Ron Book wears many hats: business founder, president, CEO, lobbyist. But perhaps the title he regards most is simply “advocate.”
Outside of policymaking work at his Florida-based firm, Ronald L. Book, P.A., Book dedicates his time to community causes. For decades, Book has served as the Chairman of The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, and it’s there that he’s been able to shape the lives of Miami’s unhoused population.
With a wide-ranging network of industry relationships and a sharp eye for budget management, Book is changing the homeless trust landscape for the better. Read on to learn more about his decades in policymaking and public service.
An Early Passion for Advocacy
Ron Book knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue civic issues. He received his juris doctorate from Tulane University and a B.A. in Political Science from Florida International University. He became a registered lobbyist and immediately began work on numerous local and state issues in Florida, including “Five for Florida’s Future” in 1980. He also managed and executed two campaigns that ultimately authorized gaming at Florida’s pari-mutuel facilities in 2004 and 2008.
Now, as founder, president, and CEO of Ronald L. Book, P.A., Book oversees a team dedicated to Florida state legislative and executive branch lobbying, as well as consulting services on local government affairs. Book’s high-level clientele list, established over decades of service, aligns perfectly with his passion for community causes.
Guiding the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust
Ron Book became a member of The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust early in his career. He currently serves as Chairman of the Trust’s board. Book was first appointed Chairman by Mayor Alex Penelas. Book has been reappointed to this role several times since.
Under Book’s leadership as Chairman, the Trust has made significant strides as a nationally recognized organization. It’s been honored several times as a national best practice model and even hosted HUD Secretary Ben Carson in 2018 in celebration of effectively ending veteran homelessness in Miami-Dade County.
In 2023, Book was honored with The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the 11th Judicial Circuit. This award honors Florida Bar members who have charitably donated their time and expertise to serve low-income and disadvantaged clients.
“In chairing the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, Ron has worked tirelessly to ensure all people in our community have the most basic dignity of sleeping with a roof over their head,” remarked Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Through Ron’s leadership, Miami-Dade is better equipped to provide not only a safety net for those experiencing homelessness, but the resources and systems needed to end the cycle once and for all.”
Groundbreaking Investments in Miami-Dade
One of Ron Book’s key responsibilities as Board Chairman is budget oversight. Specifically, Book and other key board members are responsible for administering grants, overseeing operations, and managing fiscal activities for over 100 housing and services programs in the Miami-Dade area.
However, these multi-million dollar budgets are not enough to fully serve the unhoused population in Miami-Dade County. A 2023 $85 million investment, as part of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s HOMES Plan, may help. This investment was announced in October 2022 as part of the 2022-2023 county budget and includes a small property tax break.
Book spoke in praise of the plan at the budget announcement:
“There’s no population in Miami-Dade County more vulnerable, more impacted by the mayor’s plan than the people that the Homeless Trust serves: the least, the last, the lost, the forgotten of our community — the homeless.”
With an established civic network and passion for the Miami-Dade community, Book is a trailblazer when it comes to leading a homeless trust. The past decade has brought plenty of positive change already, and Book is only getting started.