League of Women Voters Workforce Housing Forum

KEY WEST — The Lower Keys Chapter of the League of Women Voters kicks off its 2018 Civics Lessons with a community forum on workforce housing from those whose attempts to complete projects has often ended in frustration.

The community forum, “The Keys Housing Crisis: Creating Community and Political Will,” is open to the public and will be held 6-8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26, at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Ave. Admission is free.

The forum focuses on one of the top challenges facing Key West and the Florida Keys: What is standing in the way of success in ensuring affordable housing for our local workforce? How can we in the community empower ourselves to assist?

The panel discussion including questions from the audience will be moderated by Dr. William Hettinger, president and founder of Prosperous Communities, a housing and economic development consultancy.

Hettinger has spoken nationwide on the housing market failure affecting resort communities, developed training to provide community development professionals with the skills needed to address a housing crisis, and coached community leaders through the development of strategies and implementation of solutions.

 Other long-time workforce housing advocates on the panel include:

  • Claude Gardner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Knight & Gardner Realty;
  • Bart Smith of Smith/Hawks Attorneys at Law;
  • Manuel Castillo, executive director of the Key West Housing Authority;
  • Debbie Swift Batty, HTA director of property development specializing in workforce housing and president of the board of Habitat for Humanity.
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