How Brevard can tackle its affordable housing problem | Opinion

Are there solutions to a Space Coast housing situation where many believe a shot at decent, affordable housing slips further away?

That was the main issue this week at Brevard County’s inaugural “Affordable House Summit: Foundations for the Future of Housing on Florida’s Space Coast.”

Community leaders opened a countywide public discussion on what to do about a housing condition ― and one not unique to the Space Coast ― that price low-income, and even moderate-income, individuals and families out of a stable and decent place to live.

More than 200 people attended the all-day summit in Cocoa Village, where a roster of speakers, including homeless advocates, housing experts, builders and government officials addressed some of the thornier issues creating barriers for affordable living for many.

Currently the median price of a single-family home on the Space Coast is $360,000, and monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment hovers around $1,200. Wages, though, for many job sectors haven’t kept up with growing housing costs. And that means affordability continues to widen.

Discussions the past several months leading up to Thursday’s affordable housing summit show there are no easy fixes. The housing supply remains tight while higher-paid workers and retirees, flush with incomes from higher-cost-of-living states, stream into Brevard.

Possible remedies discussed Thursday included tax breaks for those willing to develop and build affordable housing units, putting available housing vouchers to wider use (possibly even outside Brevard and Florida), and finding ways for communities and government officials to get more comfortable with options like manufactured housing and so-called “tiny homes.”

More: There are options to fix the affordable housing crisis | Opinion

Here is what some people attending Thursday’s affording housing summit had to say:

Cocoa Mayor Mike Blake: “We all understand there is a need for workforce/affordable housing for our residents. We must dedicate efforts to provide that to residents.”

Brevard County Commissioner Rob Feltner: “Florida is in a high state of demand so it’s not a surprise that everyone wants to be here. We’ve been through this before. I remind people all the time that the generation before us built this community during the space boom. In the 1960s Brevard was the fastest-growing county in the country. We did it once before and we can accommodate hard workers in the future.”

Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina: “This is such a critical time in our history. It shouldn’t take us by surprise because this challenge that we’re facing with affordable housing has been increasing year to year.

”Our median income has remained the same and median housing averages have increased beyond the capacity of what our residents can afford.”

Amber Caroll, director of the Brevard Homeless Coalition: “There is hope. There is hope. And the hope is here in this room. And you’re here because you care.”

Johnette Gindling, president and chief executive officer of Space Coast Health Foundation: “It was hopeful to see so many partners in the room to discuss affordable housing. Collaboration is key to addressing this issue. This summit was an excellent step forward to build on the work already being done.”

Cheryl Howell, executive director for the Florida Community Development Association: “You don’t want to create neighborhoods of last resort. You want to create neighborhoods where people want to move to.”

Anne Ray, Florida Housing Clearinghouse Manager, Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida: “Housing costs have been growing much faster than wages over time. The National Low Income Housing Coalition has the idea of a housing wage. It’s how much would you have earn per hour to afford a typical two-bedroom apartment.

“The Brevard County housing wage is almost $22 an hour. So think about all the jobs you know about that pay less than $22 an hour. Those are jobs that are really kind of the backbone of the community. And the median wage for a job in the county is about $18 an hour. Right off the bat about half the jobs in the county are not paying a current housing wage.”

Leeanne  Sacino, executive director of the Florida Coalition to End Homelessness: “The U.S. General Accountability Office sent out a report in 2020 that said for every $100 rent increase, we see a 9 percent increase in homelessness. And sure enough, when I look at Brevard County, the rate of homelessness is very similar.”

More: Cocoa to list 42 lots for affordable housing as part of state initiative

Paola Roman, vice president of development for Carrfour CQ Supportive Housing: “Yes, we know things are bad and they’re not getting any better. We really have to do something. Because if we just sit back we’re going to see things deteriorate.”

Ashon Nesbitt , CEO of the Florida Housing Coalition: “You can invest in housing or you can pay on the other end.”

Jim Ayotte, CEO of the Florida Manufactured Housing Association: “You have a need. We have part of the solution. Let’s sit down together and see what can come up with.”

Wayne T. Price is director of communications at the Space Coast Health Foundation and a former journalist at FLORIDA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County's affordable housing crisis is topic of summit