House Advances Effort to Establish Maternity Housing Grant Program

Healthy pregnancies along with positive maternal and infant health outcomes are foundational to strong families and communities and an important marker of the overall well-being of a society. Florida’s expectant mothers are not exempt from the nation's affordable housing crisis. Research has found that pregnant mothers facing eviction or homelessness may be at an increased risk for adverse birth outcomes and experience difficulty accessing prenatal health care. HB 1609, sponsored by Representative Cyndi Stevenson (R-Saint Augustine) will create the Florida State Maternity Housing Grant Program to be managed by the Department of Health. The program would provide housing for pregnant women and their families who have inadequate financial resources to meet residential costs. 
On Monday, the FCCB indicated support for the bill during the Healthcare Appropriations Subcommittee. The bill was found favorable by unanimous vote. SB 1442 sponsored by Senator Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce) has yet to receive its first committee meeting.