Affordable Housing was at the top of concerns for residents who completed a recent survey about where to spend American Rescue Plan monies. As inflation has set in and is no longer considered transitory, more and more residents, and the non-profits who serve them, are feeling a pinch on their wallets. This is especially aggravated in housing due to the population migration to Florida from other parts of the United States, which is creating a demand on housing.

The county has been aggressively working on affordable housing in recent years, but has not done a great job of communicating its work and accomplishments. The webpage dedicated to affordable housing on the county website outlines all the things being done to work on this issue. It is very surprising to many when they begin to learn the story of the county efforts. 

Free market principles come into play with affordable housing. The first of the five immutable laws of affordable housing is that “developers don’t pay the costs of construction, tenants and buyers do” according to Strong Towns. While government cannot force a market to do what it wants in a free society, it can create an environment to encourage affordable housing. This market principle is something that the County Commission has taken very seriously, and also acted upon. 

In 2017, the county passed an expedited permitting procedure to streamline review processes for affordable housing. This brings down approval costs and speeds up timing in building affordable housing.

In 2018, the county created a new metering category for utility fee rates. This new category was applicable to single-family dwellings of less than 750 square feet and created a lower rate for these units. That same year, the county updated mobility fee rates for units of the same size to reduce rates. To lift further onerous regulations on smaller units, parking requirements were reduced for multi- and single-family developments. 

In 2019, the county developed half-dwelling unit density standards for multi-family development and accessory dwelling units were made allowable in certain residential districts. 

Approved developments have also been a part of the affordable housing county efforts. Affordable housing has been a part of developments approved under the 2050 plan, a critical area plan incentive, and an affordable housing overlay. Roughly 25% of the total approved units for these developments will bring 3,000 affordable housing units to our county inventory when all are complete.

More recently, the county has also used its own resources to create affordable housing. The county has taken two county-owned parcels and requested submittals for proposals on them to build affordable housing. 

The county has entered into negotiations for contracts for these properties with affordable housing developers. One large parcel will have 156 affordable housing units with half at sixty percent area median income. The second will have 96 units at 80% area median income. 

Additionally, services and assistance continue to be offered directly to residents through the Office of Housing and Community Development through various programs.

This column has touched on just a few of the efforts by the county to encourage the creation of affordable housing. While there is always more work to be done, their accomplishments in maximizing opportunities in the free market system should not go unnoticed. Keep up the good work.

Christine Robinson is executive director of The Argus Foundation. 

Image via Pixabay.

One week ago, the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota celebrated the graduation of more than 1,200 students at our Winter Commencement Ceremony at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. Each of these graduates is a mark of success for our college, but also a reminder that in an ever-changing world we can never become complacent about meeting their needs.

To ensure our students are fully prepared for their future we have recently updated SCF’s College and Career Success office. College and Career Success Coaches will now assist students to develop individual educational plans and explore career options to achieve their academic, professional and personal goals. The change in the department has provided SCF the opportunity to move beyond traditional advising to a proactive model that allows coaches to customize outreach and communication to each student.  

This model is a part of a national trend that is expanding beyond just helping students enroll in classes and is moving towards engagement, development and career preparation. Students are paired with a success coach that will assist them with degree completion, internships, career readiness opportunities and any needed resources. SCF success coaches engage with students throughout the academic year and provide proactive assistance around academic success, financial support, mental health and degree completion.   

Each success coach is assigned a caseload that allows them to build strong connections to assist the students from admissions to graduation and beyond. Success coaches will have a pulse on student life, resources and support services to help students engage in campus culture and build their professional portfolio. Students can expect to engage with their success coach during orientation and experience a seamless transition from our enrollment and admissions specialists. Our goal is to provide every student with a strong network of support that is not only there to guide and answer questions, but also to engage in conversation and connect them to resources before they are needed. 

The College and Career Success office is staffed with 11 coaches. There are eight coaches at the Bradenton Campus, three coaches at the Venice Campus, and four coaches who rotate on the Lakewood Ranch Campus. All SCF students can meet with their success coach in person, virtually or over the phone. Each coach received a multi-day orientation and training that included information about all aspects of SCF. The coaches continue to receive training and updates to ensure they are up to date with program changes, services and opportunities. The coaches have also provided training to the college community about how they can assist students towards degree completion, career placement and seamless transfer. 

Success coaches are specialized across all disciplines and degrees, which allows the office to seamlessly work with any student. The model also allows success coaches to see students who need immediate assistance, like tutoring and counseling, and those that are looking to develop their career portfolio and participate in internships. The team is excited to unveil the model and assist students in making the most out of their time here at SCF.  

The success of our students is paramount to our mission. Our success coaches will provide the one-on-one support that sets up students for success academically and to move directly into our local workforce or seamlessly transfer upon graduation. We applaud the more than 1,200 SCF students who graduated this winter and look forward to supporting and celebrating many more who will follow in their footsteps for years to come.

Dr. Carol Probstfeld is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

I’m lucky — my job allows me to see the best of Sarasota. Last week, I heard leaders from different sectors offer testimony to the County Commission about the benefits of building affordable housing. Sarasotans earning below the area median income —$31,707 for an individual — would have places to live, close to their jobs and their children’s schools.

I was inspired to hear from employers, the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, Women’s Resource Center, advocates for those experiencing homelessness, parents working and going back to school to get ahead and foundations all standing together to chart a future with quality of life for all. Every speaker talked about their desire for and commitment to building a thriving community- with young talent choosing to stay here and a growing economy.

American Rescue Plan dollars from the federal government ($84 million for Sarasota County) have been allocated to “deliver direct relief to the American people and rescue the economy.” A county survey asked residents how local funds should be prioritized. The top two responses by far were: affordable housing and homelessness prevention. Those responses are related- it’s impossible for a person to end their homelessness without a home.

Demand has overwhelmed the short supply of workforce housing and supportive housing available. Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness reports a 213% increase in call volume from people on the verge of losing their home, desperate for assistance.

Cities around the U.S. are using the bulk of their one-time American Rescue Plan funds to build affordable housing. Sarasota can do this, too. Nonprofit partners like Community Assisted and Supportive Living and Family Promise of South Sarasota County are showing the way by building quality affordable units, in north and south county near bus routes, child care and jobs. They are serving populations the free housing market cannot- individuals who make half of area median income, struggling to avoid homelessness.

St. Vincent de Paul CARES recently hosted a Move-In Celebration for those who have triumphed over homelessness and moved into homes. Tom, a gray-haired gentleman, shared he was sleeping in his car in a parking lot downtown. The Sarasota Police Department Homeless Outreach Team helped him navigate The Salvation Army services and enroll in St. Vincent de Paul CARES’ Suncoast Rapid Rehousing Program. Derek, a veteran, spoke about the hand up he received. Jasmine, a young mother holding her toddler, said she now has safe, stable housing for her daughter, making a bright future possible. Each of them now has a lease in their own name. Mayor Erik Arroyo talked with the community members being celebrated, alongside the case managers, philanthropists, law enforcement officers and others creating a path to housing for those who lack shelter. Resilience and determination outshone the large poinsettias on display. Public-private partnerships made these success stories possible. And more can be achieved.

Federal rescue dollars can be used to assist those hit the hardest and the longest by the pandemic. Diverse housing options, where restaurant and entry-level healthcare workers can live, is essential to a healthy community. By incentivizing the private sector to build for households who earn below median income, by offering vacant public land, streamlining the permit process, reducing fees and inviting innovative proposals, we can overcome the crisis of lack of affordable housing.

During this season of hope, watching our community come together to build back better and care for our service workers and their children makes me believe in a bright future.

Jennifer Johnston is the director of community leadership at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Community Foundation