APPLICATION AMENDED FOR SOUTHCLIFF ESTATES AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY WORKERS IN MONROE COUNTY

KEY LARGO, FL – Monroe County has amended its application for its one-bedroom/one-bathroom Southcliff Estates affordable housing units for workers in the tourism industry, located at 95295 Overseas Highway (MM 95) in Key Largo.
 
The newly available units will now rent for 30 percent of the applicant(s)’s gross annual income, for a minimum of $1,797 per month or the maximum allowed of $3,042 per month (which accounts for the statutory requirement for a utility allowance). The units are only available to those employed in Monroe County’s private-sector tourism-related industries, including arts, entertainment, recreation, fishing and diving, hotels, restaurants, food services, and sightseeing. Applicants must work in a qualifying business located in the Florida Keys.
 
To qualify, applicants must:

• Be 18 years old or older.
• Have a gross annual household income between $71,880 and $109,560 (for one person) or up to $125,040 (for two people) or up to $166,720 (for two people who are married or in a domestic partnership). For example:
  • The minimum household income limit of $71,880 would be $1,797 per month in rent.
  • The maximum household income limit for two single roommates is $125,040, which would be subject to the maximum allowed $3,042 per month in rent.
  • The maximum household income limit for a married couple or domestic partners is $166,720, which would also be subject to the maximum allowed $3,042 per month in rent.
  • To calculate the rent, take your gross annual income, multiply it by .3, and then divide it by 12. (For example, a person making $80,000 a year gross income would take 80,000x0.3=24,000; 24,000/12=$2,000 per month for rent.)
• Rent includes water, sewer, and trash.
• Agree to a maximum of two people only in a unit.
• Show proof of income and employment in an eligible tourism-related business.
• Meet additional eligibility requirements outlined in the application.

 
Additional requirements include background checks, verification from landlords, and submission of all required documents through the online application portal. No paper applications will be accepted. The units will be rented on a first-come, first-qualified basis.
 
These units were purchased as part of a $35 million TDC surplus, for which the Florida Legislature passed a bill explicitly authorizing Monroe County to use the surplus funds for affordable housing for employees of private-sector tourism-related businesses. Southcliff Estates is the first project funded through this initiative. Additional projects are being set for each TDC district in the Florida Keys.
 
Federal published guidance indicates households should pay no more than 30 percent of gross annual income for housing. This guidance is used for both renters and homeowners to help ensure that housing costs remain manageable and don't consume a disproportionate amount of income, leaving enough for other necessities and financial goals. 
 
For more information or to apply, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/southcliff or contact [email protected]. The Monroe County Housing Authority also has available units for individuals of different and lower income levels throughout the Florida Keys. For information on the housing authority, visit https://www.kwha.org/mcha/.