Leon County ranks eighth of 67 counties in Florida to have severe housing issues. The city and county are teaming up to address the issue through an affordable housing workgroup.
The health rankings survey describes severe housing problems including overcrowded and costly homes. Leon County’s Director of Community and Media Relations Mathieu Cavell says community partners are focused on improving living situations.
"At Leon County housing we have programs and services so that first time home buyers can get the home they want in the county and that also we can make repairs and rehabilitations to existing homes so that they are safer and more affordable for the folks who live here," Cavell says.
In the past year, Leon County and the city of Tallahassee arranged an affordable housing workgroup a collection of for-profit, nonprofit, and government agencies. They want to see lower rent costs and a better path to home ownership.
Cavell says, "that was considered by the housing workgroup as well, so the affordability of rental spaces. And in addition though affordable housing and the programs that we offer at the Leon County housing services is available for anyone who would want to transition from that rental living to a purchased home in the unincorporated area."
Meanwhile the city commission is having a discussion next week on affordable housing and identifies the matter as one of the top priorities for the year.