Hundreds in Manatee County show up as 15 churches join forces to call for change
More than a dozen religious institutions have banded together to ask Manatee County’s leaders for their commitment to criminal justice reform and more affordable housing.
Stronger Together Reaching Equality Across Manatee (STREAM) came together last year with the support of 15 different local churches. The organization held more than 40 meetings to learn about the top concerns among their parishioners.
Two issues quickly stood out, leaders say. There aren’t enough affordable housing options, and the justice court’s approach to criminal records has hampered job opportunities, churchgoers said.
STREAM invited several local officials to Monday evening’s Nehemiah Action event at Southeast High School, which drew hundreds of people. They called on each of them to support proposals aimed at improving the criminal justice system and adding more affordable housing options.
“If we want to change the way we are, there might be some tension with our officials. They may feel uncomfortable, and that’s OK,” said Pastor Bobbie Blackburn of Trinity Lutheran Church. “It is what God requires of us.”
Different approach to criminal justice
After sharing testimony about residents who have been denied jobs based on their arrest records, STREAM urged law enforcement and court officials to voice their support for a new pre-arrest diversion program for non-violent misdemeanor charges. Similar programs are already in place in other counties, such as Pinellas and Hillsborough.
“In this country and in this state, we boast one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, and we boast some of the harshest punishments in the world,” said Larry Eger, public defender for the 12th Judicial Circuit. “There has to be a philosophical change. Punishment does not equal rehabilitation.”
The proposal has also won support from State Attorney Ed Brodsky, who is already working to implement the pre-arrest diversion program in Sarasota County.
“This is the right approach to criminal justice,” Brodsky told the crowd of nearly 600 people.
The price of rent and homeownership has also caught the attention of STREAM. The organization’s outreach found families that are just one paycheck away from homelessness.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, costs have continued to rise. According to RentHub, the average rent in Manatee County has risen by up to $400 in the past 12 months, depending on the ZIP code.
“We heard from parents whose adult children moved back in with them because as young professionals they cannot find a place they can afford. Others shared about landlords increasing rents hundreds of dollars,” STREAM wrote in a report detailing its findings. “Tens of thousands of people can’t afford their rent even though they are working full-time.”
In response to the ongoing housing crisis, STREAM asked the Manatee Board of County Commissioners to commit to developing a plan to add at least 500 units of affordable housing every year.
Is $1,600 a month rent affordable?
County Commissioner George Kruse, who has been chosen by fellow commissioners to research solutions to the housing crisis, told the crowd that he would support STREAM’s affordable housing goal.
“The reality is that we set policy. We don’t build affordable housing, so that’s obviously an asterisk to what I’m saying here. However, our policies are what determines whether people can effectively build affordable here,” Kruse noted. “Where I feel we lack in the county, we’ve been very lax in how we handle affordable housing.”
Going forward, Kruse suggested revising the county’s policy to only provide incentives for builders who are working to create housing that is truly affordable.
“We try to encourage our developers to build affordable housing through our policies, but the reality is that our Comprehensive Plan makes it so cushioned that it’s not almost not even affordable housing that we’re asking for,” Kruse explained. “When I look at our rules, it blows my mind.”
Under the current guidelines, density bonuses can be given to affordable housing projects that allow a family of four to have $92,000 in total income.
By the county’s definition, a one-bedroom apartment for $1,600 monthly rent qualifies as affordable housing, Kruse said.
Kruse said he will advocate for lowering the income requirement in order to target workers with lower salaries, such as retail workers, nurses, teachers and police officers.
“I can’t force this, but what I can do is make sure the incentives we’re giving people align with what the community needs. Those are ways we can get STREAM to the number of affordable housing units that they’re looking to achieve.”
STREAM’s next event is a Joshua Assembly planned for 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 16. A location has not been selected yet. For more information, visit www.STREAMManatee.org or call (727) 806-1767.
This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
