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Moving on up is hard to do

A county task force hears residents vent about the lack of affordable housing.

By JOSH ZIMMER
Published June 10, 2005

UNIVERSITY NORTH - Thousands of people in Hillsborough County need affordable housing, experts say.

They may seek an apartment or, as in the case of Maria McNabb, a single-family home. The goal is a better life, but that isn't easy when the sole source of income is a husband who earns $8 an hour as a security guard for the University of South Florida.

The McNabbs and their three children live at an apartment complex at Bearss Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

McNabb told members of the county's affordable housing task force Monday night that she'd like her children to grow up with more stability.

"Me and my husband, we have goals, and one of them is to move into a house next year," said McNabb, who is pregnant with her fourth child.

The county is trying to come to grips with an ongoing housing deficit, one that could easily get worse as Hillsborough's population grows.

Alarmed by the problem, County Commissioner Tom Scott convinced other commissioners to form the task force, which began holding meetings with private and public sector experts in recent months. Monday's meeting at the University Area Community Center on N 22nd Street was residents' first opportunity to comment on their situations. About 100 people attended, though few spoke.

"Affordable housing has become a crisis, particularly in our community," Scott said before hearing a sobering report from Bart Banks, who manages the social services program of the county's Department of Health and Social Services.

The department oversees the county's Section 8 program, which receives $13.2-million from the federal government to help nearly 2,000 people pay rent.

But Banks noted that 1,200 people are on the waiting list for assistance and likely won't receive help for two years. He predicted that federal aid will decrease despite the need.

Task force members are interested in drawing banks into the effort. While banks offer different incentives, many people don't qualify because they earn too little money and have poor credit scores.

Mary Driskell said her disabled son earns enough money to pay rent and utilities. But he can work only part time, which means his income can't satisfy the banks, she said.

The county offers up to $40,000 in down payment assistance to first-time home buyers. Loan officer Helen Ribeiro didn't address the task force, but she said afterward that people should try to get their foot in the housing market and build up a good credit rating by paying their bills. Later on, they can take advantage of private industry incentives, such as zero money down.

Lenders will be invited to one of the upcoming task force meetings, Scott said. He wants to present the commission with a final report on the group's findings by next spring.

Elder care advocate Austin Curry said government needs to do more to help people obtain housing.

"We have a number of elderly subsisting on Social Security checks of $300, $400 a month," he said. "It's absurd. They're one emergency room visit away from homelessness."

Josh Zimmer can be reached at 269-5314 or zimmer@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 9, 2005, 10:29:11]