Kissimmee Deserves Better — Let’s Talk About Housing

Tiffany Jeffers
Oct 9
2 min read

Every week, I meet hardworking people who call Kissimmee home but can’t afford to live here.

One man I met recently works full-time. Yet, he’s staying in a motel, paying week to week because he can’t save enough to cover two months’ deposit and first month’s rent all at once. That’s not a personal failure. That’s a community crisis.

The Facts

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Kissimmee is $1,553 per month.
To afford that without being cost-burdened, a person needs to earn over $62,000 a year.
Across Florida, only 25 affordable homes exist for every 100 low-income renters.
Nearly one million Florida families struggle to afford rent each month.

Right here in our city, we still have no dedicated homeless shelter. That is not sustainable, and it is not acceptable.

The Real Meaning of “Affordable”

We hear the term “affordable housing” often. But for many working families, the math does not add up. Developers build homes that meet technical definitions of affordability, but not the real needs of residents who work in retail, education, healthcare, and service jobs.

Our families are sharing rooms. Seniors are waiting years for assistance. Children are growing up in motels.

That is not affordability. That is survival.

My Commitment to Kissimmee

As someone who has built community partnerships, secured grants, and helped families find stability, I know this work requires more than promises.

I will push for policies that reduce barriers to housing such as excessive deposits and credit restrictions.
I will fight for mixed-income developments that reflect what our community actually earns.
I will bring nonprofits, churches, and businesses together to build supportive, sustainable housing options.
I will protect and preserve the affordable homes we already have.

We can do this. I have done it before. From securing $125,000 for early learning programs to creating affordable youth and family initiatives through BECC, I have seen what is possible when we put people first.