Housing is a Labor Issue
Affordable housing is a human right—and a workers’ right. But across Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, working families are being pushed out of the neighborhoods they’ve built and served for generations.
From hospitality workers in Key West to construction workers in Little Haiti, too many are forced to choose between long commutes, overcrowded homes, or leaving their communities behind.
We are standing with these families by organizing for housing justice, demanding real affordability, and ensuring workers have a voice in how our cities grow–because no one should be priced out of their own home.
The Problem
Across Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, working families are being squeezed by rising rents, displacement, and luxury development. In Miami-Dade, over half of renters are cost-burdened, while Monroe’s tourism economy pushes local workers out of their own communities with average rents topping $3,000.
Florida offers only 26 affordable homes for every 100 low-income renters, and Miami ranks among the least affordable cities in the nation—where service workers earning under $15/hour are priced out of basic housing.
The consequences are severe: evictions, overcrowded homes, long commutes, and weakened neighborhoods. Without protections, developers ignore community needs, non-union worksites exploit labor, and longtime residents lose their place in the city.
Adding to the crisis, Florida lawmakers have passed legislation that strips local governments of their power to regulate rent and require affordable housing in new developments. Preemption bills like HB 1417 and SB 102 have banned local rent control and undermined efforts to address housing costs at the municipal level—directly impacting counties like Miami-Dade and Monroe that are most in need of targeted solutions.
Gentrification isn’t just about housing—it’s about power, access, and the right to stay. Our union is organizing to reverse this trend, advocating for tenant rights, community-led development, and housing justice for all.
What Members Are Saying
“We Build the City—But We Can’t Afford to Live Here”
Luis, a union carpenter and father of two, helped construct luxury condos in downtown Miami while living in a one-bedroom apartment with his family in Homestead due to rising rents.
“We’re building housing we’ll never live in,” Luis said. “My union fights for fair pay on the job, but without affordable housing, our community can’t survive.”
Stories like Luis’s are why we push so hard for stronger labor standards and real affordability in every development—so working families aren’t pushed out of the cities they sustain.
The Solution
We are advancing housing justice through union-driven advocacy and community-led development strategies across Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
Miami-Dade: Community Benefits for Real Affordability
As a core member of the Build a Better Miami Coalition, we’re demanding a strong Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with developers like the Swerdlow Group. Our priorities include:
- Heat protections and safety standards for construction workers
- Use of union contractors paying fair wages
- At least 20% affordable housing units
- Tenant protections against displacement
- A Community Benefits Fund for local residents
We’re working with elected leaders, including Commissioner Keon Hardemon and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, to ensure development serves the community—not just corporate profits.
Monroe County: Housing for Local Workers
In Key West and beyond, we’re building partnerships to address critical housing shortages. Our focus:
- Ensuring union input in housing policy
- Expanding workforce and low-income housing
- Enforcing labor standards on publicly funded construction
Workers should not be priced out of the communities they build.
Our union leaders are fighting back by:
- Leading the Build a Better Miami campaign to secure binding CBAs tied to major projects
- Collaborating with the Housing Investment Trust (HIT) to channel union pension funds into affordable housing developments
- Meeting regularly with developers and elected officials to push for union-backed, community-first housing solutions
Together, we are fighting for a South Florida where growth includes equity—and where working families can live with dignity and stability.
Join the Fight
FLAGGED TO BE UPDATED OR HIDDEN BEFORE LAUNCH
Stand Up for Housing Justice in South Florida
The housing crisis in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties won’t fix itself. Join us to demand development that works for working people.
- Support Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) that include labor and housing protections
- Help organize tenants and workers facing displacement
Resources
Housing Justice & Tenant Protections
Build a Better Miami Coalition
Uniting labor unions and community partners to demand fair development, affordable housing, and community benefits from large-scale projects.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) - Housing Advocacy Toolkit
A practical guide to help tenants know their rights, organize with neighbors, and advocate for local policy changes.
Florida Housing Data Dashboard
Access up-to-date data on housing affordability, rents, and income disparities by county across Florida.
Legal Services of Greater Miami
Free or low-cost legal support for renters facing eviction, landlord disputes, or housing discrimination.
Affordable Housing Resources – Monroe County
Access public assistance programs for renters and homeowners in Monroe County.
South Florida Community Land Trust
Find support for affordable homeownership and tenant protections through community-controlled land and housing initiatives.
Miami Workers Center – Eviction Diversion Project
Support and resources for tenants at risk of eviction, including legal assistance and mediation services.