ORRA is pleased to announce that Vice President of Government Affairs & Foundation Relations Frankie Elliott has been named chair of the Accessibility & Opportunity Subcommittee for Orange County's "Housing For All Task Force." The initiative prioritizes short and long-term solutions that address the affordable housing crisis in Orange County. 
"This is a very important entity," says ORRA President Jeffrey M. Fagan. "It's worthy to note that ORRA has been offered a leadership role among the high-profile Orlando businesses, governmental, and nonprofit leaders who sit on the task force."
Frankie's assignment is to lead the Accessibility & Opportunity Subcommittee through the completion of its two key goals:

• Increasing the housing supply to meet the needs of all current and future residents;
• Encouraging diversity of housing types and energy-efficient housing.

The subcommittee will utilize 10 specific strategies to achieve its goals:

• Encourage affordable housing near employment centers, transit, and essential community services;
• Support mixed-use walkable neighborhoods connected by transit;
• Identify potential areas for affordable housing in designated Areas of Access & Opportunity;
• Promote adaptive reuse of existing non-residential structures;
• Encourage rehabilitation of existing residential buildings;
• Establish a campaign to educate the community on factors that affect affordability;
• Establish a comprehensive marketing plan to increase awareness of housing affordability resources;
• Expand pre-purchase education and training;
• Partner with higher education, hospitals, and employers to support investments in workforce education and training;
• Promote state housing legislation.

The overarching mission of the Housing For All program, which was created by ORRA-supported candidate Mayor Jerry L. Demings, is to expand housing options and empower Orange County residents with access to safe and decent housing they can afford. The initiative involved developing a unified action plan that addresses all existing barriers to creating and preserving housing that contributes to sustainable stable, inclusive, and resilient  neighborhoods in Orange County.
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Learn more about Housing For All

Public Meetings
ORRA members are welcomed and encouraged to attend meeting of both the task force and its three subcommittees.

Housing For All Task Force
Subcommittee Meetings
Accessibility & Opportunity Subcommittee (pdf)
Innovation & Sustainability Subcommittee (pdf)
Design & Infrastructure Subcommittee (pdf)

It’s delivery day at Heroes’ Commons at Jefferson Park!

The sixth and final home for the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Foundation’s veterans housing initiative arrived today via transport truck. This modular home, which was constructed off site at a factory, represents a strong alternative for affordable-housing programs.

“Modular homes are less expensive and quicker to build than traditional on-site construction homes,” explains ORRF Chairman Bob Caldwell, Caldwell Realty Services. “They are energy efficient and compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, plus can be easily customized to accommodate special needs. In addition, the homes themselves are lovely to look at and easy to live in.”

The home is 1,400 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It will take approximately two months of on-site work to complete the home’s transition from factory to ground. At that time, the new owner, local Army veteran Tara Cline, will join the foundation in an uplifting key ceremony and a celebration marking the completion of the Heroes’ Commons at Jefferson Park initiative.

Heroes’ Commons at Jefferson Park

HCJP is a village made up of six mortgage-free homes presented to local military veterans. The homes are provided to income-qualified veterans chosen by a selection committee, and they are also offered supportive social services to ease the transition to civilian life.

In addition, the initiative’s location in the Parramore area of downtown Orlando gives HCJP an important role in the revitalization of this historic neighborhood.

The project is part of the foundation’s “Art In Architecture” program, which collaborates with local architects, builders, lenders, housing organizations, and municipalities to create affordable housing opportunities. The City of Orlando donated the land, and the foundation has raised more than $900,000 in support of the initiative.

“The Orlando Regional REALTOR® Foundation is committed to creating homeownership opportunities for veterans along with the first responders, educators, and others who form the backbone of the Central Florida workforce,” says Caldwell. “We can never repay our military men and women for their sacrifice and service, but we hope that the gift of homeownership through the Heroes’ Commons at Jefferson Park initiative can be a small token of our appreciation.”