Jeffrey Shapiro, Mary Hawks and Lynn Frazier Guest columnists to The Gainesville Sun
As the pandemic wanes, people are returning to work and losing government support. Low-wage earners who are often renters face an untenable situation.
Nationally, the median price of a home has steadily increased by 57% over the past decade, while the federal minimum wage has not changed from $7.25 per hour (about $15,000 per year). Those who don't own a home nor benefit from this price inflation are stuck with stagnant low wages and increasing housing costs.
Urban gentrification contributes to displacement of lower-income residents. They are forced to move further from their jobs, public transportation, schools, shopping and health care providers to find housing they can afford. With rising property values, urban developers have less incentive to maintain low housing costs.
Federal and state programs aim to boost low-cost housing, but this is foiled by the increasing scarcity of state funds. Although the 1992 Sadowski Act provides revenue from the documentary stamp tax on property sales, the Legislature annually sweeps a large proportion (typically about two-thirds of the Sadowski funds) toward other demands. That practice appears to have ended with this year's Senate Bill 2512, assuming its approval by the governor.
The remaining portion of the tax actually used for housing will recur annually as a set percentage of the stamp tax. The resulting $209.2 million appropriation for housing in fiscal year 2021-22 is the largest in 12 years, according to the Sadowski Coalition, and a 14% estimated increase over the next five years may yet occur. The American Rescue Plan of 2021 may provide $231 billion nationwide for creation, retrofit and preservation of affordable housing, plus more for rent and services for those nearing homelessness.
Alachua County's many nonprofits, for-profits, governmental agencies and individuals collaborate to rehab and build affordable housing. Family Promise of Gainesville and Alachua Habitat for Humanity work with service organizations and churches to identify housing for residents in need.
The Gainesville and Alachua housing authorities and the Neighborhood Housing & Development Corporation (NHDC) fund and build low-income housing units. The Communities That Care Land Trust obtains land for home development and restricts price inflation. A city of Gainesville land trust partnership has been approved.
NHDC announced Deer Creek Senior Housing near the Senior Center as an affordable project that is expected to be completed in 2022. Work continues on a 17-acre plan for the city's Power District with 25% to 50% affordable units through a public-private partnership, and development of Lot 10 downtown is on the table with affordable units.
Other low-income housing programs in development or nearing completion include the Heartwood neighborhood (formerly Kennedy Homes), and 40 new housing units at Arbours at Merrillwood in Alachua.
The Arbours at Tumblin Creek in Gainesville is complete. The Arbours projects include housing targeted to low-income senior and veteran residents.
As we emerge into recovery, let us focus on the goal of securing housing for ALL residents, especially those challenged with finding safe and affordable homes.
Our wide array of community resources will yield success. And success will enable a capable and reliable workforce for the future.
Lynn Frazier is president of League of Women Voters of Alachua County, Jeffrey Shapiro is chair of its Local Issues Committee and Mary Hawks is a member of its Local Issues Committee.
As printed in The Gainesville Sun, June 6, 2021
See the original article here: https://www.gainesville.com/story/opinion/2021/06/04/jeffrey-shapiro-mary-hawks-and-lynn-frazier-state-affordable-housing-gainesville-alachua-county/7496142002/
