ORLANDO, Fla. – A new program addressing the affordable housing crisis is coming soon to Orlando. 

"Orlando is suffering from an extreme affordable housing crisis where so many households are paying more than 30, 40, or 50% of their income towards housing," said Laurie Schoeman.

Schoeman focuses on climate and sustainability with Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit addressing affordable housing. A City of Orlando spokesperson confirms the partnership with Enterprise. Next month, they are planning to launch Keep Safe Orlando. That new program will focus on preserving and protecting existing multi-family units.

"Across Orlando and Florida, it is critical that we keep this housing stock safe and affordable because it is very difficult to build affordable housing," said Schoeman.

The voluntary program will give affordable housing building owners and operators free resources and tools to assess their needs so they can provide a safe place for people to live. 

Schoeman said, "If they don’t have the financial resources to improve their buildings, we are at a double loss. A, we lose out on affordable housing and B, we need to then find support for residents who would undoubtedly be displaced when there’s a massive event."

A massive event being a storm or flood for example. Schoeman said the rising costs of natural disasters have also put pressure on the existing stock of affordable housing in Florida. The timing of this new program is intentional. They're planning for Keep Safe Orlando to go live May 5, so building owners and operators and residents are prepared for the Atlantic hurricane season that starts June 1.