Sometimes third time is a charm. But for that charm failed for proponents of Pinellas County’s Affordable Housing Trust fund. They made one final push last night, after over 200 supporters gathered on the county steps last week.
Funding for the project started at a proposed five million dollars only a few months ago. Then it was three million. Last night, they filled the room to plead for 1.4 million dollars.
Rev. Robert Ward walked up to the microphone with a line of people behind him. He has been one of the main community organizers fighting for the funding since the whole budget process began.
“This money is needed more than ever before, because when we started the Housing Trust Fund there were 31,00 families in need, by next year there will be 45,00 families that cannot afford housing. No other fund addresses this need,” Ward said.
The Housing Trust Fund was created to ensure that affordable housing remain affordable for at least ten years. For proponents of the fund, budget meetings have been an uphill battle.
On July 28th, Commissioner Welch proposed slightly raising the mileage rate in order to create a substantial base from which the county could fund important community projects like the housing fund. That motion would have given the housing fund three million dollars as opposed to none at all. But the problem was the county’s goal to lower mileage rates so that homeowners could get a tax break.
“I think we made a mistake lowering the mileage rate that much, with my plan we still would have cut 20 million dollars in property taxes and have been able to fund community projects not only this year but the next,” Commissioner Welch said after the meeting.
When Welch brought his proposal to a motion, he didn’t even receive a second.
Monday, every county commissioner received over 1,400 postcards in support of continued funding of the housing fund.
“The housing fund creates jobs, which stimulates the economy. A single mother at my church was finally able to afford a home specifically because of this project, and I was delighted to say our leaders made that happen,” Ward Said.
Commissioner Morroni proposed the 1.4 million dollars come out of disaster relief reserves, keeping the fund at 15% of revenue, higher than most counties.
“When we made the commitment to the trust fund in 2000, times were good, but that has changed. However I want to thank all of you and all your members for being so active, this group has been the most active in the budget process from day one,” Morroni said.
According to Rev. Ward, the cost of a two bedroom apartment in 2005 was $805, next year it will be $959.
“You may be nervous about taking money out of reserves, because of a possible hurricane or disaster. However, the real storm is already here for people who cannot find an affordable place to live,” Ward said.
For many in the community, there are funds to help with housing down payments and rent subsidies, but they become nomads continually moving because the affordable housing is shrinking.
Morroni’s motion received a second from Commissioner Seel, but no others on the board voted in favor of the proposal. In the end the motion did not pass with a 2-5 vote.
“We could have had a stable way to fund our projects and have a surplus next year. Instead, we are already starting out the 2010-2011 cycle with a seven million dollar deficit because the board pushed so hard to lower the mileage rate,” Commissioner Welch said after the meeting.
Other programs that will be affected as a result of lowering mileage rate, include funding for C.A.S.A. a non-profit women’s shelter that aides in domestic violence prevention. Funding for county mental health programs are also receiving stiff cutbacks.
After the motion passed, the room emptied. The commission the next hour speaking about the Gulf Boulevard beautification project, which will continue to receive its funding.
But for those advocating the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a fund that should be reaching its 30 million dollar goal by next year, last night was a letdown.
