Have questions about what affordable housing is, what the need is in Flagler County and the challenges that must be overcome? The Flagler Housing for All Coalition is hosting a public forum at 5:30 p.m. October 29 at the Flagler County Association of Realtors to discuss those topics and more.
Flagler County Administrator Jerry Cameron will make welcoming remarks. State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program Administrator Ralston Reodica is one of the Coalition members along with Sandra Shank, who is the Chairwoman of the Flagler County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. She will lead the discussion along with representatives from the Flagler Home Builders Association, Flagler County Housing Authority, Carrfour Supportive Housing, Florida Housing Coalition, among others.
A short film created by FPC-TV (Flagler Palm Coast High School) will highlight the need for affordable housing in Flagler County. Students Joshua Bratcher and Jalen Daniels are the director and co-director (respectively) of the film with the guidance of instructor Tracey Hicks.
“The Flagler Housing for All Coalition came up with the idea to partner with the Flagler Palm Coast High School video production department to highlight real stories from Flagler’s residents,” said Reodica, who along with Shank recently received the Sadowski Affiliates Award for Housing Advocacy. “The housing video was born from the need to advocate for affordable housing in Flagler County, as Palm Coast, the largest of our cities tends to be regarded as a retirement community.”
The Flagler County Association of Realtors is located at 4101 E. Moody Boulevard, Bunnell. For more information visit the Flagler Housing for All Coalition on Facebook or e-mail flaglerhousingforallcoalition@
The SHIP program provides assistance in the following areas to income-eligible applicants with priority given to people with special needs:
· Down Payment Assistance: Assistance will be provided to qualified first-time homebuyers purchasing a new or existing single family home, manufactured home, townhome, or condominium priced at or below $200,000.
· Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation: Assistance will be provided to qualified homeowners for repairs to alleviate code violations and to eliminate health and safety problems in a home.
· Emergency Repair: Assistance will be provided to qualified homeowners in need of emergency repairs related to a dire situation that needs to be mitigated immediately.
· Foreclosure Prevention: Assistance will be provided to qualified homeowners that are in arrears on their first mortgage due to a qualifying hardship.
· Rental Assistance: Assistance will be provided to qualified individuals or families who are at-risk of or are experiencing homelessness and require temporary rental assistance to maintain or obtain rental housing.
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Jeff says
No more Section 8 in Flagler!
Heathen Lady says
Hey, being poor doesn’t automatically equal “trash”. Grow some compassion.
Jeff says
Lol Triggered.
Shorty says
We don’t need anymore government subsidized housing in Flagler county! We need the people to change their lifestyles so they can afford their rent! I know someone that lives in the project and has lived there all her life! 60 years almost! She calls it “her house”! The people need a hand up not a handout!
Palm Coast Citizen says
You should definitely attend the forum if you care about what sort of housing we have here in Flagler County and in the city of Palm Coast. :)
Amy says
This isn’t section 8.
debi jay says
i agree……
palmcoaster says
Where there are section 8 in Flagler County..?
Flagler County needs “affordable housing” meaning housing for those services, hospitality, restaurants and hospital workers that can’t afford 1,300 or 1,500 rent a months and only can pay about half of that. Lets be realistic as we do not need increased homelessness around us. Closing our eyes and ignoring these issues will not make them go away but worse. My appreciation to the Board of Realtors for hosting this event and anyone involved trying to help resolve it!
CB from PC says
As I previously stated,
the problem is not “affordable housing”.
The problem is LACK OF corporations paying a wage which support a $200000 plus mortgage.
And rents continue to rise.
Our current Economic Development crew have miserably failed to attract any new companies.
Let’s encourage tech companies here like Coastal Cloud to provide internships for qualified locals instead of hiring from elsewhere.
Palm Coast Citizen says
The two are connected, though! We don’t have a lot of housing options here, and part of it is our lack of multi-family housing which increases population density–which draws businesses! We are spread out with a surplus of single-family homes, and businesses know they can’t plant themselves here to have a good reach within a five mile radius.
Housing affordability means housing options and that means more money for business and more desire to come here.
Could be a zoning challenge.
The conversation isn’t just about low-income housing, I don’t think. It’s about how we home-grow successful citizens–people who develop right here to become successful, economic contributors to our economy. Right now, we’re mostly importers of retirees and their kids who have potential but quickly move out. And we aren’t attracting businesses, in part, because of our lack of housing diversity!
Mary Fusco says
CB, sadly, PC is a bedroom community or suburb which means that most people have to commute to earn a decent living. It is what it is. Any corporations that relocate here will only pay the going wage for the area, maybe a tiny bit more. That’s it. When my husband and I and our family moved from NYC to a suburb in order to be able to afford a home, he commuted 70 miles each way for 25 years. We sacrificed a lot. Most young people today have no idea what the word “sacrifice” means. Sometimes, you can’t work around the corner from where you live. Palm Coast Data was a large company at one time and they paid squat. I know because I worked there. When I lived in NY, Blue Cross, Blue Shield moved their call centers to my town from Manhattan. They were only paying a fraction of the wages that they were in NYC. My daughter is an RN. She relocated from NY to JAX to be near family. With 20 years experience she took a huge pay cut because they don’t pay as well in FL.
Yes rents are high. When we bought our house, our mortgage, taxes and insurance were more than triple what we were paying for an apartment. This was in 1974. Times haven’t changed much but people sure have. They want everything NOW. LOL.
Jimbo99 says
Better income for labor, otherwise they’re treating you like a child/pet.
rlosi says
Last year I inquired about the SHIP program from a realtor and then a mortgage broker. I was told by both that the SHIP program has at least a 24 month wait. How does that help?
Charles says
I’m glad this is finally being discussed! The rent in Palm Coast is too high and unreasonable for what you’re getting. I’m 21 years old working full time between 40-60 hours, whilst going to college and I cannot afford these prices!! It has nothing to do with “section 8 housing” or “changing our lifestyles.” It is about having affordable rent, Palm coast is growing and to do so we don’t need more retirees we need families. That is what will bring businesses to Palm coast. Palm coast needs to start acknowledging everyone that lives here, not just the retirees. And to set the record straight no one is asking for a fucking handout we are asking for reasonable and affordable rent for everyone.
CB from PC says
CB commuted 86 miles EACH WAY a few decades ago.
That is 45k plus miles per year on a vehicle.
Thankfully it was only for several months while a consultant.
Recently was commuting 100 miles round trip daily.
Palm Coast is a retirement community.
Until Companies provide a wage supporting housing costs it will remain so.
The skilled young people will move elsewhere.
And yes, the wages at Palm Coast Data for even skilled IT pros suck.