Kodak Black is stepping in to provide a bit of relief for South Florida tenants by saving them from the possibility of eviction. The hip-hop artist has announced he will pay off the housing debt of 28 families who live in the West Palm Beach area.
The “Haitian Scarface” singer teamed up with community organizer Francky Pierre-Paul and Pierre-Paul’s Zachariah McQueen Foundation to secure more than $88,000 for the Merry Place Housing Projects.
Kodak Black, who has an estimated net worth of $600,000, plans to pay owed back rent in full for those who are behind and cover their rental costs for the remainder of 2022.
“I’m happy about making other people happy. It makes my heart happy to know those 28 families are being taken care of through the end of the year,” said the rapper who was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. “I don’t always post the good I do. I just try to do right by people,” Kodak Black told TMZ.
In a joint Instagram post Kodak Black and PIerre-Paul wrote: “Through this act of kindness, these families’ rents will be paid off in full for the remainder of the year, covering all previous late fees and the months of October, November and December, allowing them the opportunity to celebrate the holidays without worrying about how they will be able to keep a roof over their heads.”
High Rent in Miami
The cost of living in many of Florida’s rental homes has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the nation faces issues with inflation. Iin fact, Miami has the most significant rent increase across the country — a 53 percent increase year over year, according to NBC.
Kodak’s attorney, Bradford Cohen, told TMZ that many South Florida rental home prices have gone by as much as 31.5 percent — way more than the typical 3 to 5 percent.
Why is Rent Increasing?
An explanation for why Miami, along with San Diego and Phoenix, are experiencing skyrocketing rental properties is that these cities have seen a lot of remote workers relocate to these areas, CNBC reported.
Rent soared in warmer destinations in large part due to remote workers relocating during the pandemic. Since these new residents opted for single-family homes over apartments, the demand sparked rent increases, CNBC reported.
Kodak Black Gives Back to Florida Again
One year ago, the rapper gave away 100 air conditioners in July to the Pompano Beach Projects.
Kodak Black also donated $10,000 to an educational center and created a memorial fund for a Florida police killed in action.
