PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
Grasford W . Smith 2023-24 PBCBA President
Recently I had the distinct honor of presenting Judge Reid Scott a ceremonial gavel at his robing ceremony . I used this opportunity to thank Judge Scott for spending his entire professional career as a public servant , even before taking the bench . For government and public interest lawyers , their personal sacrifices may sometimes go unnoticed . The Bar ' s Quality of Life is the Key to Happiness Initiative ( QOL ) seeks to shine a spotlight on issues that affect many lawyers , including those among us who personally sacrifice to benefit the community .
As I announced in my first President ' s message , the QOL Initiative is designed to empower individuals with a comprehensive understanding of how a balanced and fulfilling life contributes to overall happiness and well-being . Through a series of interactive workshops , expert-led seminars , and engaging discussions , participants will explore the intricate interplay between personal wellbeing , professional success , and emotional resilience . I encourage all Bar members to visit the Bar ' s website for more information on this Initiative .
The first live seminar of the QOL Initiative was held on September 15 , 2023 and focused entirely on the housing crisis in Palm Beach County . I wanted this topic to be the lead topic for a reason – there are more lawyers than we might imagine who are struggling to afford to live in Palm Beach County , including those we rely on for public service . In fact , families with household incomes between $ 54,180 - $ 126,420 qualify for workforce housing programs .
I was pleased that the Mayor of West Palm Beach accepted my invitation to moderate this topic on housing – the Mayor oversees a significant housing development boom in the downtown area and neighboring communities . In addition to the Mayor , the County Administrator of Palm Beach County , a Commissioner for Palm Beach County , and a developer representative also accepted my invitation to participate in this housing discussion . All of these experts have been directly on the frontlines regarding the housing crisis .
The hour long discussion was informative and we allowed live questions from the viewing audience , which included lawyers and judges . On a macro level , the speakers pointed out that Palm Beach County has experienced a large influx of residents that have ballooned home prices . While this continuing trend may be beneficial to some , this trend has also contributed to a growing senior homeless population and families who are sleeping in their cars due in part to the cost of housing .
The QOL Initiative is not about simply talking about issues , but also aims to be part of the solution . In this instance , being part of the solution means bridging the information gap about workforce housing opportunities and other resources that exist in Palm Beach County for qualified residents .
For example , the Bar ' s QOL page links to the Pbcgov website that offers opportunities such as : 1 ) Purchase Assistance ( providing first-time homebuyers assistance with gap financing , down payment , closing costs and / or rehabilitation to purchase a new or existing home ), ( 2 ) Emergency Repairs ( assisting income-eligible owner-occupied applicants to address emergency conditions such as roofing , electrical , plumbing , hurricane hardening and structural repairs ), ( 3 ) Foreclosure Assistance ( assisting with delinquent mortgage payments including late fees , attorney ’ s fees , homeowners ’ association payments , special assessments , and other foreclosureassociated costs , property taxes , homeowners insurance and default resolution counseling ), and ( 4 ) Workforce Housing ( providing the workforce within Palm Beach County an opportunity to purchase homes at below-market prices and down payment and closing cost assistance for those who qualify ). The QOL website also links to a PBC Housing Dashboard which shows available workforce housing units in various cities in Palm Beach County .
It is our sincere hope that some of our Bar members benefit from this information . Knowledge is power and this potentially crucial information regarding housing opportunities is readily at your fingertips . In my future messages , I will continue to explore other aspects of the QOL Initiative and how it benefits our members .
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 3