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

KEY LARGO, FL – Monroe County has opened its application for 12 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, renting for $2,995 per month (including water, sewer, and trash), are only available for those employed in Monroe County’s private-sector tourism-related industries, including arts, entertainment, recreation, fishing, hotels, food services, and sightseeing. Applicants must work in a qualifying business located in the Florida Keys.
 
To qualify, applicants must:

• Be 18 years 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).
• Agree to a maximum of two people only in a unit.
• Show proof of employment in an eligible tourism-related business.
• Meet additional eligibility requirements outlined in the application.

 
Additional requirements include proof of employment in the tourism industry, proof of income, background checks, verification from landlords, and submission of all required documents through the online application portal. No paper applications will be accepted.
 
This program is a demonstration of the county’s commitment to partner with the Tourism Development Council (TDC) to provide workforce housing for employees in the tourism industry. These units were purchased as part of a $35 million TDC surplus from the post-COVID tourism boom in the Florida Keys, where Monroe County collected a significant surplus in TDC bed tax revenue. The Florida Legislature passed a bill in 2024 that explicitly authorizes Monroe County, as an Area of Critical State Concern, to use the surplus funds for affordable housing for employees of private‑sector tourism-related businesses. The Board of County Commissioners and the TDC approved ordinances and policies for dedicated capital projects, earmarked explicitly for tourism‑industry workforce housing. Southcliff Estates is the first project funded through this initiative. Additional projects are being set for each TDC district in the Florida Keys.
 
This partnership supports the county’s goal of preserving the local workforce by addressing the housing crisis that affects those who serve the backbone of the Florida Keys economy. The units available will be rented on a first-come, first-qualified basis.
 
For more information or to apply, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/southcliff or contact [email protected].