To: Brevard County Officials: Stephanie Bryant, Troy Post, Frank Abbate, Joy Roth, John Denninghoff, Jim Liesenfelt
Transform empty space into homes
Dear Brevard County Official,
There is a huge housing problem in Brevard County. Addressing the housing crisis here demands urgent and innovative solutions. One obvious solution is all around us: the empty office buildings that stand unused across all of our cities. Every day, so many individuals and families in our county struggle to stay in affordable, housing. Many experience homelessness. In New York, nearly 80 office buildings have been repurposed into housing. Change is possible. New laws in California already make it easier to turn office buildings into affordable housing. Local elected officials in cities like Pittsburgh and New York City have also made it easier to turn vacant buildings into housing. This solution is not only good for people, it’s good for the environment. Repurposing existing buildings is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than new construction. New York, Pennsylvania, and California can do it. Florida can too!
There is a huge housing problem in Brevard County. Addressing the housing crisis here demands urgent and innovative solutions. One obvious solution is all around us: the empty office buildings that stand unused across all of our cities. Every day, so many individuals and families in our county struggle to stay in affordable, housing. Many experience homelessness. In New York, nearly 80 office buildings have been repurposed into housing. Change is possible. New laws in California already make it easier to turn office buildings into affordable housing. Local elected officials in cities like Pittsburgh and New York City have also made it easier to turn vacant buildings into housing. This solution is not only good for people, it’s good for the environment. Repurposing existing buildings is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than new construction. New York, Pennsylvania, and California can do it. Florida can too!
Why is this important?
I've personally gone hungry, gone without electricity, and slept in my car at times when life was the roughest. I know what it's like to worry where you are sleeping that night, it's scary and sad. Sometimes, all it takes is one bad day to lose your home. Right now, nearly 1 billion square feet of office space is sitting vacant in the United States. Imagine if all of that space was used to house people. There would be no homeless sleeping cold on the ground on freezing nights. The empty buildings would have a purpose and make money again. This solution has so many benefits, how can you say no.