affordable housing and rents just took a major hit here (Tamiami: homes, job market)

[wondermint2]

Sarasota celebrates first ever veterans housing project

For full article:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/10/3...outputType=amp

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 25th St. in Newtown at 5 p.m. on Monday to celebrate the first ever veterans housing project in Sarasota.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation with the help of partners and generous donations are the ones bringing 10 rental units to help low-income veterans.

Senior Vice President of Gulf Coast, Jon Thaxton said they have invested over $7 million into helping homelessness and providing affordable housing. Thaxton said this project is small portion of that investment and they hope to have veterans in the rentals within the year.

“We’ve been able to identify around 100 veterans that are suffering from housing insecurity,” said Thaxton.

[Sunshine Rules]

New statistics out from Apartment List continue to show a decline in rental rates in the Sarasota - Manatee counties area. According to the report, estimated rental rates declined 1% in October, making it the 7th consecutive month that rental rates have declined.

[wondermint2]

Manatee Clerk & Comptroller thanks veterans with free copies, notary services, and more in November

https://www.manateeclerk.com/clerks-...free-services/

"In recognition of Veteran's Day, we are honoring military veterans and active-duty personnel by providing complimentary passport photos, notary services, and copies throughout November.

Complimentary copies include, but are not limited to, marriage licenses, deeds, court records, and more. Also, this includes certified copies.

Our office implemented this small token of appreciation to say thank you. "Our team expresses our gratitude to those who served our country to protect our freedoms," said Angel Colonneso, Manatee County Clerk & Comptroller. "Thank you, Veterans, for your service."

Applicants must provide a valid form of identification, including a DD214 or military ID, for the waived fees.

For more information on accessing the complimentary services, please call our office at (941) 749-1800."

[wondermint2]

Sarasota Chamber and community partners to host Affordable Housing Summit on Nov. 8

Free event to be held at 2 p.m. in Sarasota Memorial Hospital auditorium in Sarasota

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/saras...mmit-on-nov-8/

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, along with the Barancik Foundation, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the nonprofit CASL (Community Assisted and Supported Living) will host the Affordable Housing Summit in the auditorium on the main campus of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the Chamber has announced.

The address is 1700 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.

The event’s focus is bringing local business and community leaders together to support solutions that will lead to a greater supply of affordable housing stock in the region, a news release explains.

The summit will showcase speakers who will discuss national best practices in the realm of affordable housing, the release adds. It also will highlight unique insights from the local business community and young professionals about their experiences with the housing market and how it has affected their operations and careers, the release notes. Additionally, attendees can expect updates on Florida’s new Live Local Act “and gain a developer’s perspective on the pressing housing issue,” the release says.

The free event is scheduled from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Although there is no charge to participate in the summit, the release adds, attendees are asked to register by clicking here: https://web.sarasotachamber.com/even...-13611/details

For additional information, contact Heather Kasten, president/CEO of the Chamber, at hkasten@sarasotachamber.com.

[wondermint2]

This is a photo gallery from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. I can see it with my free registration but I'm not sure if there is a paywall for those that aren't registered.

Bradenton's Turning Points provides a remarkable variety of free services.

For photo gallery:

https://www.heraldtribune.com/pictur...s/71412529007/

Turning Points in Bradenton, Florida offers a unique array of free programs to help people and families achieve financial stability and independence. Turning Points is the community's one-stop shop for avoiding and decreasing homelessness. Day resource services (such as hot showers, laundry services, clothes, and food), job services, rental and utility aid, veteran's services (employment and housing), and free medical and dental treatment for the uninsured are all available. Visit tpmanatee.org for more information and details.

[wondermint2]

Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program, hampered by inflation, seeking Thanksgiving donations

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ma...ns/ar-AA1jn70k

he Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program is seeking turkey donations for Thanksgiving. Those who donate a turkey, a food gift card, or $10 will receive a T-shirt as part of the T-shirts for Turkeys campaign sponsored by The Joy FM (WJIS 88.1) radio station.

The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program will be collecting donations next week at several locations:

· Chick-Fil-A, 5384 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, 7:30-9:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 6.

· Chick-Fil-A, 4573 14th St. W., Bradenton, 5-7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 6.

· Chick-Fil-A, 8420 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8.

· Woodland Church, 9607 E. State Road 70, 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9.
Donations serve families in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Nonprofits are especially strapped this year with more people feeling the crunch of inflation. Since 1987, the Mayor’s Feed the Hungry Program has distributed over 600 tons of food and over $4.2 million in food gift cards to the hungry in Sarasota-Manatee. For information, visit mayorsfeedthehungry.org.

[wondermint2]

Another Loss for Affordable Housing Advocates

For full article:

https://thebradentontimes.com/storie...dvocates,60633

This week, the Bradenton City Council voted 3-1 to allow developers to erect taller residential buildings, ostensibly to encourage the development of more affordable housing. However, they also decided to temporarily remove the requirement that at least 25 percent of a building's units be designated affordable housing to receive additional height downtown.

Only Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore seemed to appreciate the irony in removing such a requirement, noting that building a bunch of market-rate units that are likely to be purchased by seasonal occupants did not seem to coincide with the needs of Bradenton's downtown whether expressed by residents or the supposed goals of city officials (councilman Josh Kramer was absent).

[wondermint2]

Big story on 60 Minutes about the Social Security overpayments fiasco (I've mentioned this problem previously in this thread).

Social Security recipients struggle to pay back agency after unexpected overpayments | 60 Minutes


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIYsZw0PtlI

[wondermint2]

Here's the 60 Minutes web page that includes a detailed written article along with the video.

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/soc...es-60-minutes/

I thought the part of the article in bold below - teaches such a wonderful lesson about what to do if you are wronged by a government agency or a business. Shame them by going public with your dispute! Go to newspapers, TV stations, news programs, also go public by posting negative reviews online, with the BBB, and other agencies.

All the people "60 Minutes" interviewed for this story had asked Social Security to waive their debts, and all of their requests had been denied. But after "60 Minutes" asked the agency about these cases, Social Security told the Swords, the Rodriguezes, and Roy Farmer that they would not have to pay the money back after all.

[wondermint2]

This opinion is from a letters to the editor column in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Build affordable housing, not Promenade

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...-to-siesta-key

A well-known local developer has a great opportunity to create the “solution” to several problems.

The corner of Stickney Point Road and U.S. 41, a gateway to Siesta Key and its famous beaches, is already a gridlock situation and the proposed Promenade development on the northwest corner will make it horrible.

What an opportunity to improve our city by instead creating beach/trolley parking and building a complex of really affordable small apartments for low-income and homeless citizens, most of whom don’t have cars.

The developer could make the property very attractive with a park-like setting that would not badly impact neighbors.

Tenants could walk to shopping, health care facilities and the beaches and access buses and trolleys to get to jobs.

We see a proliferation of storage facilities renting from 50 cents to $1 per square foot. Small apartment/studios could be built similarly, allowing rents to stay low like those facilities.

Our city needs affordable housing. Here is a place to start!