AND PARKS, POLICE AND FIRE. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GETS A PORTION, TOO. DEVELOPERS ARGUE IF IMPACT FEES WEREN’T SO HIGH, THEY COULD BUILD MORE AFFORDABLY. CHIP: THE OTHER SIDE IS PROPERTY TAXES, AND OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED IN WHAT IT CAN DO ON THAT FRONT. GAIL: AS FOR CARVING OUT MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS IN ALL THOSE MARKET RATE APARTMENT COMPLEXES BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW. CHIP: I THINK THAT ASKING AN OWNER, ESPECIALLY IF THE PROJECT IS ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE, TO CONVERT TO AFFORDABLE IS ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBLE UNDERTAKING , BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY’VE GOT THEIR FINANCING LINED UP, THEY’VE ALREADY GOT THEIR PERMITTING IN PROCESS AND JUST THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND THEM, TRYING TO CHANGE THAT WOULD BE I THINK ALMOST LOGISTICALLY INFEASIBLE. GAIL: 35% OF FLORIDIANS RENT THEIR HOMES. AND THE NUMBER IS ONLY EXPECTED TO RISE. IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND, FLORIDA IS GOING TO NEED TO A 669,391 RENTAL UNITS BY 2030. THAT IS ROUGHLY 47,814 EACH YEAR. BUT IN ORANGE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE CITY OF ORLANDO, LESS THAN 1200 AFFORDABLE RENTALS ARE BEING ADDED THIS YEAR. A FAR CRY FROM ENOUGH FOR NOW OR THE FUTURE. >> DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO YOUR PACKETS -- GAIL: THAT IS WHY THE HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SO ANXIOUSLY AWAITED. TATUM SAYS WHATEVER SHAKES OUT FROM THEIR WORK, IT WILL BE ACTIONABLE. CHIP: I THINK WE’LL SEE A NUMBER OF THINGS. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST HONESTLY IS GOING TO BE THE COUNTY DOING SOME INTERNAL REFLECTION OF ITS BUILDING CODES AND RELAXING SOME OF MORE RIGID REQUIREMENTS THAT DON’T HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LIFE SAFETY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT ARE JUST KIND OF OLD SCHOOL MENTALITY FOR BUILDING DESIG AND SO TO MAKE IT A LOT EASIER, ESPECIALLY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT AND TO MAKE SURE THESE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION MORE QUICKLY. GAIL: FRUITS OF LABOR ARE STARTING TO BE SEEN ON THAT PLOT OF LAND WANDA WELCH HAS BEEN WAITING ON. CREWS BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF HER HABITAT HOUSE IN EARLY SEPTEMBE ON THE JOURNEY, WANDA’S SONS HAVE WATCHED HER WORK AND SACRIFICE FOR THIS DREAM. NATHAN: I KNOW SHE’S BEEN DOING SWEAT EQUITY FOR THESE PAST FEW MONTHS ON SATURDAYS. SHE BEEN BASICALLY WORKING ON OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES, AND I THINK THAT IS PRETTY GREAT A , GOOD WAY TO HEP THE COMMUNITY THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE LIVING BY. GAIL: SHE CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THE DAY SHE FINALLY GETS THE KEYS TO HER NEW HOME. WANDA: IT’S GOING TO BE SOME MANY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO OWN MY OWN HOME FOR SO MANY YEARS. SO IT’S GOING TO BE SO MANY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS, AND TO NOT TO PAY SOMEBODY ELSE’S MORTGAGE BUT MY OWN MORTGAGE. OH, MY GOD. BUT, LIKE, I’M GOING TO SHOUT, I GOING TO PRAY, I’M GOING TO PRAISE GOD, I’M GOING TO CRY, I CAN’T SING, BUT I’M GOING TO SING, LIKE, IT IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING DAY. ♪ >> WE WANT YOU TO SUSPEND THAT REALITY, BECAUSE TODAY INSIDE OF THOSE ORANGE FOLDERS, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE ON A NEW ROLE, A NEW PERSONALITY. >> WHAT’S IT LIKE TO STRUGGLE? TO BE ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA LIVING WITH THE DAILY PRESSURE OF POVERTY? WE WILL SHOW YOU A LOCAL PROGRAM BRINGING THAT REALITY TO YOU, WITH THE HOPES OF OPENING EYES AND MINDS. AND LATER, WE’RE CATCHING THE BUS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW COMMUTING AND JUST GETTING AROUND IMPACTS THOSE STRUGGLING TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. JIM: WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE POOR? HAVE YOU EVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MIGHT GET BY WITHOUT WHAT YO HAVE NOW? POVERTY, UNLESS YOU’VE LIVED IT, IS NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU IMAGINE. A PROGRAM HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IS LOOKING TO CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE BY HAVING YOU EXPERIENCE WHAT IT’S LIKE NOT MAKING ENDS MEET. ADRIAN WHITSETT HAS MORE ON WHAT IT’S LIKE TO COPE, ON A DAILY BASIS, WITH HOUSING YOU CAN’T AFFORD, LOW-WAGE JOBS, AND THE FALLOUT. ADRIAN: TUCKED IN A ROOM WHILE THE A.C. STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP, WE ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO STRUGGLE. >> IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU GET INSIDE. ADRIAN: HERE AT APOPKA’S FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WE’RE GOING TO C.O.P.E. THE FOUR LETTERS STAND FOR THE COST OF POVERTY EXPERIENCE. A PROGRAM RUN BY THE CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HOMELESSNESS. FOR ONE HOUR, THEY WILL LIVE OUT A SIMULATED LIFE. >> CAN YOU FOLLOW THIS YOUNG LADY? ADRIAN: IT IS DESIGNED TO TAKE THOSE WHO HAVE SECURITY, AND LET THEM EXPERIENCE HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES. ACTUALLY, IT’S 45%. THAT’S HOW MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE THE SERVICES THOSE STRUGGLING USUALLY NEED -- FOOD ASSISTANCE, SHELTER -- BUT OTHERS YOU MIGHT NOT REALIZE GO HAND IN HAND WITH BEING POOR -- THE PAWN SHOP, THE CHECK CASHING SERVICE. >> WE WANT YOU TO SUSPEND THAT REALITY, BECAUSE IN THESE ORANGE FOLDERS, YOU WILL TAKE ON A NEW ROLE, A NEW PERSONALITY. ADRIAN: GROUPED IN WIT FAMILIES, SOME WITH CHILDREN, SOME WITH ILLNESSES, ALL LIVING AT OR NEAR THE POVERTY LINE. THEY WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE THAT LIFE FOR A MONTH. >> YOU ARE MAKING $17,000 IN A YEAR, AND YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY RENT. THE AVERAGE RENT IN ORANGE COUNTY IS $1245 PER MONTH. ADRIAN: SO NEARLY HALF OF ALL FAMILIES WILL BE LEFT WITH ABOUT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR TO TAKE CARE $3000 OF FOOD, CLOTHES, CARS, AND UTILITIES. IN THE SIMULATION, AS IN REALITY, FAIRNESS OR EQUITY ISN’T ALWAYS IN FOCUS. >> ALSO, PAY YOUR UTILITY BILLS, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THESE LIGHTS ON, YOU WANT TO COME SEE ME, I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE A LITTLE CASH, IF YOU NEED A LOAN. ADRIAN: EACH SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. >> HE NEEDS MEDICATION. >> JENNIFER HAS JUST FOUND OUT THAT SHE IS PREGNANT. >> WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? ADRIAN: WE FOLLOW KRIZIA CAPELES EVANS, WHO WORKS FOR FLORIDA HOSPITAL CHURCH. WE WATCH AS HER FOLDER REVEALS KRIZIA’S SIMULATED FAMILY. KRIZIA: FATHER, MOTHER, DAUGHTER , AFRICAN-AMERICAN. >> I CANNOT READ IF I AM MARCUS. IT SAYS YOU CANNOT READ. KRIZIA: OH, MARCUS CANNOT READ. HE IS TOO PROUD TO LET ANYBODY KNOW. SOPHIA IS PARTIALLY BLIND. MOTHER DID NOT GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME IS USUALLY AROUND $2400. ADRIAN: THEY START BY FIGURING OUT ASSETS OF THEIR SIMULATED FAMILY. KRIZIA: AND A SET OF DISHES. JUST IN CASE WE NEED TO PAWN TH EM. >> THAT’S $125. KRIZIA: SO I DO NEED TO REPORT TO COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES TO ASK FOR A RENEWAL APPLICATION, OH, SO FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS, BECAUSE WE RECEIVE PUBLIC BENEFITS. ADRIAN: WEEK ONE, BEGINS, EVERYONE’S A BIT UNSURE WHAT TO DO FIRST. >> WHAT IS YOUR FAMILY NUMBER? >> 19. ADRIAN: EVERYTHING COSTS EITHER TIME OR MONEY,SOMETIMES BOTH. KRIZIA: HOW MUCH IS GAS GOING TO BE? BECAUSE WE NEED MORE GAS SOON. >> YOU HAVE $50. IF IT IS NOT HERE IN 20 MINUTES, THEN YOU STAND TO PAY INTEREST. THIS IS CLOSED, OK? HE WILL HELP YOU OUT. >> PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON GAS. ADRIAN: RIGHT OFF THE BAT, TOUGH CHOICES. KRIZIA HAS DECIDE IF SHE GOES TO WORK -- KRIZIA: AND I AM CASHING TWO OF MY CHECKS. YOU WOULD NOT CASH THEM LAST TIME. ADRIAN: OR SPENDS TIME GOING TO PAY HER RENT AND UTILITIES. SHE CHOOSES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. IRONICALLY LEAVING HER BILLS UNPAID. KRIZIA: AND THEN WE JUST NEED TO RENEW OUR PUBLIC BENEFITS APPLICATION. >> OK, I NEED THIS FILLED OUT IN FULL, PLEASE. KRIZIA: OK, THANK YOU. >> I HAVE THREE CLIENTS RIGHT NOW. I CAN ONLY TAKE THREE AT A TIME. ONCE I GET MY NEXT ONE, I WILL BE A LITTLE VIEW OUT. ADRIAN: TIME MOVES SO FAST. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. KRIZIA: NO! >> OVER! KRIZIA: SO DO WE COME BACK WITH OUR APPLICATION? OK. >> GET BACK TO HER. ADRIAN: WEEK TWO BEGINS WITH THE MODERATORS MAKING SOME CHANGES. >> THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL WEEK THREE, Y YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS. KRIZIA: AH. THE FINAL NOTICE. RENT. WE ONLY HAVE $400. OK, WE HAVE GOT TO GET GAS. ADRIAN: THE GROUP IS GETTING DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THROWN AT THEM. RIGHT NOW, MANY OF THEM ARE COMING TO GET FOOD. ONLY ONE FAMILY OUT OF THIS ENTIRE GROUP ATE FOOD FOR WEEK ONE, THE REST TOOK CARE OF OTHER BILLS, LIKE KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON. KRIZIA: THIS IS WEEK TWO, AND WE HAVE NINE MINUTES LEFT, 10 MINUTES LEFT, AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY FOOD. SO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE HERE, BUT DROP US OFF ON YOUR WAY OFF. TAKE THE CAR. OK, GOOD LUCK. UGH. YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO TO WORK AND ALSO GO TO THE AGENCIES UNIT TO GO TO TWO WERE NEW YORK PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER, -- TO RENEW YOUR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER, AND YOU HAVE TO PICK HER UP, AND SHE HAS SPECIAL NEEDS. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. AND THEN YOU HAVE PENALTIES, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE RUDE, SO -- IT IS JUST FRUSTRATING. ADRIAN: BY THE END OF WEEK TWO, THAT FRUSTRATION HITS HOME. >> NO ONE HAS PAID YOUR UTILITIES EXCEPT FOR ONE PERSON. KRIZIA: SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PAY OUR RENT. [WHISTLEBLOWING] KRIZIA: DID WE GET ANY FOOD? WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANY FOOD. LITERALLY THE TIME WAS SPENT WAITING IN LINE TO GET GAS, CASH OUR CHECKS TO GET GAS, AND THEN WE HAD TO SIT AT WORK FOR THE LAST SIX MINUTES. TO GET ASSISTANCE, WHAT DO WE GET? YES! ADRIAN AS THE THIRD WEEK BEGINS, THE FACILITATORS TELL THE CROWD SOMETHING ABOUT THE SIMULATION. THE SCENARIOS AND STORIES IN THEIR FOLDERS COME FROM A REAL FAMILY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. THEY’RE LIVING OUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THROWN AT REAL PEOPLE DAILY. SOME FIND THEMSELVES IN JAIL, A LACK OF TIME OR MONEY OR BOTH KEPT THEM FROM PROBATION APPOINTMENTS. OTHERS COULDN’T PAY THE BILLS AND GOT EVICTED, WHILE STILL SEARCHING FOR A WAY TO KEEP THEIR FAMILY FED. >> GOOD LUCK. COME BACK WHEN YOU HAVE GOT MORE MONEY. I DON’T KNOW. YOU KNOW COMMITTEE SHELTER IS OVER THERE, THE CHURCH IS OVER THERE, AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU. ADRIAN: BUT MANY FOUND THE CHURCH PANTRY AND THE HOMELESS SHELTER COULDN’T PROVIDE FOOD. PAYDAY LOAN AND CHECK CASHING FEES TAKE AWAY LITTLE PIECES OF WHAT’S LEFT. >> SO I WILL GIVE YOU $700 FOR THIS $734. KRIZIA: OK, WE HAVE GOT TO GO. >> NO, NO, NO, NO. WHY WON’T HE CASH OUR OTHER CHECK? KRIZIA: AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO DO, OH, MAN, ALL $100’S. THEN WE WILL DO $40 FOR GAS. >> OK, IT WILL BE $50, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING LEFT IN THE BANK. KRIZIA: [LAUGHS] ADRIAN: ON TO THE NEXT FRUSTRATING SITUATION. KRIZIA: SO RIGHT AFTER THIS, WE HAVE TO GET, WELL, YOU HAVE TO RUN TO GET TWO MORE MINUTES -- WORK FOR TWO MORE MINUTES. ADRIAN: AND ANOTHER ONE. KRIZIA: WE HAVE $800, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR RENT. >> THEN WE ARE NOT GOING TO EAT? KRIZIA: OH, MAN. [WESSEL BLOWS== [WHISTLE BLOWS] ADRIAN: WITH WEEK FOUR, MANY HAVE LEARNED THE SIMULATED SYSTEM ABLE TO NAVIGATE A BIT BETTER BUT WITH DIFFERING RESULTS. SOME LOST IT ALL AND MOVE IN TO THE SHELTER, OTHERS SERVE TIME. EVEN MORE SUBDUED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF EVER-SHIFTING PRIORITIES, EACH ONE AS, IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ONE BEFORE. KRIZIA: FOOD IS $600. >> ALL RIGHT. >> HOLY MOLY. KRIZIA: OH, MY WORD. >> FOR YOUR FAMILY, HEALTHY IS $600, AFFORDABLE IS $450. KRIZIA: WE WILL DO AFFORDABLE. >> HAVE YOU GOT $450? KRIZIA: YEAH. >> ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN COME A WEEK FOUR IS NOW OVER. ADRIAN: WITH THE SIMULATION OVER, A COLLECTIVE MOMENT TO BREATHE AND REFLECT. AND TO SHARE WHAT THEY’LL TAKE AWAY. >> SHE TOLD US THAT FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY. SO NOW WE HAVE TO PAY FOR LUNCH. WE LOOKED AT SCHOOL AS A SAFER HAVEN, AND KIDS GO THROUGH THAT EVERYDAY. >> YOU TRY TO GO GET HELP, BUT IT IS SO LIMITED, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH WAITING TIME, AND YOU HAVE TO BE SO VULNERABLE, AND THEN THERE IS A WAITING LIST, OH, I AM SORRY, I AM HERE POURING MY SITUATION, HOPING YOU WILL HELP ME, BUT YOU ARE NOT. KRIZIA: IN MY LINE OF WORK, I DO SOMETIMES WORK WITH THOSE KINDS OF FAMILIES, AND THEY DO HAVE TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS, AND I AM ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT THEN YOU CANNOT FORGET WHY THEY ARE IN THAT SITUATION. >> I AM REALLY BLESSED, AND I CANNOT TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED. I HAVE TO APPRECIATE WHAT I HAVE. ADRIAN: FOR KRIZIA, LIKE MANY OTHERS, MORE AWARENESS THAT LIFE DOESN’T WORK THE SAME FOR EVERYONE. KRIZIA: YOU REALLY CANNOT PLAN AHEAD WHEN YOU HAVE TO LIVE THAT WAY. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE AND THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE GOALS. THAT WAS A REAL EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. >> STILL AHEAD, WE CATCH UP WITH A HOMELESS STUDENT WHO STOLE OUR HEARTS. >> GETTING TO COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT COULD’VE HAPPENED. >> BUT FIRST. >> IF YOU MISS THE BUS ON THE HOUR, YOU ARE STUCK, AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER HOUR. IT IS PRETTY TOUGH. >> ORLANDO’S PUBLIC TRANSIT IS A LIFELINE TO THOUSANDS. BUT THE SYSTEM IS SUFFERING. HOW THESE TRANSPORTATION TROUBLES ARE HURTING THE WORKING POOR, AND THE LATEST IDEA TO THROW THE SYSTEM A LIFELINE. JIM: WELCOME BACK TO "CHRONICLE." THERE’S A SAYING IN REAL ESTATE -- LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. FOR PEOPLE ON THE LOWER END OF THE WAGE SCALE, THE LOCATION THEY’RE LOOKING FOR MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. IT’S THE NEAREST BUS STOP. TRANSPORTATION IS A HUGE FACTOR IN CENTRAL FLORIDA’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. THE BIGGEST PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IS LYNX. IT HAS BEEN AROUND, IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, SINCE 1972. 310 BUSSES COVERING 2500 SQUARE MILES IN ORANGE, OSCEOLA, AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES AND SMALL SECTIONS OF LAKE AND POLK. 79,000 PEOPLE RIDE THE BUS EACH WEEKDAY, MORE THAN 25 MILLION PASSENGER TRIPS IN 2018. AND IF YOU THINK I-4 IS A TRANSIT HEADACHE, HERE’S WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WITHOUT A CAR. >> RIGHT NOW, I’M WAITING ON THE BUS. >> EVERYONE WHO RIDES THE BUS, WAITS ON THE BUS. AND WHEN LYNX BUSSES DO FINALLY SHOW UP, RIDERS SAY IT TAKES WAY TOO LONG TO GET WHERE THEY’RE GOIN >> AT 10:00 P.M., WHEN I GET OFF, I HAVE TO WAIT TWO HOURS BACK HERE, THEN CATCH THE BUS. >> MARC BROWN WORKS AT TWO TACO BELLS, ONE IN HAINES CITY THE , THE OTHER HERE ON U.S. 192 IN KISSIMMEE. COMMUTING BETWEEN THE TWO ON LYNX BUSSES. MARC: COMMUTING IS HECTIC, SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PANHANDLE. JOCELIN: IT WORKS GOOD BECAUSE I ONLY TAKE ONE BUS. IT ONLY TAKES BETWEEN 15 MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES. >> JOCELIN ZAPATA WORKS AT EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL ON 192 AND LIVES ABOUT A MILE AWAY IN KISSIMMEE. SHE SAYS LYNX HAS GOOD AND BAD DAYS. WHEN SHE MOVED HERE TWO YEARS AGO, SHE WORKED MUCH FARTHER AWAY, NEAR WALT DISNEY WORLD. JOCELIN: WE NEED THEM TO BE ON TIME, SO YOU HAVE TO BE ON TIME AT WORK, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT IS REALLY GOOD IF YOU END UP GOING TOO FAR, BUT IF YOU ARE GOING FAR, THAT IS DIFFERENT. AT THIS MOMENT, LYNX IS WORKING FOR MAY, BUT TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING MORE, I NEED A CAR. DONNEL: IF YOU MISS THE BUS ON THE HOUR, YOU ARE STUCK, AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER HOUR. >> DONELL LIVES IN ORLANDO AND RIDES LYNX TO AND FROM WORK IN ALTAMONTE SPRINGS DAILY FROM 11:00 TO 5:00. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK YOU SPEND WAITING ON THE BUS? DONNEL: IT DEPENDS. >> SOMETIMES IT’S JUST A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES IT’S AN HOUR OR TWO. DONELL: IT IS DIFFICULT, AND I AM HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK. SEE, I AM STILL WAITING ON THE 106, AND THE 106 STILL DID NOT COME. >> THERE IT IS. OK. DONNEL: ALL RIGHT. >> LET’S LET YOU GO. STORY AFTER STORY OF LIFE DICTATED BY THE BUS SCHEDULE. IF YOU’VE NEVER DONE IT, YOU PROBABLY DON’T REALIZE HOW DAUNTING THE DAILY TRAVEL CAN BE. SO WESH 2 TRANSPORTATION REPORTER JACLYN DEAUGUSTINO IS GOING TO SHOW US. JACLYN: WE ARE HERE TO RIDE THE BUS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR 106 AT THE ROSEMONT SUPERSTAR. WE WILL TAKE A DOWNTOWN, TRANSFER THERE, AND GO TO ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, DISNEY. OUR TRIP STARTS OFF WITH A SLIGHT DELAY. WE QUICKLY LEARN FROM THE FREQUENT RIDERS, THAT’S TYPICAL. THE BUSES MIGHT BE EARLY, MIGHT BE LATE, BUT ON TIME? THEY SAY THAT’S RARE. OUR BUS ROLLS UP AT 10:50 A.M., ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE. GETTING ON AT THE ROSEMONT SUPERSTAR, SO THE READER -- S UPER STOP, SO HERE WE ARE. CJAY: YOU SAID YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY, AND THAT IS QUITE A TRIP. JACLYN: CJAY CRUC IS A FREQUENT LYNX RIDER, HE USED TO RIDE THE BUS FROM UCF TO DISNEY FOR WORK. A 35 TO 45 MINUTE DRIVE BY CAR, TOOK CJAY TWO TO THREE HOURS BY BUS. CJAY: IT DEPENDS OF THE BUSES WANT TO RIDE ON TIME, IF TRAFFIC IS DECENT, HOW MANY PEOPLE GET OFF FOR YOU GET OFF. JACLYN: MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON OUR BUS MENTION HOW LIMITED THE ROUTES ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK LATE OR ODD SHIFTS. CJAY: I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE TO TAKE TWO BUSES JUST TO GET TO WORK AND THREE BUSES TO GET THAT, BECAUSE THE FIRST BUS THEY TOOK NO LONGER RUNS AT THAT HOUR, SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE, AND WHERE YOU LIVE. IN SOME CASES, I HAVE HAD TO SLEEP IN PLACES WHERE I MISSED MY BUS, I HAVE HAD TO SLEEP THERE ONCE OR TWICE. JACLYN: YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT. SLEEPING IN RANDOM PLACES, BECAUSE THERE IS NO BUS TO TAKE HOME. THANK YOU. 30 MINUTES LATER, WE’RE DOWNTOWN, TIME TO TRANSFER AND , WAIT. THE BUS DRIVERS NEED TO CHANGE OUT. SO WE MEET MORE RIDERS. JARVIS: MY NAME IS JARVIS THOMPSON, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I TOTALED MY CAR OUT. HERE WE ARE, 10 YEARS LATER, ON THE BUS. JACLYN: THIS EAST ORLANDO NATIVE IS A RESTAURANT MANAGER ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN. JARVIS: I WALK OUT OF MY RESTAURANT 1:15, THE LAST BUS RUNS OUT 12:15. SO I GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY SIDE OF THE WORLD, WHICH IS EAST ORLANDO, WEST ORLANDO, IT IS. JACLYN: NOW WE ARE CURRENTLY ON THE 50 HEADING TOWARD DISNEY SPRINGS. WE WAITED ABOUT 50 MINUTES FOR THE STUFF DOWNTOWN WHILE THEY WERE CHANGING BUS DRIVERS, AND FROM THE TIME WE GOT TO THE STOP THE RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN ABOUT 35 TO 36 MINUTES. BETWEEN THE STOPS, TRANSFERS AND EXTRA TIME ADDING UP, NAVIGATING THE BUS CAN BE A JOB IN ITSELF. JARVIS: I SPENT AN EXTRA SEVEN HOURS, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT, SO NOW IT IS GOING TO TURN INTO 20, SO MY BUSY SCHEDULE TURNS INTO, LIKE, 70. JACLYN: NOW WE ARE FINALLY APPROACHING OUR STOP, I THINK OUR TECHNICAL TIME IS JUST THAT AN HOUR AND A HALF, GETTING TO ROSEMONT THE DOWNTOWN IS ABOUT 30 MINUTES, BUT THIS LEG OF THE TRIP HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH ABOUT A SOLID HOUR, AND PEOPLE ARE TELLING US IT IS A GOOD DAY. SO EVEN ON A GOOD DAY, IT IS TAKING ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TOTAL, AND WE ARE NOT EVEN REALLY THERE YET. WHILE OUR TRIP TODAY HAS BEEN RELATIVELY SMOOTH. IT HAS BEEN PLEASANT, BUT IT IS STILL BEEN, LIKE -- NOT A CHALLENGE, BUT A PROCESS. JARVIS: RIGHT. JACLYN: WE FINALLY MAKE IT TO DISNEY SPRINGS AT 12:39 P. OUR TOTAL TRIP TIME, AN HOUR AND 49 MINUTES. IF WE’D DRIVEN, THE 21-MILE TRIP WOULD HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 35 MINUTES. JARVIS: I MISS HAVING A CAR. >> WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON OUR ROADS, BUT WE HAVE NOT SPENT A COMPARABLE AMOUNT ON OUR TRANSIT, OUR SUNRAIL, AND OUR LYNX. JIM: ORLANDO’S TRANSPORTATION TROUBLES ARE GETTING THE ATTENTION OF MORE THAN JUST FRUSTRATED BUS RIDERS. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JUST CONDUCTED A STUDY OF THE AREA’S TRANSIT NETWORK. IT GAVE TRANSPORTATION A D LETTER GRADE, SAYING THE BIGGEST FAILURE HAS BEEN THE ABSENCE OF PROGRESS TOWARD A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION VISION AND DEDICATED SOURCE OF FUNDING. THEO WEBSTER AND TODD WEAVER HELPED WRITE THE STUDY THEO: HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOSING? >> I DON’T KNOW. THEO: I THINK PEOPLE DON’T KNOW A LOT. JIM: RUNNING AN OPERATING BUDGET OF MORE THAN $142 MILLION, THERE’S ACTUALLY NO DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE FOR LYNX. MONEY COMES FROM THE THREE COUNTIES LYNX SERVES, PLUS THE CITY OF ORLANDO RIDER REVENUE, AND THEN STATE AND FEDERAL MONIES. AND EVERY YEAR, THOSE FIGURES CAN VARY. LYNX ADMITS ITS BUSSES DON’T RUN OFTEN ENOUGH, AND THERE AREN’T ENOUGH OF THEM, IT DOESN’T RUN ' ’ROUND THE CLOCK, AND ON WEEKENDS, SERVICE IS REDUCED. TODD: I LIVE IN WINTER PARK, TWO MILES AWAY FROM THE SUNRAIL STATION, AND IF I WANT TO TAKE A LYNX BUS, I HAVE TO TAKE TWO BUSES. THERE IS A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITHOUT THE EXTRA BUSES THAN MANPOWER, AND WE ARE JUST NOT GOING TO SOLVE THAT. JIM: THE LEAGUE’S STUDY WARNS, IF CENTRAL FLORIDA INTENDS TO THRIVE AND COMPETE FOR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND BETTER-PAYING JOBS IN THE COMING YEARS, IT MUST GET SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING RESIDENTS AND VISITORS CONNECT COST-EFFECTIVELY AND SEAMLESSLY TO THEIR DESTINATIONS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT NEED TO TAKE THE BUS. ENTER ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS. HE WANTS VOTERS TO APPROVE RAISING THE SALES TAX BY A PENNY, WITH THE MONEY GOING TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION. THAT PENNY TAX IS PROJECTED TO BRING IN OVER $630 MILLION, 40% COMING FROM TOURISTS. TODD: TOURISM, JOB SHIFTS GENERALLY ARE NOT 8:00 AND DO 5:00. THEY COULD BE -- UNTIL 5:00. THEY COULD BE ALL NIGHT LONG. WE HAVE HEARD STORIES OF EMPLOYEES SLEEPING IN THE BREAK ROOMS OF SOME OF THE SAME PARKS, AND I THINK THAT IS SAD. JIM: TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING GO HAND IN HAND. RIDER AFTER RIDER TOLD US HOW THEIR HOUSING OPTIONS ARE AT THE MERCY OF GETTING TO AND FROM WORK. THAT HAS A CRUSHING AFFECT ON FINANCES. THE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION AFFORDABILITY INDEX SHOWS HOUSEHOLDS IN THE ORLANDO REGION PAY 53% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARD HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION WELL WELL ABOVE THE INDEX’S BENCHMARK , AT 45%. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS REPORT SAYS INEFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION MEANS LESS MONEY AND TIME FOR FAMILIES. EDWARD: JUST THE 415, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE FIRST BUS THAT RUNS, AND IF I MISS THAT ONE, I WILL ACTUALLY BE LATE. JIM: EDWARD ANDERSON LIVES IN THE PARRAMORE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CATCHES THE FIRST BUS EVERY MORNING TO GET TO HIS JOB IN ALTAMONTE SPRINGS. TODAY, HE AND HIS FAMILY RODE THE BUS TO CELEBRATE EDWARD’S BIRTHDAY. HE USED TO LIVE CLOSER TO HIS JOB, BUT SAYS LYNX SERVICE WAS SO UNRELIABLE, HE MOVED FATHER AWAY, NEAR A MORE RELIABLE ROUTE. EDWARD: I TAKE THE 102, IT OFTEN GET OFF IN WINTER P, TAKE THE 120, TO BUSES A DAY. JIM: THE THEORY IS, YOU MAKE TRANSPORTATION BETTER, YOU GIVE PEOPLE BACK TIME, SAVING THEM MONEY. EXTRA MONEY THEY COULD PUT TOWARD HOUSING, BILLS, FOOD. AND ALL OF THAT MAY RIDE ON A VOTE ABOUT A PENNY. THEO: BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PASS A PENNY SALES TAX IF YOU DO NOT GET PEOPLE ON BOARD AND YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THEM WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK THEY NEED. >> MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DIVERTED AGAIN. LATER, WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE KEEPS SHORTCHANGING PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT NEXT -- >> WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT HE IS TAKEN CARE OF. >> HE IS OUR MAIN FOCUS. >> THE WORK TO KEEP CHILDREN THRIVING WHILE FAMILIES STRUGGLE. WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE IN, AND THEN LEAVE ONE OF THOSE LOCAL MOTELS KEEPING FAMILIES FROM ABSOLUTE HOMELESSNESS. JIM: THE END OF SUMMER IS OFTEN A WELCOME TIME FOR FAMILIES. WITH CHILDREN GETTING BACK INTO THE ROUTINE OF SCHOOL. FOR KIDS WHO DON’T HAVE A STABLE HOME, THE STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT OF THE CLASSROOM CAN BE A LIFE-SAVER. HOMELESS CHILDREN FACE SOME INCREDIBLE ODDS BROUGHT ON BY THE STRESS OF THEIR FAMILY’S SITUATION. MATT LUPOLI INTRODUCES ANOTHER FAMILY LIVING ON THE EDGE AS WE CATCH UP WITH A FAMILIAR AND INSPIRING FACE. JOHNNY: HAVING A ROOM BY MYSELF ISN’T TOO BAD. MATT: JOHNNY FLUITT, AT JUST 18-YEARS-OLD, HAS COME TO COUNT ON CHANGE. THE BIGGEST IN HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW, STARTING COLLEGE. JOHNNY: GETTING TO LIVE WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU BARELY KNOW OR DON’T KNOW YET, NOT ENTIRELY NEW TO ME. MATT: WE FIRST INTRODUCED YOU TO JOHNNY BACK IN APRIL. DUELLY ENROLLED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND DAYTONA STATE COLLEGE. HE WAS NOT YOUR TYPICAL TEEN. AND CERTAINLY NOT YOUR AVERAGE HOMELESS KID. JOHNNY SOMEHOW WAS THRIVING AS JUST AS MUCH AS SURVIVING. NOW, HE’S GRADUATED BOTH PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCING HIS STORY, AS A FRESHMAN AT EMBRY RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY. A BIG THING FOR A YOUNG MAN WHO’S SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE IN FLUX. JOHNNY: I HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, I HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM DIFFERENT FAMILIES, TRANSITIONED BETWEEN LIVING WITH DIFFERENT FRIENDS, LIVING IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, SOMETIMES EVEN JUST BEING BY MYSELF, MORE GENERAL, AND JUST MOVING INTO A DORM IS LIKE MOVING AGAIN. IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A CHANGE . MATT: LIVING ON CAMPUS, JOHNNY’S GOT A ROOMMATE NOW AFTER SPENDING SUMMER BY HIMSELF GETTING AN EARLY START ON HIS , ENGINEERING MAJOR. GETTING TO COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT COULD’VE HAPPENED. MATT: NOW, AS OTHER STUDENTS HIS AGE SETTLE INTO SIMILAR ROUTINES, TO BE MORE SELF-RELIANT, HE CAN SETTLE INTO BECOMING ONE OF THE REST. JOHNNY: WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WASN’T THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE TOO MUCH, IN MY HEAD I ALWAYS THOUGHT, COLLEGE IS SO FAR AWAY AND THAT’S IF I EVEN MAKE IT TO THAT POINT. MATT: WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN THE ODDS AGAINST CHILDREN STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS. RIGHT NOW, IN FLORIDA THERE ARE ALMOST UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH. 8000 THESE ARE KIDS LIKE JOHNNY WHEN WE MET HIM, WITHOUT FAMILY AND ON THEIR OWN. THEN THERE ARE THE KIDS WITH FAMILIES BUT NO PLACE TO CALL HOME. >> AT FIRST, HE’D "ALWAYS SAY, MOMMA, WHEN WILL WE GO HOME? I MEAN, THE MOTEL." IT WAS DEPRESSING. THAT’S NOT HOW WE WANT TO RAISE HIM. MATT: THIS IS ADRIAN. HE IS IN SECOND GRADE. HE LIVES WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS ALICIA AND JAMES SWANSON, HIS DAD AND HIS AUNT AND UNCLE. THREE GENERATIONS WHO UNTIL JUST RECENTLY SHARED ONE HOTEL ROOM. >> IT WAS VERY DEPRESSING. TO THE POINT WHERE ANXIETI WILL KICK IN, AND THE STRESS CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS, AS FAR AS THE FAMILY, BUT ME AND MY FAMILY, WE HAVE TO REMAIN STRONG IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH, BUT IT’S HARD. MATT: BETWEEN STORES AND RESTAURANTS WITH COLORFUL, CARTOON-LIKE SIGNS OUT TO CATCH THE EYES OF PEOPLE MAKING THEIR WAY TO DISNEY WORLD ARE HOTELS HOSTING COUNTLESS OTHER FAMILIES MAKING A HOME OUT OF JUST ABOUT 300 SQUARE FEET. >> EVERY HOTEL ALL UP AND DOWN 192, FULL OF FAMILIES. MATT: THE SWANSONS MOVED TO KSSIMMEE FROM CHICAGO, IN THE HOPE OF MAKING A BETTER, HAPPIER LIFE HERE, JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHERS. JAMES: ONCE UPON A TIME, WE CAME HERE ON VACATION. WE LIKED AND WE SAID, WE’RE GOING TO MOVE THERE, AND SO WE DID. WELL, WE CAME HERE WITH A PLAN. COME, FIND WORK, YOU KNOW, BUT IT DIDN’T WORK OUT THAT WAY. THEY SPENT MORE THAN A $1000 EVERY MONTH FOR A ROOM AT AN EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL. FINDING THEMSELVES IN TOO-CLOSE QUARTERS, AND YET STRUGGLING STILL TO KEEP EVEN THOSE FOUR WALLS AROUND THEM. FOR THE SWANSONS, LIVING THIS WAY MADE ANY MOMENT OF ESCAPE NECESSARY, SO LONG AS IT DIDN’T COST. >> WE’D GO TO KISSIMMEE LAKEFRONT AND I’D GO FISHING. WE CAN BE THE BROKE HIS PEOPLE EVER, WE JUST WALK AROUND OLD TOWN. AS LONG AS WE ARE ALL TOGETHER, I MEAN, WE’LL BE A BIT MORE HAPPY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER. KEEP OURSELVES TOGETHER, KEEP OURSELVES SANE. MATT: AFTER SEVERAL YEARS LIVING WITHOUT A KITCHEN, WITHOUT PRIVACY, IN JUST THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE SWANSON’S HAVE BEEN SETTLING INTO A NEW PLACE, NOW THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN MANAGE A $1400 A MONTH RENTAL. >> WE HAVE MORE ROOM THAN OUR ONE LITTLE SQUARE BOX, BUT IT’S STILL ROUGH, LIKE IN A HOTEL YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY BILLS. LIGHT BILL, WATER BILL, ALL OF THAT LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A ROUGH SINCE WE MOVED OUT. THEY JUST CUT OUR LIGHTS OFF THE OTHER DAY, OK, BECAUSE, I WAS OFF WORK FOR A LITTLE -- I HAVE DOUBT. IT STOPS -- I HAVE GOUT. IT STOPS ME FROM WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME. SO I CAN’T BE ON MY FEET FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I’M SO SCARED TO MISS WORK. WHEN I DO CATCH GOUT, I GO. I BARELY CAN WALK, BUT I HAVE TO GO, BECAUSE IF I MISS ANY DAYS, THAT IS -- I HAVE TO PAY MY RENT. THAT’S NOT, YOU KNOW, LANDLORD’S DON’T WANT PARTIAL, THEY WANT IT ALL, YOU KNOW SO I’VE GOT TO GO. ,MATT: THE SWANSON FAMILY’S WORLD, OF COURSE, IS CENTERED ON ADRIAN. >> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE’S TAKEN CARE OF. >> HE’S OUR MAIN FOCUS. MATT: THE NEWEST NUMBERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S SHIMBERG CENTER FOR HOUSING STUDIES FINDS ALMOST NINETY-SIX 96,000 KIDS IN THE STATE ARE HOMELESS. THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP BY MORE THAN IN FIVE YEARS. 25,000 THE STUDY FINDS FLORIDA’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE, THE ROOT CAUSE OF STUDENT HOMELESSNESS. >> EVEN THOUGH THE STRUGGLE NOW IS STILL HARD, A LOT OF TIMES, I TELL MY HUSBAND SOMETIMES I DON’T KNOW HOW WE’RE GOING TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, AND WE MIGHT WANT UP BACK INTO A HOTEL, BUT -- >> I’M NOT TRYING NOT TO. MATT: THE SWANSONS SAY THEY’RE NOT ALONE IN THEIR WORK TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. THEY’RE GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THEY’VE BEEN SHOWN BY PEOPLE AT THE COMMUNITY HOPE CENTER IN KISSIMMEE. >> THEY DONE HELPED US WITH FOOD, CLOTHING. THEY DONE HELPED US WITH EVERYTHING. MATT: THE COMMUNITY HOPE CENTER BRINGS TOGETHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND ITS OWN RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED HELP. MANY OF THE PEOPLE THEY SEE HERE EVERY DAY LIVE IN HOTELS. IF YOU DRIVE DOWN 192 ON A SCHOOL DAY MORNING, YOU CAN WATCH THE BUSES, STOPPING AND PICKING UP KIDS STREAMING OUT OF THESE HOTELS. WILL COOPER HELPS RUN THE COMMUNITY HOPE CENTER. HE SAYS ITS NO MYSTERY THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE MOST WORKING FAMILIES FACE IS THE COST OF HOUSING. WILL: OUR AVERAGE CLIENT IS PAYING A MONTH FOR A HOTEL ROOM, $1100 YOU KNOW, THAT’S APARTMENT MONEY. OR A LOT OF TIMES, IT IS -- THEY DON’T HAVE THE THEY NEED AS A $3000 HOUSEHOLD TO PAY FOR DEPOSIT, FIRST MONTH’S RENT, LAST MONTH’S RENT, UTILITIES TURNED ON. MATT: NOW, WILL TELLS US, THE CENTER IS WORKING TO EXPAND IN A WAY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY CLOSE SOME OF THE HOUSING GAP HERE IN KISSIMMEE. WILL: THIS PROPERTY IS ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF ACRES. MATT: ON WHAT WAS THE PROPERTY OF AN OLD CHURCH, PLANS ARE BEING FINALIZED TO BUILD A NEW COMMUNITY HOPE CENTER. ALONG WITH A NEW SERVICE CENTER WILL BE FOUR, FIVE-FLOOR BUILDINGS WITH AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS. IT WILL ALL BE BUILT BY THE HOPE CENTER, WITH SOME VOLUNTEERED SERVICES, BUT WITH NO GOVERNMENT MONEY. WILL: ONE OF THE BIGGEST HEARTBREAKS FOR US IS YOU LOOK AT THESE HOTELS, AND THERE’S NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO RUN AND PLAY. MATT: THE HOPE IS THE APARTMENTS HERE WILL BE BETTER HOMES FOR FAMILIES, AND A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BUILD UP RENTAL HISTORY. WILL SAYS SOMETIMES, NOT HAVING A PHYSICAL ADDRESS CAN HURT THE CHANCES OF GETTING ONE. THAT’S WHY THE HOPE CENTER WORKS TO CLEAR WHATEVER HURDLES IT HAS THE MEANS TO, SOME MAY SEEM SMALL, BUT IN REALITY ARE BIG BARRIERS, LIKE GETTING AN I.D. CARD. WILL: YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE, PROOF OF SOCIAL SECURITY, AND PROOF OF ADDRESS. IF YOU’VE BEEN MOVING AROUND FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL OR ON THE STREET, KEEPING ALL THOSE PAPER DOCUMENTS NICE AND PROTECTED IS VERY DIFFICULT. WITHOUT THE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT MOST OF US HAVE IN OUR POCKET, YOU CAN’T GET A REAL PAYING JOB, A PLACE TO LIVE, YOUR PRESCIPTIONS. MATT: AS WORK CONTINUES TO PLOT OUT ALL THAT WILL BE NEEDED HERE AT THE SITE OF THE FUTURE COMMUNITY HOPE CENTER -- WELL: WE WANT THIS TO BE A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY. MATT: FAMILIES LIKE THE SWANSONS ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE IT AND MEET THEIR NEEDS, DAY BY DAY, AND FOR SOME, HOUR BY HOUR. >> A LOT OF THE JOBS ARE AT MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH IS LESS THAN $9 AN HOUR. THE COST OF LIVING, WHICH SEEMS LIKE IT IS STEADY GOING UP, SO SOMEWHERE WE HAVE TO MEET AT THE MIDDLE SOMEWHERE IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP UP. >> YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MUCH HELP. YOU HAVE TO PUT FORTH EFFORT YOURSELF, AS WELL. TRYING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE, BUT WE’RE GOING TO GET THERE. >> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS MEANT TO MANAGE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS ARE GONE. WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE MONEY IS COLLECTED, WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHY, YEAR AFTER YEAR, IT ENDS UP ELSEWHERE. JIM: AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT A NEW STRUGGLE FOR FLORIDA. THE ISSUE DATES BACK DECADES. SO DOES A FINANCIAL PLAN TO HELP EASE THE SQUEEZE THIS TYPE OF REAL ESTATE PUTS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT WE’VE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE ON "CHRONICLE" BEFORE, THE SADOWSKI TRUST FUND. BACK IN 1992, LAWMAKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE A FUNDING SOURCE MEANT TO HELP COMMUNITIES BUILD HOMES WORKING FOLKS COULD AFFORD. THE SADOWSKI FUND. AND IT’S FUNDED BY YOU. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS. FROM JUST ABOUT EVERY REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION THAT HAPPENS IN FLORIDA, FROM BUYING A HOUSE TO RE-FINANCING A MORTGAGE, ON EVERY TRANSACTION, YOU PAY A DOCUMENTARY STAMP TAX. 10 CENTS OF THAT DOC STAMP TAX GOES INTO THE SADOWSKI AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. THAT MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO COUNTIES AND CITIES TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT HERE’S THE RUB -- THE LEGISLATURE CAN’T SEEM TO KEEP ITS HANDS OFF SADOWSKI. ANYTIME THEY CAN’T BALANCE THE BUDGET, WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO DO, LAWMAKERS MOVE TO RAID THE SADOWSKI PIGGYBANK IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, ABOUT $2 BILLION HAVE BEEN SWEPT FROM SADOWSKI AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO WHEREVER THE BUDGET WASN’T BALANCED. AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITH THE BUDGET PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR. DESPITE BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS HOUSING EPIDEMIC, THE LEGISLATURE SWEPT $125 MILLION OUT OF THE SADOWSKI TRUST FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020. THAT’S MORE THAN HALF THE MONEY IN THE FUND. HERE’S A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MUCH MONEY EACH COUNTY WOULD HAVE RECEIVED TO HELP CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING VERSUS WHAT IT ACTUALLY GOT. IT’S A LOT OF NUMBERS. BUT WE’VE DONE THE MATH, AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FLAGLER COUNTY, EVERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IS GETTING ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF THE MONEY IT SHOULD HAVE. LOOK AT BREAKDOWN. ORANGE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN $10 MILLION. IT GOT $1.8 MILLION. VOLUSIA COUNTY, SLATED FOR MORE THAN $4 MILLION, RECEIVED $812,000. MARION COUNTY, BUDGETED FOR MORE THAN $2.6 MILLION, BUT ONLY GETS $583,000. THIS IS MONEY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS GET TO USE TO DEAL WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR COMMUNITIES. IN TOTAL, CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNTIES WERE DUE MORE THAN $31 MILLION OF SADOWSKI FUNDING. THEY GOT JUST 20.5% OF THAT. EVERY YEAR, THE FATE OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING RELIEF IS TIED TO THE PASSAGE OF A BILL BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE. THE BILL MANDATES THAT MONEY COLLECTED AND DEPOSITED INTO THE SADOWSKI FUND WILL BE USED IN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS COLLECTED -- HELPING COMMUNITIES GET PEOPLE INTO HOMES THEY CAN AFFORD. BUT YEAR, AFTER YEAR, AFTER YEAR SADOWSKI MONEY HAS BEEN SIPHONED AWAY AND SPENT WHEREVER LEGISLATORS CAN’T BALANCE THE BUDGET. RAIDED LIKE IT’S A RAINY DAY PIGGY BANK. WE WANTED TO KNOW WHY, WHY THIS MONEY CAN’T SEEM TO MAKE IT TO WHERE IT’S SUPPOSED TO GO. THE BILLS DESIGNATING THAT SADOWSKI ONLY GO TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAST YEAR WERE SPONSORED IN THE HOUSE BY RENE PLASENCIA AND SENATE BY DEBBIE MAYFIELD. BOTH REPRESENT CENTRAL FLORIDA DISTRICTS. NEITHER WERE AVAILABLE TO TALK WITH US FOR THIS STORY. AFTER BEING FILED, PLASCENIA AND MAYFIELD’S BILLS THEN MOV ALONG TO COMMITTEES. FOR THE HOUSE, IT WAS TRANSPORTATION AND TOURISM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE. ON THE SENATE SIDE, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. THERE THE BILLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AND DEBATED. EXCEPT IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THERE WAS ANY DEBATE. ACCORDING TO RECORDS FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE SUBCOMMITTEES, THESE BILLS SAT. WE WANTED TO ASK MEMBERS OF THOSE COMMITTEES WHO REPRESENT CENTRAL FLORIDA WHY NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THEM. WE CONTACTED THE OFFICES REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS SMITH AND SENATOR DAVID SIMMONS. NEITHER RETURNED OUR CALLS BEFORE OUR PROGRAM WENT INTO PRODUCTION. SO BACK TO THE BILLS. LATE ON APRIL 30, THE HOUSE AND SENATE REACHED A BUDGET DEAL. BY LAW, THE TWO CHAMBERS MUST HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. THEY ACCOMPLISHED THAT, IN PART, BY SPENDING MONEY EARMARKED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ELSEWHERE. WHICH BRINGS US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNTIES GETTING JUST 20% OF THE MONEY DUE THEM WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION, A FIRST CHANCE FOR FLORIDA LAWMAKERS TO RESIST RAIDING THE SADOWSKI FUND, AND LET IT DO WHAT IT’S INTENDED -- TO HELP PROVIDE HOMES. AND IF YOU THINK THEY SHOULD DO THAT, THEN TELL THEM. PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, OR A GOOD OL’ FASHION LETTER IN THE MAIL TELLING LAWMAKERS HANDS OFF SADOWSKI MONEY IS A GREAT START. AS FOR US, OUR YEAR-LONG LOOK AT CENTRAL FLORIDA’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS CONTINUES NEXT MONTH. WE HAVE SOME BIG UPDATES COMING FOR YOU ON THE PEOPLE WE’VE FEATURED THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY SOME PROGRESS TO REPORT ON IDEAS TO BOOST THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FOR THE WESH 2 "CHRONICLE" TEAM, THANKS FOR JOINING US. [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG]