The Leon County Commission has taken a step to add a new member to its Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. This member will have experienced eviction or benefited from a rental assistance program.
The suggestion came from Stanley Sims, a Tallahassee resident who often attends local government meetings.
“I just think that in view of what’s going on in our community now, to give more substance to this board, we could find an applicant who is currently in a affordable housing situation or a HUD situation," said Sims. "And it would bring so much credibility to this advisory board.”
Commissioner David O’Keefe agreed and proposed the idea for a vote.
“It’s one of these ones where a citizen mentioned it, and I think, ‘I should have thought of that.’ ‘We should have thought of that,’" he said. "And so I’m glad that everyone voted unanimously with me to have staff look at it and see if this committee that is set by statute would allow us some wiggle room to establish that position.”
The committee is part of the State Housing Initiative Partnership, or SHIP program. It provides funds to counties to finance housing for families on moderate to very low incomes.
County Administrator Vince Long will look into the statute to see if the change is possible. The committee has to follow certain requirements to receive funding.
For example, it must have a member who is a for-profit provider of affordable housing -- and a citizen who advocates for those on low-incomes in need of housing.
