Efforts to address affordable housing crisis in Daytona Beach

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Low-income families seeking affordable housing in Daytona Beach face significant challenges.”Affordable for them looks like $800 or $900,” said Lydia Gregg, executive director of Mid-Florida Housing Partnership.Gregg, whose nonprofit connects people to affordable housing, explained that many residents are being priced out of the market.According to Zillow, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is just over $1,300. In Daytona Beach, new apartment complexes continue to be built.The hope is that the market will stabilize as more apartments are constructed. However, that has not yet happened.”The law of supply and demand suggests that with all the new construction, prices should level off,” said Gregg.Renting a house is even more expensive than renting an apartment.”The cost of ownership—between taxes, insurance, and maintenance fees—has gone up because materials are more expensive, which means it costs owners more money,” said Ron Wysocarski, Wyse Home Team Realty.Affordable housing options remain scarce in Daytona Beach. On Wednesday, city commissioners are set to vote on two measures to address the issue.One measure would establish an impact fee, which would be charged to developers to fund the creation of more affordable housing.The other would allocate funds to help maintain the affordable housing that already exists.”We need an owner-occupied rehab program for low-income households. It’s an essential service,” said Gregg.Properties that don’t meet local code standards will receive repairs to their roof, plumbing, structure, and electrical systems. These repairs will help sustain the area’s affordable housing stock in the long term.

Low-income families seeking affordable housing in Daytona Beach face significant challenges.

“Affordable for them looks like $800 or $900,” said Lydia Gregg, executive director of Mid-Florida Housing Partnership.

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Gregg, whose nonprofit connects people to affordable housing, explained that many residents are being priced out of the market.

According to Zillow, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is just over $1,300. In Daytona Beach, new apartment complexes continue to be built.

The hope is that the market will stabilize as more apartments are constructed. However, that has not yet happened.

“The law of supply and demand suggests that with all the new construction, prices should level off,” said Gregg.

Renting a house is even more expensive than renting an apartment.

“The cost of ownership—between taxes, insurance, and maintenance fees—has gone up because materials are more expensive, which means it costs owners more money,” said Ron Wysocarski, Wyse Home Team Realty.

Affordable housing options remain scarce in Daytona Beach. On Wednesday, city commissioners are set to vote on two measures to address the issue.

One measure would establish an impact fee, which would be charged to developers to fund the creation of more affordable housing.

The other would allocate funds to help maintain the affordable housing that already exists.

“We need an owner-occupied rehab program for low-income households. It’s an essential service,” said Gregg.

Properties that don’t meet local code standards will receive repairs to their roof, plumbing, structure, and electrical systems. These repairs will help sustain the area’s affordable housing stock in the long term.