We in the reality-based community want facts and solutions.
We need to talk about rent control and union organizing, instead of these endless discussions trying to put lipstick on a pig in. our Republican-dominated county.
See my unrebutted comments, below the June 14, 2018 St. Augustine Record article.
Study: Affordable housing out of reach for many workers
The National Low Income Housing Coalition put out its Out of Reach 2018 study, which estimates what rental housing is truly affordable in every county. The report’s housing wage is an estimate of the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a rental home at HUD’s fair market rent without spending more than 30 percent of his or her income on housing costs.
A fair-market rental of two bedrooms in St. Johns County is estimated at $947 per month. The study says the average wage for renters in this county is $12.76, which means the affordable rent (30 percent of income) would be $664. That means there’s a huge affordability gap, one that’s even larger for families.
St. Johns County resident Letton Herlong knows exactly what it’s like to live in that gap.
Those like Herlong with families often have trouble finding decent rentals for $1,000 to $1,200. Herlong, who with his wife has a combined income of more than $30 an hour, said spending more than $1,000 on rent makes it difficult to afford anything else — like after-school activities for his children.
Herlong came to this county about three years ago in large part due to the school system. One of his four children was struggling at the previous school, so the family moved here to be part of the top-rated school system.
Herlong showed up with a job and managed to rent a home in the St. Augustine Shores. But the job didn’t work out, and he ended up losing his rental.
Despite the fact that he quickly got another job and his wife started working, Herlong said the family lived in a campground and later a hotel before finally securing another rental for a three-bedroom place. It’s less than ideal with four children splitting two bedrooms, but he’s seen so much improvement in the classroom that Herlong is learning to cope with it.
“You can’t rent a four-bedroom house unless your family is making 80 grand,” Herlong said.
“You can’t rent a four-bedroom house unless your family is making 80 grand,” Herlong said.
He could live much more comfortably back in Lake County where he’s from, but Herlong said he can’t really afford to leave because of the schools.
“To see what it’s done for my daughter, I feel like (leaving) would be an injustice to my kids,” he said.
Herlong works as a superintendent for the St. Johns Housing Partnership, which assists residents with housing issues and even builds or rehabilitates homes for low- and middle-income residents.
While he can’t use such services himself since he’s an employee of the agency, Herlong said enjoys being a small part of the solution to affordable housing shortages. Now he’s just hoping for something positive to improve his family’s situation.
“I feel like I’ve done everything right,” he said. “I’m just waiting for it to happen. I love it here. I have nothing bad to say about anything.”
At first glance on the Out of Reach study, the situation in St. Johns County is better than much of the rest of the state and better than the national numbers.For the entire state, the study calculates that the average renter must earn $21.50 to afford a two-bedroom rental. However, in a state as large and diverse as Florida, an average doesn’t reveal much.
The areas where the highest wages are needed for a two-bedroom rental are: Monroe County ($29.12), West Palm Beach ($27.35), Fort Lauderdale ($26.67), Miami ($25.98) and Naples ($23.46).
Urban South Florida, which is about 300 miles from this county and contains many areas where housing is very expensive, is not really comparable to Northeast Florida. Even St. Johns and Putnam counties are drastically different when it comes to income levels, education levels and housing costs.
But regardless of one’s perspective, the study does show that it’s extremely difficult for renters in this county, especially single parents.
Bill Lazar, who is executive director of the St. Johns Housing Partnership, said he deals with workers stuck in this gap all the time.
He said it’s bad for the community overall to have so many people struggling to find proper housing. He pointed to recent revelations that service industry leaders are currently having trouble hiring and keeping good employees because of low unemployment and high housing costs.
It’s the same situation for public service jobs like law enforcement officers and firefighters, even though those jobs pay better.
“If we don’t have housing for those parts of our industry, they’re going to have trouble hiring people,” Lazar said. “At a certain point, that’s going to create a problem when it comes to trying to figuring out how to grow.”
“If we don’t have housing for those parts of our industry, they’re going to have trouble hiring people,” Lazar said. “At a certain point, that’s going to create a problem when it comes to trying to figuring out how to grow.”
One of solutions is to get residents who qualify into homes because they can build equity and enjoy some stability in regard to housing costs.
However, in this county, the high cost of property, high impact fees and mandatory amenities fees in most new neighborhoods all work against potential buyers with low to moderate incomes. Most new homes here start in the mid $200,000s with some less expensive townhomes.
“When you get someone to buy a house, they’re vested in the community and they’re not moving,” Lazar said. “They know their (payment) is not going up other than the cost of insurance and taxes. But it’s going to stay pretty fixed. Renters don’t have that kind of security.”
In no state, metropolitan area, or county can a worker earning the federal minimum wage or prevailing state minimum wage afford a two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour week, the study said.
In only 22 counties out of more than 3,000 counties nationwide can a full-time minimum wage worker afford a one-bedroom rental home at fair market rent. These 22 counties are all located in states with a minimum wage higher than $7.25.
COMMENTS
Edward Adelbert Slavin
updated 9 days ago
1. As long as greedy landlords exploit tenants and as long as greedy employers exploit workers, we will have a problem with affordable housing and homelessness. This is the highest per capita income county in the State of Florida. It's a place where some employers are still underpaying employees, paying them ditch-digger wages, too often "under the table."
2. As long as deluded workers and retirees keep electing "pro-business" candidates who know not that they know not, we will continue to have problems with affordable housing and homelessness.
3. Vote Democratic. Support free democratic labor unions where you live and work. It is up to us.
Edward Adelbert Slavin
updated 10 days ago
1. Bill Lazar should apologize to Tom Reynolds for his provocative pejorative remark, "It can't be any fun being a gadfly with no opportunity to make a real difference" re: Tom Reynolds.
2. On the contrary, on issue after issue, Tom Reynolds has made a difference here. He takes the time to do research.
3. TR was right about the "developer debt forgiveness scheme."
4. TR was right for blasting County for allowing Nocatee to buy out of its contractual, legal duty for 40 acres of affordable housing.
5. Our affordable housing problems are not unlike the fruit of the poisonous tree, the direct and proximate result of anti-union and "business-friendly" pro-developer policies by SJC.
6. Last year, County Administrator Michael Wanchick told the health insurance committee of his efforts to "stave off unionization." Utterly unAmerican!!
7. Bill and Tom: Forgive each other. Pick up the phone.
8. Bill: Try tolerance. See the St. Augustine Record editorial of November 19, 2006, defending me against a provocative public attack by then-Mayor of St. Augustine, stating inter alia: "we¹re happy that there are gadflies like Slavin in our world. They add texture to our public forums and, as in the case of the illegal dumping, get it right sometimes. So, to our public officials, we suggest you get thicker skins." http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2006/11/editorial-always-important-to-stick-to.html
9. Bill, Tom Reynolds has on the SAR website or e-mails sometimes called me "an idiot" or worse. I forgive him. He's a Red Sox fan. He's from Boston. He's boisterous. :)
10. My religious tradition teaches forgiveness.
11. Tom & Bill: how about a coffee summit, not unlike President Obama's "beer summit,," where he brought together the Cambridge cop and law professor? «
Edward Adelbert Slavin
10 days ago
1. Study points out the disparity between low wage rates and high housing costs.
2. We need free democratic labor unions here in Northeast Florida.
3. The right to collective bargaining is engraved in the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
4. Americans encouraged, supported and trained free democratic trade union leaders abroad as a national policy. Americans helped end the Soviet Union's "Evil Empire" thanks in large part to the Solidarnosc Polish labor union.
5. Here in St. Johns County, certain greedy, unenlightened employers are Social Darwinists, who have been known to threaten their employees for even talking about joining or forming unions (Unfair Labor Practices).
6. On the St. Augustine Record's former "Talk of the Town" website, some of the cowardly anonymous poster business owners ("the Anonymice") so stated, openly and notoriously BRAGGING of their hostility to NLRA rights to join and form unions, stating they would fire any worker talking union, or close their doors if employees voted in a union. Sick.
7. Until local wages increase, sincere government and non-profit efforts to provide affordable housing will not be enough.
8. Many Florida cities and counties have enacted Living Wage ordinances, which can cover only government employees, government contractor and government franchisee employees. Need one in St. Johns County. I first spoke out in favor of one at St. Augustine City Commission in 2006.
9. Other than Artemis Kore, I don't recall ANYONE writing that I don't attend enough meetings. Thanks, I will l try to do more!
10. JFK said, "a rising tide lifts all boats." Employees: know your rights. Find a suitable union and organize, organize, organize. You'll be glad that you did. «
Artemis Kore
10 days ago
Mr. Lazar is the face of Affordable Housing in SJC and I couldn't think of anyone more suited. As dismal as workforce housing is there would be none without Bill and SJHP. I have regularly attended the 2 SJC Housing Committee meetings over the last 2 years and I have never seen either Mr Reynolds or Mr Slavin in attendance (AHAC and HFAAffordable Housing Advisory Commission and Housing Finance Agency). MR Lazar was a regular attendant at both, as well as speaking at SJC BOCC meetings anytime. SJHP is a non profit with no ties to developers. «
ReynoldsRanting
9 days ago
OF COURSE NOT ... I DON'T HANG AROUND FAILURES!
Edward Adelbert Slavin
19 hours ago
Reply to @Artemis Kore: AHAC and HFA minutes and agendas NOT on Clerk of Court and Comptroller website. Thanks for alerting me. Is this a possible Sunshine violation? I have sent the County my Request No. 2018-183, stating:
Good afternoon:
1. Re: AHAC and HFA (Affordable Housing Advisory Commission and Housing Finance Agency).
2. Please place BOTH these two (2) local housing boards' minutes and agendas on the Clerk's website.
3. I was recently criticized for not attending their meetings by a commenter on the Record's website.
http://www.staugustine.com/news/20180614/study-affordable-housing-out-of-reach-for-many-workers?start=2. (Comment of Artemis Kore)
4. Upon reviewing the website of the Clerk of Courts listing county meetings, the two boards are NOT listed.
http://www.sjcfl.us/county/AgendasMinutes.aspx
5. Why?
6. Does this omission violate our Florida Constitution and Sunshine laws?
7. Please remedy this at once.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com
Edward Adelbert Slavin
updated 10 days ago
1. How many times has County rubber-stamped developer demands to delete or omit affordable housing from Planned Unit Developments and Developments of Regional Impact?
2. How much money did Nocatee pay in exchange for dropping 40 acres of affordable housing?
3. $800,000%?
4. "Gadfly" is considered pejorative, although Folio Weekly has an award for "best gadfly." "Gadfly" is an ugly, n-word equivalent for First Amendment protected activity. Use of the word "gadfly" is an exercise in public shaming intended to direct ridicule and retaliation against the person(s who are so objectified, a chilling effect on First Amendment protected activity. The First Amendment is entitled to "breathing space," which is DENIED when maladroit government officials sharply bark at critics, like St. Augustine Beach City "Manager" Max Royle's attacks in June SAB events newsletter.
5. Robotic rote rodomontade -- like revealing use of the words "gadflies," "troublemakers," "whistleblowers." "malcontents" "disgruntled employees" and "outside agitators" is a confession. Such confessions are good for the soul of the body politic, like when President Richard Nixon's taped his use of the phrase "not a team player" in condemning Pentagon whistleblower A. Ernest Fitzgerald. Of course, this country was founded by "disgruntled citizens" and "gadflies."
6. True progress has been achieved more than 70 times since 2005 by "gadflies," here in St. Augustine. Thanks to people Tom Reynolds for speaking their minds. No thanks to a few misguided souls who abuse pejoratives like "gadfly" as branding to shame, mock and ridicule dissenters.
7. To those misguided souls who damn "gadflies," kindly remember that gadflies founded our country. We, the People, wear your scorn as a badge of honor. «
Bill Lazar
10 days ago
Reply to @Edward Adelbert Slavin: and Socrates was my favorite gadfly
ReynoldsRanting
10 days ago
OH BILL, you CALL ME A GADFLY,... OK, DEVELOPER PUPPET!
WHO TOLD YOU TO CALL ME THAT?
RACHEL BENNETT, the QUEEN DEVELOPER PUPPET who COULD NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION BECAUSE I EXPOSED HER for NEVER EVER DOING A THING for AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEVER DOING A THING FOR CHILDREN, NEVER DOING A THING FOR ANYONE BUT HER DEVELOPER BUDDIES!
YES, I KNOW SHE IS A BIG FAN OF YOURS BECAUSE YOU LET EVERY DEVELOPER GET OFF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS.
LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO YOU PHONY PIECE of CA CA! I HAVE DONE MORE EXPOSING of BAD PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THIS COUNTY THEN ANYONE ELSE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. I WILL WORK EXTRA HARD TO GET A REAL ST JOHNS HOUSING PARTNERSHIP. DIRECTOR. AND YOU WON'T BE THE FIRST DERELICT IDIOT I HAVE GOTTEN RID OF!
GOOD LUCK DEVELOPER MAGGOT! «
Bill Lazar
10 days ago
Reply to @ReynoldsRanting: but do you want to get involved in something constructive?aa
ReynoldsRanting
10 days ago
NOT WITH YOU CA CA for BRAINS ... YOU ARE THE ENEMY OF THE LOW-INCOME WORKER, the BLUE COLLAR WORKER, the LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZEN, the LOW-INCOME DISABLED AND the ENEMY od ALL WHO NEED LOWER HOUSING COSTS!
GO TRUMP YOURSELF, YOU GUTLESS COWARD LAZAR!
AFRAID TO STAND UP TO DEVELOPERS and DEVELOPER PUPPETS LIKE RACHEL BENNETT!
TR
ReynoldsRanting
11 days ago
IF THIS IS A SURPRISE YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A COMA!
THE BIGGEST FAILURE IN THIS COUNTY ON THIS ISSUE IS BILL LAZAR.
OLD LAZAR HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE DEVELOPERS PUPPET and LAZAR HAS NEVER STOOD UP TO or BEFORE THE COMMISSION
ASKING FOR HELP TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING!
STEP ONE IS TO FIRE BILL LAZAR!
STEP TWO IS TO HIRE SOMEONE WITH GUTS TO LOOK OUT FOR WORKING FOLKS.
and YES I AM AVAILABLE!
STEP THREE IS GET TO WORK and DEMAND the COUNTY COMMISSION USE ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE!
THANK YOU,
TOM REYNOLDS, a GUY WHO WILL GET THE JOB DONE! «
Bill Lazar
10 days ago
Reply to @ReynoldsRanting: Tom- It can't be any fun being a gadfly with no opportunity to make a real difference. I've heard your comments about me being in the pocket of developers, but we don't get much financial support from them so I'm not sure what you're imagining. If you're serious about working to make a difference, come on down .Everything the Housing Partnership does is performance driven, just like any business. We don't get paid if we don't produce. We provide home repairs to about 200 homes a year, operating as a non-profit construction company under my builders license. Since the hurricanes, we've doubled that contact, just trying to help people figure out how to get the help they need to rebuild. We are a HUD certified counseling agency that works with several hundred families a year to prevent foreclosure and improve credit. In the last seven years, we've bought and rehabbed 60 rental properties and rent them for at least $100-$200/month below market rent, and we're not embarrassed to show them to anyone. I'm always wiling to learn from anyone who knows something I don't. Why don't you show up, sell us on how you can make a difference and we'll consider hiring you? « less
ReynoldsRanting
10 days ago
OH BILL, you CALL ME A GADFLY,... OK, DEVELOPER PUPPET!
WHO TOLD YOU TO CALL ME THAT?
RACHEL BENNETT, the QUEEN DEVELOPER PUPPET who COULD NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION BECAUSE I EXPOSED HER for NEVER EVER DOING A THING for AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEVER DOING A THING FOR CHILDREN, NEVER DOING A THING FOR ANYONE BUT HER DEVELOPER BUDDIES!
YES, I KNOW SHE IS A BIG FAN OF YOURS BECAUSE YOU LET EVERY DEVELOPER GET OFF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS.
LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO YOU PHONY PIECE of CA CA! I HAVE DONE MORE EXPOSING of BAD PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THIS COUNTY THEN ANYONE ELSE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. I WILL WORK EXTRA HARD TO GET A REAL ST JOHNS HOUSING PARTNERSHIP. DIRECTOR. AND YOU WON'T BE THE FIRST DERELICT IDIOT I HAVE GOTTEN RID OF!
GOOD LUCK DEVELOPER MAGGOT! «
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