Suzanne Cabrera is the President and CEO of the Housing Leadership Council, a nonprofit coalition of business, civic, and community leaders dedicated to expanding workforce and affordable housing across Palm Beach County. A tireless advocate for housing reform, she has served as Chair of the Florida Housing Coalition and continues to speak at local, state, and national levels. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing initiatives like Florida’s YIGBY—“Yes in God’s Backyard”—law, empowering faith-based organizations to use their land to create affordable homes and address the state’s housing crisis.
📣 QUOTE: “People say affordable housing is an oxymoron in Palm Beach County, but we’re proving it can be done.” - Suzanne Cabrera, President CEO of the HLCPBC
Level 🆙 Take-Aways
🔹 Valuable Time-Stamps🔹
🕒 00:02:15 – Leaders Don’t Wait – Taking action without permission builds momentum.
🕒 00:05:40 – $23 Million Federal Grant Win – Moving forward boldly creates results.
🕒 00:16:10 – YIGBY Explained – Turning faith-based land into affordable housing.
🕒 00:18:45 – 101 Units of Hope – Church builds sanctuary with senior housing above.
🕒 00:25:10 – Faith in Motion – Collaboration and courage drive community change.
You Can Find Out more About HLCPBC and Contact Suzanne Here:
🌐 Visit the HLCPBC Website
🔗 HLCPBC LinkedIn
🔵 HLCPBC Facebook
Phone: (561) 653-4107
Email: scabrera@hlcpbc.org
📣 QUOTE: “People say affordable housing is an oxymoron in Palm Beach County, but we’re proving it can be done.” - Suzanne Cabrera, President CEO of the HLCPBC
Level 🆙 Take-Aways
- Faith-based leadership changes communities. When spiritual conviction meets action, transformation follows. ✨
- Partnership over politics. Great things happen when business, government, and faith work together. 🤝
- Leadership is local. You don’t need a title to make a difference; start in your own backyard. 🏡
- The best leaders simplify the complex. Cut the red tape, clear the noise, and focus on real impact. ✂️
- Affordability is not charity—it’s community infrastructure. Helping people live where they work strengthens everyone. 🧱
- Legacy outlives leadership. Projects like YIGBY remind us that service leaves footprints long after titles fade. 🕊️
🔹 Valuable Time-Stamps🔹
🕒 00:02:15 – Leaders Don’t Wait – Taking action without permission builds momentum.
🕒 00:05:40 – $23 Million Federal Grant Win – Moving forward boldly creates results.
🕒 00:16:10 – YIGBY Explained – Turning faith-based land into affordable housing.
🕒 00:18:45 – 101 Units of Hope – Church builds sanctuary with senior housing above.
🕒 00:25:10 – Faith in Motion – Collaboration and courage drive community change.
You Can Find Out more About HLCPBC and Contact Suzanne Here:
🌐 Visit the HLCPBC Website
🔗 HLCPBC LinkedIn
🔵 HLCPBC Facebook
Phone: (561) 653-4107
Email: scabrera@hlcpbc.org
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Are you ready to level up?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Do you wish to live a life of options and
not obligations? You've gone to the right place. Thank you
for stopping on by to hear knowledge nuggets from Coach
Fergie and his top tier guest to help you lean
into your ultimate human potential.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Now let's level up with Coach Ferghee. Hey Versy Squad,
Welcome back to another powerful edition of Love Love Conversations
with Coach Fergie with time to Shine Today Coaching. I'm
your host, Scott Ferguson, blessed to be your gap coach
specializing in performance mental conditioning, working with business leaders, entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes,
c suite and students to help them bridge their success
gap to live a life of options and not obligations.
(00:38):
On this platform, we are soaked to bring you high
performers who are not just chasing and a teaming success,
but redefine it through providing above and beyond service and
so little quick knowledge nugget this week's squad once you
were to really kind of lean in with us. I
was working with one of my executive coaching clients recently,
a brilliant leader with the title the Team and the talent,
but she was stuck, not because she lacks skill, but
(01:00):
because she was waiting for someone else to give her
the green light. She had the plan mapped out, but
wouldn't move until the board or her boss said go.
I reminded her, I'll tell you. What I'll remind you.
What I kind of told her is that leaders don't
wait for permission. Leaders move. Permission is comfort disguised as patients,
his fear hiding behind strategy. For real, leaders act with clarity,
(01:21):
not certainty. They take the first step before it's perfect.
They adapt in motion, they own the outcome. A few
weeks later, that same client started leading with boldness, making
calls and powering her people and sending the tone, and
guess what, the organization start following her energy instead of
waiting for direction. You don't build momentum by waiting, You
build it by moving. Every great movement in history started
(01:43):
with one person saying why not now, Whether it's launching
a mission, starting a business, or reshaping an entire community,
Like we'll hear from my guest today, progress belongs to
the ones who act. You want confidence, earn it through action,
you want respect, build it through service. You want change,
lead it. So today' stop wait for the perfect timing,
the perfect plan, or the perfect applause, the permission slip
(02:04):
you've been waiting for. You just wrote it yourself. Let's
get after it. And so squad buckle up today because
we're leveling up with a true change maker in the
flight for affordable housing and community growth. My guest, Suzanne Cabrera,
is the President and CEO of the Housing Leadership Council
of Palm Beach County, a powerhouse coalition of business, civic
and community leaders who are on a mission to make
sure the people who serve and build our communities can
(02:26):
actually afford to live in them. Since taking the helm,
Susan has become one of Florida's most respected and relentless
advocates for housing reform. She served as the chair of
Florida Housing Coalition, and she doesn't just talk policy, she
drives it. Right now, Suzanne's leading the charge behind in
an innovative movement called Yigbee, which is yes in God's Backyard,
(02:46):
groundbreaking new law that empowers faith based organizations to turn
unused land into affordable homes for working families. This isn't
just about zoning, It's about hope, opportunity, and community transformation.
Suzanne speaks truth to power at local, state, and national
level and she's prooved that when purpose meets persistence, real
change happens. So get ready to take notes, get inspired,
and learn how collaboration, leadership, and a little faith can
(03:08):
turn vision into homes and dreams into her reality. So
you can learn more about her work at h LCPB
dot org. That's HLCPB dot org and following the Housing
Leader Council on LinkedIn and Facebook. Housing Leader Council of
Palm Beach County. And Suzanne, which I have to also
mention is by awesome pr person that feeds clients here.
She is the mother of Kirsten's awesome son Alex and
(03:32):
so just pleasure. And you have a daughter that serves
in the military and the Navy, which is the greatest
service in the world, right right, that's right. So you've
built like action or you know, or oriented coalitions like
what you're where you're at right now, right bring them
together with civic nonprofit government leaders like I want to
(03:53):
just hop into kind of the toughest challenges that you've
kind of had kind of as you're rolling this out,
and we will get into Yigbie here and just a
little bit. So I want to know a little bit
about you and some of the toughest challenges you've kind
of run up against.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Well, housing is that is difficult. People say affordable housing
and oxymoron in Palm Beach County.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
It's just really a.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Challenge that's very expensively land and we have to get
and we're built out.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
We've got nowhere to go.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
We can't build in the ocean, and we're built out north,
south and to the west. We can't really do too
much with environmentally, and so it's really a challenge to
do something with what we have, and that's where we're
trying to get creative, find new locations, new partnerships, and
really work to make what we do more impactful and effective.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Love it and so one of your major achievements is
securing over fifty million in grants and awards for housing development.
So what lesson or process would surprise most people outside
of the field, Like what was the cigarette sauce for
you being able to make that happen? Because I talked
a little bit earlier about my coaching knowledge, like about
action taking, because a lot of this off I'll tell
(05:00):
you what, in this county, you've got to sometimes do something,
ask permission later kind of thing, Right, But like, what
was the lesson that you kind of took away from,
you know, raising that kind of money and like getting
out there and getting after it and what kind of
pushback do you kind of get.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Well, people have a misconception that some of the biggest
money we get is the hardest to get. And actually
a great example of the federal grant that I helped
write and people were thinking, oh, you're never going to
get that federal grant and it's back when we had
all the stimulus money and we applied and honestly just
going forward and not knowing any better. Typically nonprofits did
(05:40):
not apply for those funds, right, and they were like, no,
that needs to go to government people, they'll do a
better job with that. Well, we wrote the grant and
we got the award, and we didn't know any better.
We just, as you said, moved ahead and didn't worry
about what HUD would do it every moment. We just
went and not very challenging and we had twenty three
million dollars to spend only three years to do it,
(06:03):
which would seem I possible in the government scenario. But
we had a really good core of twelve nonprofits and
we all worked together and just purged a head and
didn't worry about things that never happened.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
When you said twenty three million that you had to spend, yes,
and is that like allocated earmarked a certain things only?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yes, this was all for housing.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
At that time, we were buying homes that were foreclosed
and trying to revitalize, and we did a portionally. Corus
tried to create a tipping point in the city and
I think we did in a lot of blocks. You
can go down and we can point to the work
we did and how to be very.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Strategic about how we did that. If we couldn't get.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
You know, at least a quarter of the neighborhood, half
the neighborhood homes, we didn't even go into that area,
which was kind of disappointing for some but we knew
in the end it was going to be about creating
that momentum and getting the whole neighborhood ree by life.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
You also think like twenty three million in Palm Beach
County could be spent forretty quick though too.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, I think that climing was the hard thing because
so we still had to follow all the rules. They
were like, you know, follow every single rule, do what
you have to do. But wait, if you don't spend
that money in three years, we're going to take it back.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Right.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I never thought spending money would be the big challenge.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Right, because I'm sure that people might be having hands
out in certain areas like called my area, my area,
my area, right.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Was so difficult, And that's where we had to do
what was really best for the whole community and really
find the opportunities to really make the biggest impact.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Do the politicians in the area kind of come out
and lobby you for some of that money, to be like, hey,
this is we want a beautiful beautification project here with
like some different houses. Because I'm in real estate's my thing,
you know, I grew up. I've been a you know,
a licensed agent since nineteen ninety nine. I you know,
I've investigated to have over eighty properties under my portfolio
(07:54):
and stuff like that. So but like I know that
I would be like, hey, you know, can we move
some of it this way in the neighborhood. I might
have bought a rental in and made it a little
bit nicer, like, are you getting people of politicians lobbyists
kind of coming at you for some.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Of that DeNiro, Yeah, I think it.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Well, actually the partnerships and I think that's what we
really are excited about. That if we can create a
win win for everybody, and the things we can do
for developers or things like helping them get more density,
helping push back, we get a lot of nimby not
in my backyard. Everybody wants affordable housing, work course housing,
but they don't want it near them. So we really
(08:32):
have to do a job of explaining who their neighbors
will be and that you know, you shouldn't be upset
about the teacher or the postman or whoever's going to
move in there.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
So it's a lot of education.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
But that when we find a position where it's a
real win win for everybody, that's when we know we've
done our job.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Absolutely. So many people, you know, think that housing issues
come down to dollars, like we've been talking about a
little bit, but you've highlighted also a regulatory and cultural
barriers too, Like what's the biggest non financial obstacle holding
communities back right now?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Well, it can be a lot of things in Palm
Beach County. It's finding you appropriately in and then the
regulations you have to go through are just incredible, the
hoops you have to jump through.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
And that's why we really push to try to make.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
It easier or make it easier for the county municipalities
to do what they need to do as far as
they want more affordable housing and they just need to
find a way to get it. And then I think
the pushback people are afraid of the unknown or we
don't know what the problem is. But we try to
get a new development in an area, and I found
it so helpful to sit down with the people who
(09:40):
have worries about it and find out what their concerns are,
and a lot of are valid. Traffic now is what
do we do for traffic? Can we add a lane?
Can we show that you know, it's not really going
to increase traffic. I know in one area they didn't
want a twenty unit housing unit, but they were okay
with a twenty four hour gas station. I showed them
the for that and they're like, oh, no, give us
(10:01):
the housing please.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Yeah, that's great that you're able to do that, Like
ye really kind of flip the script on them and say, listen,
you know this is have we thought about this? So
how about workforce housing and affordable housing? Like I hear
that and not even myself, I'm not exactly up to
snuff on exactly what the difference is between those two.
Is there a distinction between like workforce and affordable in
(10:25):
Homeach County?
Speaker 4 (10:26):
That is so frustrating.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Honestly, the only difference is where we get the financing, okay,
and that's something where there's state tax credit money and
other money where they call it affordable and you have
to be at a certain income level to access that money.
And then workforce is anything above that, and we find
people fall into both categories. You don't really know. I
(10:48):
wish we could just call it attainable housing essential housing.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
But people still get yeah like that, yeah right.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
It's just very frustrating because pre average person, it doesn't
make it difference. I mean, teachers in Palm Beach County
need affordable, not work for it's out.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And so do the servers, and so do the people
because I know, like right now, I've just noticed going
to restaurants, it absolutely is not the same experience that
I've had, and like I work in a service industry
with you know, coaching people or you know, even the
real estate that I do. It's like, if I just
treat people the way some of these people out there
are treating people, I wouldn't be in business. And to
(11:25):
find a great server at a restaurant right now, it's hard.
And what it is, and I'm sure you can agree
with this is because they've all moved up to Martin
County or somewhere they can afford.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Well. Absolutely, And that is the frustration that people see.
If you go into a restaurant, it seems like, oh,
there's a lot of empty tables, but the problem is
they don't have the servers. And the last thing they
want to do. I used to be a server going
to the college. Yeah, and is see people that aren't
going to get weighted on if you want to really
frustrate someone and you find out And I've talked to
(11:54):
so many managers and they say, yeah, we just when
we talk to people that can't afford to live nearby,
right and the transportation teachers.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Too, like you just said, yeah, you know, like the
education is paramount for our children, but if we're not
going to have the quality teachers in our area because
they if they get a job in Martin County or
you know, on the other side of the state or
North and Okella or something like that, they're going to
go there instead of where we need them here, where
there's affluence and influence in our area. We want to raise,
(12:24):
you know, get those people.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Oh absolutely, and teachers especially like a lot of them
do go to Port Saint Lucy. Although that's not too
affordable these days.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
It's getting out there.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It is, yeah, it really is. But we want them
to stay in your school and be coaches and run
the clubs and after a long day, they just want
to get home now. And it would be nice if
home was a little bit closer.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yes, exactly, especially if they have kids in school, you know,
up there and they have to drive here. It just
gets a little cumbersome. Form right.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
We want our workforce close by, especially our firefighters or policemen.
We really want everybody that the community be able to
live in the community.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Absolutely and squat. We're gonna throw it to Steve Austin,
my awesome sponsor with Rise Mortgage. But when we get back,
we're gonna dig into the yes in God's backyard the
yigbee that is a passion of our awesome sauce guest here, Suzanne,
So stick around it will see you in just a
few take it away.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Step Thanks Scott.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
Happy Saturday everyone. This is Steve Austin with the Rise
Mortgage Dynamic team with your mortgage market recap for the
week of October twenty seventh. The cat and mouse game
continues for the market as the FED makes another cut
of twenty five basis points as expected, followed by FED
chaired Jerome Powell's press conference, which ended up hurting the
mortgage bond market after he indicated that right now they
(13:43):
aren't sure if another rate cut in December.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Will be done.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
This comment was the opposite of what we were all
hoping for in hearing, and it caused a negative move
in the market. So what does this mean big picture?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Not much.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
Finishing the week, we are still seeing the market trade
in the same range that we've been seen since the
beginning of October. As a whole, interest rates are so
in a much better place for borrowers, So I don't
think we need to get too excited or worried about
it and just continue this kind of slow pace waiting
for the right time to come. That's it for this week.
Have a great Halloween weekend everyone. This is Steve Austin,
(14:14):
your branch manager NMLS seven six two three two eight,
with the Rise Mortgage Dynamic Team NMLS one six zero
four six sixty three and Equal Healthing Lender.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
Are you looking to finance your dream home, vacation getaway
or an investment property. The Rise Mortgage Dynamic Team and
Company is here to help. Steve Austin and his team.
They're expert loan advisors combine local knowledge with cutting edge
technology to make your financing process efficient and seamless. Whether
it's your first home or your next investment, trust Steve
(14:46):
Boston and the Rise Mortgage Dynamic Team and Company to
guide you every step of the way. Visit them today
and experience the perfect blend of technology and personal touch.
Steve Austin's Rise Mortgage Dynas I am a team your
local experts in residential financings.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Call Steve today at.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
Five six one three five two ninety two seventy eight.
That's five six one three, five two nine two seven
eight five six one three five two nine two seven
eight and MLS number one six zero four six six three.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Hey, thanks Steve, thank you so much, so blessed to
have you as our sponsor. And we're back. We're with
my good friends Suzanne Cabrera and Suzanne Yes in God's backyard.
The Yigbee program y igb y the initiative is it
passed in July? Correct? Yes, okay, And it's kind of
shaking up how faith based organizations can create housing solutions,
(15:43):
which to me, I think that's awesome. Right, So, how
do you see this movement changing the future of affordable
housing in Florida? What's your big vision?
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Like, what are we see in the big vision is
using a lot of unused land in Palm Beach County
and throughout the state of Florida France to create housing
and also help a lot of faith based communities.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
That really need some income.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Right now, I mean that can be the ultimate win
win And we're having some of the deals here locally
that are just working out so well for the church
and then the developer gets land to build on. I mean,
when we talk about a win win, it's trying to
work with caaith based communities.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
So let's say you have a church and you have
some land on it. Correct like this, the right they
own the land. They own the land, and they're able
to get the zoning to put a house there because
everyone knows that there's like an envelope if you're looking
at that a piece of paper, the envelope that you
probably looked at a lot of these where they could
put a few houses. So do that Does a church
(16:45):
own the property?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Yes, and all these cases they own the property.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
But like the housing and stuff like that, I mean
they own it all right, they're in control of it.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yes, they will own it all Typically they have a
partnership that they're trying to build housing on it. Because
churches aren't developers, so we really have to find the experts,
and the developers are looking for pieces on.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Land that can make things work.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I mean, at the end of the day, they've got
to make the whole deal kind of pencil out and work.
And this is something that really helps make those deals
work and happen. Love it, and then we can do
things like increased density and really get some of the
logistics taken care of that make building so expensive. Thirty
(17:27):
seven percent of the costs in one study of building
a house is in all these rules and regulations, so
we really have to reduce regulatory barriers and make the
process simpler. And actually that's what Gigbee does and that's
why we needed the state to come in and pass
the law, saying, if you want to pass this all administratively,
you can. If you want to make it easier for churches,
(17:48):
go for it.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
The people in the houses are are they expected to
be members of the church?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Oh, absolutely not. And that's the beauty of it that
I know.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
One deal we're doing here in Palm Beach County, they'll
be the sanctuary on the bottom floor. So the church
gets their new sanctuary and one hundred and one units
above it for elderly, wow and low income and it
just is you know, for this church, it's right in
their their guide book the Bible says we've got to
(18:18):
house people. And they were so thrilled when they were
able to realize they can do some of their land.
They're on land that just has kind of one single
family house on it right now, and that is going
to turn into one hundred and one units of beautiful
News States sanctuary for them in the stream of Bancume.
And that's just something that we see that churches are
(18:39):
some of the biggest landholders.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Absolutely and not in the states.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
McDonald's and the churches or something.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
It's very very high and typically they have land that
they're not using till it's full's potential. And party gigbee
is that you can build housing on it. If it's
going to be affordable housing, then you can change the
use to residential with it out like jumping over everything.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
You know. And also the law that kind of pass
its optional, right.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Well, it's permissive. It gives municipalities in the county permission
to use it for housing residential housing, right, and then
to skip a lot of the things that the state
and local requires, the zoning and some of the regulations
that are going to make this very timely and very expensive.
And that's something that's the benefit in the end is
(19:29):
we're really making the process simpler, quicker, and really getting
down to the heart of it where we can put
a little more density on it and really.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Mention twice, now, can you educate me on the density?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, and that is the big problem that we do
have space, but when we try to build on it,
we can't get the density. The number of people living
in that area over that building any higher. For me,
Manhattan density is the right density because we can do
things like transit and we can really make things affordable. Sure,
if we're serving one hundred and one people and not
(20:05):
one family household on this church property, we're making a
huge difference, and it really shits an economy of scale
and everything. It's worth it to have a bus come
there and transport people around if you have one hundred
and one units and not one family.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
I love that. That's what I was thinking, is just
gonna be a house. But I love that you said
it's multifamily. It's going to be zoned for it, you know,
And it's like what I love is also it's not
just sitting on the shelf anymore. I mean, that's actually
out there. Do you guys have projects in the works
right now?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
That is we were ahead of our time in this, okay,
And we were working on this before the law passed.
In fact, that is something I work with the state
organization that wrote the legislation and help get it passed, okay,
And it was really going through the process here locally
in some other places that we realized, you know, this
is great, but we could even make it better if
we could make these changes, and it was pretty simple
(21:00):
to put through at the state level, and as they said,
it just gave municipalities in the county permission to do
what they've been telling you is they want to see,
which is cheaper housing rates, cheaper rentals for people that
really just can't afford anymore.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
And that's allowing this.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Unless I read it wrong, the framework requires that at
least ten percent of housing units to be affordable. Did
I read that run? Because I mean ten percent, that's
another ninety percent out there. So how do you balance
those affordability goals with the financial realities that developers going
to face and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Well, the good thing is most of the faith based
communities want to do one hundred percent affordable. As I said,
you look back to their guidebook, their manual, the Bible says,
you know how all these people are, yes, and the
one that's one hundred and one unit's all affordable. So
people get hung up on that, but honestly, having mixed
rate housing, having a variety of rents available in one
(21:56):
place is actually great. But in this case, they're all
are going to be affordable, and for seniors that's so
important to people they're targeting, but I think that that
is something that can really work out. And when you
put at the end of the day, put freely in
in the deal, that's what makes the difference. And if
we can go and say to the county increases from
(22:18):
eighty units to one hundred units, that really brings economy
of scale in and really makes it doable.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Are they thinking about ever putting like retail in it? Also?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Oh, mixed use is absolutely awesome. It is, yeah, and
that's typically.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
When you have to have a church mixed use and then.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
You can have it all.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
In this one case, they are going to have their sanctuary,
but they're also going to have some other things going
on on the bottom floor that'll make things more convenient
for seniors.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Love it and I love that that you know, when you.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Reach a certain age, you don't want to have to
go that far for a haircut or or whatever else
you're getting done, and we don't have to worry about
somebody getting behind the wheel that maybe shouldn't be there,
which can happen. Then in older folks, we just want
to make their life easier and better.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
That's us and Squat. I hope you're seeing the blessing
that my good friend Suzanne is really working on putting
out there. I mean Isaiah thirty two eighteen says my
people will live in peaceful dwelling places and secure homes
and undisturbed places of rest. And that's exactly what she's doing.
So thank you for like really spearheading this. This is
that's amazing. So place of worship is there, it's going
(23:27):
to be affordable. Is the people that are around the
area are they pushing back on this? You know, because
it's palm beach okay, and it's like affordable might mean something.
That's again, they don't believe in what I just read
about it in Isaiah. Right.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
They we found out that, you know, meet people where
they are, go talk to them.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
What are your concerns?
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Okay, okay, now it's a big concern. What can you
do to make sure there's more security? And typically they
find out that they're going to have more security and
that's you know, places have cameras now and having an
occupied a unit with a resident manager and a management company,
you are going to be a.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
Lot better off.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
So we just typically try to talk to people and
find out communicate right, and landscaping does so much. If
we can show them with all the new techniques, now
this is what your view will look like, and you're
not even going to know what's there in those cases.
So we've been able to solve so many problems. But
just telling them, you know, to you're crazy and go away,
(24:27):
it's not the way to handle it because they do
have galid concerns.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
I think most of the time people know that a
faith based institution is going to be a goodnique.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yes, absolutely, So what would then if the scales right, Like,
what would success look like? Saying in three years, you know,
now Florida really activates.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
The igby, it's going to be just adding units across
the state. I know in Palm Beach County you already
have several great projects going. And the tricky part is scaling,
and that's something that we're really working on. Faith based
communities are not developers, but they don't even know where
to start. We had a great meeting with one hundred
and fifty faith based entities and they were like, you know,
(25:10):
we'd love to do this, We have the land, but
where do we start?
Speaker 4 (25:13):
What do we do?
Speaker 3 (25:14):
So we're starting actually a new we're calling it a
cohort a group of people that will work together for
nine months to learn about the process and learn what
you need to do with the developer to make sure
you get what you need and they get the housing.
And really, as I said, it's working to make it
a win win.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
You are the flexibility that you're giving. You're keeping the
door open, You're having conversations. You're not just saying get
out of here, this is law. Look at we're going
to push it through. You're keeping the dialogue going, which
is amazing what you're doing. So thank you for like
really spearheading that. So I have to ask you if
I can question that, I ask all my interviewees, But like,
how does Suzanne want her dashream? Member that little line
(25:55):
between your incarnation date and your expiration date, your life
date and your death date, there's a lot that happens
and that dash, Like, how does Suzanne want her dash?
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Remember, I want to do things that matter. I want
to have made the world a better place. Well, I'm
here on it. And housing has always been so important.
I worked at the Lord's Place for many years and
really saw how easily people can just fall into a
situation that they never nobody ever grows up and said, gee,
(26:23):
I want to be homeless, so I want to be
on drugs.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
I want to have the men a littleness. They never
do that. Yeah, And I.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Think that this is such important work that we're doing
to make this happen and make sure that if you
need an apartment for five hundred dollars a month, there
will be one out there. And there are some out there,
not enough though.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Right, and it's going to be happening, which is again,
thank you so much. How can we find you?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Basically we do a lot through the internet and actually
it's HLCPBC dot org right, Housing Leadership Council upon Beach
County dot org. And then we go out and speak
and I love going and telling people about the issue
and really how we're addressing it. Right now, I'm trying
(27:06):
to recruit more faith based entities. You want to find
out about development. They have some land. I mean, this
church never dreamed that their single home could be their
solution for their future. And the parish and churches are
going through a lot of discernment process and they decided
we need a sanctuary and this will fulfill another mission.
So I just love it when things come.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Together like that well, this is just this is this
amazing squad. So any faith based entities out there that
have questions, you can reach out to the Housing Leadership
Council of Palm Beach County at five six one six
five three four one zero seven again five six one
sixty five three four one zero seven. Visit them at
h LC PBC dot org. That's Hotel Lima, Charlie Papa,
(27:50):
Bravo Charlie dot org. So thank you so much for
coming on, Thank you Brian Mud for producing so Kirsten,
thank you for another rockstar interview, and thank you to
w J and O buddy out there. Have a same
and awesome weekend. Love your guys,
Are you ready to level up?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Do you wish to live a life of options and
not obligations? You've gone to the right place. Thank you
for stopping on by to hear knowledge nuggets from Coach
Fergie and his top tier guest to help you lean
into your ultimate human potential.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Now let's level up with Coach Ferghee. Hey Versy Squad,
Welcome back to another powerful edition of Love Love Conversations
with Coach Fergie with time to Shine Today Coaching. I'm
your host, Scott Ferguson, blessed to be your gap coach
specializing in performance mental conditioning, working with business leaders, entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes,
c suite and students to help them bridge their success
gap to live a life of options and not obligations.
(00:38):
On this platform, we are soaked to bring you high
performers who are not just chasing and a teaming success,
but redefine it through providing above and beyond service and
so little quick knowledge nugget this week's squad once you
were to really kind of lean in with us. I
was working with one of my executive coaching clients recently,
a brilliant leader with the title the Team and the talent,
but she was stuck, not because she lacks skill, but
(01:00):
because she was waiting for someone else to give her
the green light. She had the plan mapped out, but
wouldn't move until the board or her boss said go.
I reminded her, I'll tell you. What I'll remind you.
What I kind of told her is that leaders don't
wait for permission. Leaders move. Permission is comfort disguised as patients,
his fear hiding behind strategy. For real, leaders act with clarity,
(01:21):
not certainty. They take the first step before it's perfect.
They adapt in motion, they own the outcome. A few
weeks later, that same client started leading with boldness, making
calls and powering her people and sending the tone, and
guess what, the organization start following her energy instead of
waiting for direction. You don't build momentum by waiting, You
build it by moving. Every great movement in history started
(01:43):
with one person saying why not now, Whether it's launching
a mission, starting a business, or reshaping an entire community,
Like we'll hear from my guest today, progress belongs to
the ones who act. You want confidence, earn it through action,
you want respect, build it through service. You want change,
lead it. So today' stop wait for the perfect timing,
the perfect plan, or the perfect applause, the permission slip
(02:04):
you've been waiting for. You just wrote it yourself. Let's
get after it. And so squad buckle up today because
we're leveling up with a true change maker in the
flight for affordable housing and community growth. My guest, Suzanne Cabrera,
is the President and CEO of the Housing Leadership Council
of Palm Beach County, a powerhouse coalition of business, civic
and community leaders who are on a mission to make
sure the people who serve and build our communities can
(02:26):
actually afford to live in them. Since taking the helm,
Susan has become one of Florida's most respected and relentless
advocates for housing reform. She served as the chair of
Florida Housing Coalition, and she doesn't just talk policy, she
drives it. Right now, Suzanne's leading the charge behind in
an innovative movement called Yigbee, which is yes in God's Backyard,
(02:46):
groundbreaking new law that empowers faith based organizations to turn
unused land into affordable homes for working families. This isn't
just about zoning, It's about hope, opportunity, and community transformation.
Suzanne speaks truth to power at local, state, and national
level and she's prooved that when purpose meets persistence, real
change happens. So get ready to take notes, get inspired,
and learn how collaboration, leadership, and a little faith can
(03:08):
turn vision into homes and dreams into her reality. So
you can learn more about her work at h LCPB
dot org. That's HLCPB dot org and following the Housing
Leader Council on LinkedIn and Facebook. Housing Leader Council of
Palm Beach County. And Suzanne, which I have to also
mention is by awesome pr person that feeds clients here.
She is the mother of Kirsten's awesome son Alex and
(03:32):
so just pleasure. And you have a daughter that serves
in the military and the Navy, which is the greatest
service in the world, right right, that's right. So you've
built like action or you know, or oriented coalitions like
what you're where you're at right now, right bring them
together with civic nonprofit government leaders like I want to
(03:53):
just hop into kind of the toughest challenges that you've
kind of had kind of as you're rolling this out,
and we will get into Yigbie here and just a
little bit. So I want to know a little bit
about you and some of the toughest challenges you've kind
of run up against.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Well, housing is that is difficult. People say affordable housing
and oxymoron in Palm Beach County.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
It's just really a.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Challenge that's very expensively land and we have to get
and we're built out.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
We've got nowhere to go.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
We can't build in the ocean, and we're built out north,
south and to the west. We can't really do too
much with environmentally, and so it's really a challenge to
do something with what we have, and that's where we're
trying to get creative, find new locations, new partnerships, and
really work to make what we do more impactful and effective.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Love it and so one of your major achievements is
securing over fifty million in grants and awards for housing development.
So what lesson or process would surprise most people outside
of the field, Like what was the cigarette sauce for
you being able to make that happen? Because I talked
a little bit earlier about my coaching knowledge, like about
action taking, because a lot of this off I'll tell
(05:00):
you what, in this county, you've got to sometimes do something,
ask permission later kind of thing, Right, But like, what
was the lesson that you kind of took away from,
you know, raising that kind of money and like getting
out there and getting after it and what kind of
pushback do you kind of get.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Well, people have a misconception that some of the biggest
money we get is the hardest to get. And actually
a great example of the federal grant that I helped
write and people were thinking, oh, you're never going to
get that federal grant and it's back when we had
all the stimulus money and we applied and honestly just
going forward and not knowing any better. Typically nonprofits did
(05:40):
not apply for those funds, right, and they were like, no,
that needs to go to government people, they'll do a
better job with that. Well, we wrote the grant and
we got the award, and we didn't know any better.
We just, as you said, moved ahead and didn't worry
about what HUD would do it every moment. We just
went and not very challenging and we had twenty three
million dollars to spend only three years to do it,
(06:03):
which would seem I possible in the government scenario. But
we had a really good core of twelve nonprofits and
we all worked together and just purged a head and
didn't worry about things that never happened.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
When you said twenty three million that you had to spend, yes,
and is that like allocated earmarked a certain things only?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yes, this was all for housing.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
At that time, we were buying homes that were foreclosed
and trying to revitalize, and we did a portionally. Corus
tried to create a tipping point in the city and
I think we did in a lot of blocks. You
can go down and we can point to the work
we did and how to be very.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Strategic about how we did that. If we couldn't get.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
You know, at least a quarter of the neighborhood, half
the neighborhood homes, we didn't even go into that area,
which was kind of disappointing for some but we knew
in the end it was going to be about creating
that momentum and getting the whole neighborhood ree by life.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
You also think like twenty three million in Palm Beach
County could be spent forretty quick though too.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, I think that climing was the hard thing because
so we still had to follow all the rules. They
were like, you know, follow every single rule, do what
you have to do. But wait, if you don't spend
that money in three years, we're going to take it back.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Right.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I never thought spending money would be the big challenge.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Right, because I'm sure that people might be having hands
out in certain areas like called my area, my area,
my area, right.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Was so difficult, And that's where we had to do
what was really best for the whole community and really
find the opportunities to really make the biggest impact.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Do the politicians in the area kind of come out
and lobby you for some of that money, to be like, hey,
this is we want a beautiful beautification project here with
like some different houses. Because I'm in real estate's my thing,
you know, I grew up. I've been a you know,
a licensed agent since nineteen ninety nine. I you know,
I've investigated to have over eighty properties under my portfolio
(07:54):
and stuff like that. So but like I know that
I would be like, hey, you know, can we move
some of it this way in the neighborhood. I might
have bought a rental in and made it a little
bit nicer, like, are you getting people of politicians lobbyists
kind of coming at you for some.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Of that DeNiro, Yeah, I think it.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Well, actually the partnerships and I think that's what we
really are excited about. That if we can create a
win win for everybody, and the things we can do
for developers or things like helping them get more density,
helping push back, we get a lot of nimby not
in my backyard. Everybody wants affordable housing, work course housing,
but they don't want it near them. So we really
(08:32):
have to do a job of explaining who their neighbors
will be and that you know, you shouldn't be upset
about the teacher or the postman or whoever's going to
move in there.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
So it's a lot of education.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
But that when we find a position where it's a
real win win for everybody, that's when we know we've
done our job.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Absolutely. So many people, you know, think that housing issues
come down to dollars, like we've been talking about a
little bit, but you've highlighted also a regulatory and cultural
barriers too, Like what's the biggest non financial obstacle holding
communities back right now?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Well, it can be a lot of things in Palm
Beach County. It's finding you appropriately in and then the
regulations you have to go through are just incredible, the
hoops you have to jump through.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
And that's why we really push to try to make.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
It easier or make it easier for the county municipalities
to do what they need to do as far as
they want more affordable housing and they just need to
find a way to get it. And then I think
the pushback people are afraid of the unknown or we
don't know what the problem is. But we try to
get a new development in an area, and I found
it so helpful to sit down with the people who
(09:40):
have worries about it and find out what their concerns are,
and a lot of are valid. Traffic now is what
do we do for traffic? Can we add a lane?
Can we show that you know, it's not really going
to increase traffic. I know in one area they didn't
want a twenty unit housing unit, but they were okay
with a twenty four hour gas station. I showed them
the for that and they're like, oh, no, give us
(10:01):
the housing please.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Yeah, that's great that you're able to do that, Like
ye really kind of flip the script on them and say, listen,
you know this is have we thought about this? So
how about workforce housing and affordable housing? Like I hear
that and not even myself, I'm not exactly up to
snuff on exactly what the difference is between those two.
Is there a distinction between like workforce and affordable in
(10:25):
Homeach County?
Speaker 4 (10:26):
That is so frustrating.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Honestly, the only difference is where we get the financing, okay,
and that's something where there's state tax credit money and
other money where they call it affordable and you have
to be at a certain income level to access that money.
And then workforce is anything above that, and we find
people fall into both categories. You don't really know. I
(10:48):
wish we could just call it attainable housing essential housing.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
But people still get yeah like that, yeah right.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
It's just very frustrating because pre average person, it doesn't
make it difference. I mean, teachers in Palm Beach County
need affordable, not work for it's out.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And so do the servers, and so do the people
because I know, like right now, I've just noticed going
to restaurants, it absolutely is not the same experience that
I've had, and like I work in a service industry
with you know, coaching people or you know, even the
real estate that I do. It's like, if I just
treat people the way some of these people out there
are treating people, I wouldn't be in business. And to
(11:25):
find a great server at a restaurant right now, it's hard.
And what it is, and I'm sure you can agree
with this is because they've all moved up to Martin
County or somewhere they can afford.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Well. Absolutely, And that is the frustration that people see.
If you go into a restaurant, it seems like, oh,
there's a lot of empty tables, but the problem is
they don't have the servers. And the last thing they
want to do. I used to be a server going
to the college. Yeah, and is see people that aren't
going to get weighted on if you want to really
frustrate someone and you find out And I've talked to
(11:54):
so many managers and they say, yeah, we just when
we talk to people that can't afford to live nearby,
right and the transportation teachers.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Too, like you just said, yeah, you know, like the
education is paramount for our children, but if we're not
going to have the quality teachers in our area because
they if they get a job in Martin County or
you know, on the other side of the state or
North and Okella or something like that, they're going to
go there instead of where we need them here, where
there's affluence and influence in our area. We want to raise,
(12:24):
you know, get those people.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Oh absolutely, and teachers especially like a lot of them
do go to Port Saint Lucy. Although that's not too
affordable these days.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
It's getting out there.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
It is, yeah, it really is. But we want them
to stay in your school and be coaches and run
the clubs and after a long day, they just want
to get home now. And it would be nice if
home was a little bit closer.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yes, exactly, especially if they have kids in school, you know,
up there and they have to drive here. It just
gets a little cumbersome. Form right.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
We want our workforce close by, especially our firefighters or policemen.
We really want everybody that the community be able to
live in the community.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Absolutely and squat. We're gonna throw it to Steve Austin,
my awesome sponsor with Rise Mortgage. But when we get back,
we're gonna dig into the yes in God's backyard the
yigbee that is a passion of our awesome sauce guest here, Suzanne,
So stick around it will see you in just a
few take it away.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Step Thanks Scott.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
Happy Saturday everyone. This is Steve Austin with the Rise
Mortgage Dynamic team with your mortgage market recap for the
week of October twenty seventh. The cat and mouse game
continues for the market as the FED makes another cut
of twenty five basis points as expected, followed by FED
chaired Jerome Powell's press conference, which ended up hurting the
mortgage bond market after he indicated that right now they
(13:43):
aren't sure if another rate cut in December.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Will be done.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
This comment was the opposite of what we were all
hoping for in hearing, and it caused a negative move
in the market. So what does this mean big picture?
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Not much.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
Finishing the week, we are still seeing the market trade
in the same range that we've been seen since the
beginning of October. As a whole, interest rates are so
in a much better place for borrowers, So I don't
think we need to get too excited or worried about
it and just continue this kind of slow pace waiting
for the right time to come. That's it for this week.
Have a great Halloween weekend everyone. This is Steve Austin,
(14:14):
your branch manager NMLS seven six two three two eight,
with the Rise Mortgage Dynamic Team NMLS one six zero
four six sixty three and Equal Healthing Lender.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
Are you looking to finance your dream home, vacation getaway
or an investment property. The Rise Mortgage Dynamic Team and
Company is here to help. Steve Austin and his team.
They're expert loan advisors combine local knowledge with cutting edge
technology to make your financing process efficient and seamless. Whether
it's your first home or your next investment, trust Steve
(14:46):
Boston and the Rise Mortgage Dynamic Team and Company to
guide you every step of the way. Visit them today
and experience the perfect blend of technology and personal touch.
Steve Austin's Rise Mortgage Dynas I am a team your
local experts in residential financings.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Call Steve today at.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
Five six one three five two ninety two seventy eight.
That's five six one three, five two nine two seven
eight five six one three five two nine two seven
eight and MLS number one six zero four six six three.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Hey, thanks Steve, thank you so much, so blessed to
have you as our sponsor. And we're back. We're with
my good friends Suzanne Cabrera and Suzanne Yes in God's backyard.
The Yigbee program y igb y the initiative is it
passed in July? Correct? Yes, okay, And it's kind of
shaking up how faith based organizations can create housing solutions,
(15:43):
which to me, I think that's awesome. Right, So, how
do you see this movement changing the future of affordable
housing in Florida? What's your big vision?
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Like, what are we see in the big vision is
using a lot of unused land in Palm Beach County
and throughout the state of Florida France to create housing
and also help a lot of faith based communities.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
That really need some income.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Right now, I mean that can be the ultimate win
win And we're having some of the deals here locally
that are just working out so well for the church
and then the developer gets land to build on. I mean,
when we talk about a win win, it's trying to
work with caaith based communities.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
So let's say you have a church and you have
some land on it. Correct like this, the right they
own the land. They own the land, and they're able
to get the zoning to put a house there because
everyone knows that there's like an envelope if you're looking
at that a piece of paper, the envelope that you
probably looked at a lot of these where they could
put a few houses. So do that Does a church
(16:45):
own the property?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Yes, and all these cases they own the property.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
But like the housing and stuff like that, I mean
they own it all right, they're in control of it.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yes, they will own it all Typically they have a
partnership that they're trying to build housing on it. Because
churches aren't developers, so we really have to find the experts,
and the developers are looking for pieces on.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Land that can make things work.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I mean, at the end of the day, they've got
to make the whole deal kind of pencil out and work.
And this is something that really helps make those deals
work and happen. Love it, and then we can do
things like increased density and really get some of the
logistics taken care of that make building so expensive. Thirty
(17:27):
seven percent of the costs in one study of building
a house is in all these rules and regulations, so
we really have to reduce regulatory barriers and make the
process simpler. And actually that's what Gigbee does and that's
why we needed the state to come in and pass
the law, saying, if you want to pass this all administratively,
you can. If you want to make it easier for churches,
(17:48):
go for it.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
The people in the houses are are they expected to
be members of the church?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Oh, absolutely not. And that's the beauty of it that
I know.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
One deal we're doing here in Palm Beach County, they'll
be the sanctuary on the bottom floor. So the church
gets their new sanctuary and one hundred and one units
above it for elderly, wow and low income and it
just is you know, for this church, it's right in
their their guide book the Bible says we've got to
(18:18):
house people. And they were so thrilled when they were
able to realize they can do some of their land.
They're on land that just has kind of one single
family house on it right now, and that is going
to turn into one hundred and one units of beautiful
News States sanctuary for them in the stream of Bancume.
And that's just something that we see that churches are
(18:39):
some of the biggest landholders.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Absolutely and not in the states.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
McDonald's and the churches or something.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
It's very very high and typically they have land that
they're not using till it's full's potential. And party gigbee
is that you can build housing on it. If it's
going to be affordable housing, then you can change the
use to residential with it out like jumping over everything.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
You know. And also the law that kind of pass
its optional, right.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Well, it's permissive. It gives municipalities in the county permission
to use it for housing residential housing, right, and then
to skip a lot of the things that the state
and local requires, the zoning and some of the regulations
that are going to make this very timely and very expensive.
And that's something that's the benefit in the end is
(19:29):
we're really making the process simpler, quicker, and really getting
down to the heart of it where we can put
a little more density on it and really.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Mention twice, now, can you educate me on the density?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, and that is the big problem that we do
have space, but when we try to build on it,
we can't get the density. The number of people living
in that area over that building any higher. For me,
Manhattan density is the right density because we can do
things like transit and we can really make things affordable. Sure,
if we're serving one hundred and one people and not
(20:05):
one family household on this church property, we're making a
huge difference, and it really shits an economy of scale
and everything. It's worth it to have a bus come
there and transport people around if you have one hundred
and one units and not one family.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
I love that. That's what I was thinking, is just
gonna be a house. But I love that you said
it's multifamily. It's going to be zoned for it, you know,
And it's like what I love is also it's not
just sitting on the shelf anymore. I mean, that's actually
out there. Do you guys have projects in the works
right now?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
That is we were ahead of our time in this, okay,
And we were working on this before the law passed.
In fact, that is something I work with the state
organization that wrote the legislation and help get it passed, okay,
And it was really going through the process here locally
in some other places that we realized, you know, this
is great, but we could even make it better if
we could make these changes, and it was pretty simple
(21:00):
to put through at the state level, and as they said,
it just gave municipalities in the county permission to do
what they've been telling you is they want to see,
which is cheaper housing rates, cheaper rentals for people that
really just can't afford anymore.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
And that's allowing this.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Unless I read it wrong, the framework requires that at
least ten percent of housing units to be affordable. Did
I read that run? Because I mean ten percent, that's
another ninety percent out there. So how do you balance
those affordability goals with the financial realities that developers going
to face and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Well, the good thing is most of the faith based
communities want to do one hundred percent affordable. As I said,
you look back to their guidebook, their manual, the Bible says,
you know how all these people are, yes, and the
one that's one hundred and one unit's all affordable. So
people get hung up on that, but honestly, having mixed
rate housing, having a variety of rents available in one
(21:56):
place is actually great. But in this case, they're all
are going to be affordable, and for seniors that's so
important to people they're targeting, but I think that that
is something that can really work out. And when you
put at the end of the day, put freely in
in the deal, that's what makes the difference. And if
we can go and say to the county increases from
(22:18):
eighty units to one hundred units, that really brings economy
of scale in and really makes it doable.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Are they thinking about ever putting like retail in it? Also?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Oh, mixed use is absolutely awesome. It is, yeah, and
that's typically.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
When you have to have a church mixed use and then.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
You can have it all.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
In this one case, they are going to have their sanctuary,
but they're also going to have some other things going
on on the bottom floor that'll make things more convenient
for seniors.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Love it and I love that that you know, when you.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Reach a certain age, you don't want to have to
go that far for a haircut or or whatever else
you're getting done, and we don't have to worry about
somebody getting behind the wheel that maybe shouldn't be there,
which can happen. Then in older folks, we just want
to make their life easier and better.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
That's us and Squat. I hope you're seeing the blessing
that my good friend Suzanne is really working on putting
out there. I mean Isaiah thirty two eighteen says my
people will live in peaceful dwelling places and secure homes
and undisturbed places of rest. And that's exactly what she's doing.
So thank you for like really spearheading this. This is
that's amazing. So place of worship is there, it's going
(23:27):
to be affordable. Is the people that are around the
area are they pushing back on this? You know, because
it's palm beach okay, and it's like affordable might mean something.
That's again, they don't believe in what I just read
about it in Isaiah. Right.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
They we found out that, you know, meet people where
they are, go talk to them.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
What are your concerns?
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Okay, okay, now it's a big concern. What can you
do to make sure there's more security? And typically they
find out that they're going to have more security and
that's you know, places have cameras now and having an
occupied a unit with a resident manager and a management company,
you are going to be a.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
Lot better off.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
So we just typically try to talk to people and
find out communicate right, and landscaping does so much. If
we can show them with all the new techniques, now
this is what your view will look like, and you're
not even going to know what's there in those cases.
So we've been able to solve so many problems. But
just telling them, you know, to you're crazy and go away,
(24:27):
it's not the way to handle it because they do
have galid concerns.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
I think most of the time people know that a
faith based institution is going to be a goodnique.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yes, absolutely, So what would then if the scales right, Like,
what would success look like? Saying in three years, you know,
now Florida really activates.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
The igby, it's going to be just adding units across
the state. I know in Palm Beach County you already
have several great projects going. And the tricky part is scaling,
and that's something that we're really working on. Faith based
communities are not developers, but they don't even know where
to start. We had a great meeting with one hundred
and fifty faith based entities and they were like, you know,
(25:10):
we'd love to do this, We have the land, but
where do we start?
Speaker 4 (25:13):
What do we do?
Speaker 3 (25:14):
So we're starting actually a new we're calling it a
cohort a group of people that will work together for
nine months to learn about the process and learn what
you need to do with the developer to make sure
you get what you need and they get the housing.
And really, as I said, it's working to make it
a win win.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
You are the flexibility that you're giving. You're keeping the
door open, You're having conversations. You're not just saying get
out of here, this is law. Look at we're going
to push it through. You're keeping the dialogue going, which
is amazing what you're doing. So thank you for like
really spearheading that. So I have to ask you if
I can question that, I ask all my interviewees, But like,
how does Suzanne want her dashream? Member that little line
(25:55):
between your incarnation date and your expiration date, your life
date and your death date, there's a lot that happens
and that dash, Like, how does Suzanne want her dash?
Speaker 3 (26:02):
Remember, I want to do things that matter. I want
to have made the world a better place. Well, I'm
here on it. And housing has always been so important.
I worked at the Lord's Place for many years and
really saw how easily people can just fall into a
situation that they never nobody ever grows up and said, gee,
(26:23):
I want to be homeless, so I want to be
on drugs.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
I want to have the men a littleness. They never
do that. Yeah, And I.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Think that this is such important work that we're doing
to make this happen and make sure that if you
need an apartment for five hundred dollars a month, there
will be one out there. And there are some out there,
not enough though.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Right, and it's going to be happening, which is again,
thank you so much. How can we find you?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Basically we do a lot through the internet and actually
it's HLCPBC dot org right, Housing Leadership Council upon Beach
County dot org. And then we go out and speak
and I love going and telling people about the issue
and really how we're addressing it. Right now, I'm trying
(27:06):
to recruit more faith based entities. You want to find
out about development. They have some land. I mean, this
church never dreamed that their single home could be their
solution for their future. And the parish and churches are
going through a lot of discernment process and they decided
we need a sanctuary and this will fulfill another mission.
So I just love it when things come.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Together like that well, this is just this is this
amazing squad. So any faith based entities out there that
have questions, you can reach out to the Housing Leadership
Council of Palm Beach County at five six one six
five three four one zero seven again five six one
sixty five three four one zero seven. Visit them at
h LC PBC dot org. That's Hotel Lima, Charlie Papa,
(27:50):
Bravo Charlie dot org. So thank you so much for
coming on, Thank you Brian Mud for producing so Kirsten,
thank you for another rockstar interview, and thank you to
w J and O buddy out there. Have a same
and awesome weekend. Love your guys,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com