Affordable housing needs push

Drastic times call for drastic measures.

According to a recent workshop at the board of Manatee County commissioners, low-income housing costs $114,000 and rentals of $1,000 or more per month are not unusual.

It's time to take a serious look at affordable housing for millennials, seniors, and others who are hard-pressed looking for affordable housing. Many in the workforce are currently living in St. Pete, Ruskin, and other outlying areas to find affordable rent and housing.

We have waited far too long for the major developers to step up to the plate and include affordable housing plans in their developments. They have not nor will they when they have low-hanging fruit of retirees moving into our area who could pay top dollar for their homes.

It's time to start imposing additional impact fees or other sanctions on any development that refuses to incorporate affordable housing into their projects — much like sea grass litigation and scrub jays policies we have in place now. We must start setting aside additional funds for our affordable housing needs.

Currently Manatee County government does about 20 affordable houses when in reality we need a hundred times that to even start to address the issue of affordable housing.

Current affordable housing incentives are for single homes, only this, too, must change. We need to incorporate townhouses and other multiple dwellings to attract more builders to build affordable housing. It's time to tell the big developers enough is enough and to reset their moral compass.

“Every game is winnable if you change your mind about what the prize should be and your perspective about the players at the table.” ― Shannon L. Alder

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 8:49 AM with the headline "Affordable housing needs push."