By Stephen Robb, Miami Times Staff Writer
In a city where houses are increasingly unaffordable and homelessness is pervasive, what is there to do?
Victor Turner, the city of Miami’s new director of housing and community development, has some ideas.
“When you look at affordable housing, you look at it kind of like a three-legged stool,” Turner said. “You have rental, you have homeownership, and then you have programs to serve the homeless, and they all kind of work hand in hand.”
Turner, who was recently appointed by city manager Art Noriega to fill the position, said everyone has different housing needs that require different solutions.
“Everyone may not be ready for homeownership, and they need rental opportunities,” he said. “There are people that have been renting, now they’re ready for homeownership, and (we are) preparing them for that. So I think just maximizing our resources and identifying families that are in need, and steering them toward programs and trying to provide opportunities for them — if they want to be a homeowner and they’re ready, or if they need to continue to rent.”
Turner brings more than 22 years of experience in housing affordability in local government. He served as the director of neighborhood services in Fort Worth, Texas, in addition to holding positions in the city of Little Rock and throughout the greater state of Arkansas.
“Most of my career has been in housing and community development, at the state and local level, primarily working with federal funds, and that’s been the bulk of my career,” Turner said.
Turner holds a master’s degree in public administration, is certified in housing development finance and has been involved with the National Community Development Association.
Now, after a decades-long career, Turner sees new opportunity in Miami.
“I visited Florida quite a bit, spent time here,” he said. “(I saw) opportunity to continue to work in housing and community development. Miami provides a unique challenge. And life across the country, affordable housing is critical, and I noticed this is one of the areas that is looking to be really progressive In that area.”
