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Joseph earman4/6/2023 ![]() ![]() “Between 20, COVID brought more people to Florida and Indian River County to escape states that were more restrictive. “We are in a crisis now in the state of Florida, and it’s the free market that’s dictating prices,” says Indian River County Commissioner Joe Earman. And it touches everyone, because we rely on a vibrant workforce to provide vital functions, such as teaching our children and protecting us and our property, as well as performing necessary services in the retail, tourism, landscaping, home-repair, and medical support sectors. When salaries do not keep up with rising rents or home prices, a problem results. The standard rule for affordable housing is that a household pay no more than 30 percent of its gross income toward housing. ![]() “I went online and found a few houses to rent in the $1,000 to $1,500 a month range, and they have turned out to be scams. And if you find a more affordable apartment, there is a year waiting list.” “That’s just too much on one person’s salary,” she says. Most rentals she finds range from $2,100 to $2,500 a month. The single mother and her son are living with a friend because buying a home or renting an apartment is impossible. Just ask Christine Smith, a server at a local restaurant. The cost of renting, driven up by the same economic forces, is proving to be unaffordable for working residents with low to moderate incomes. Add the price of a small house, which has soared as a result of COVID and its aftermath, and homeownership may be out of reach. The down payment and credit considerations are the first issues to be faced. Many families seeking the American dream of homeownership, even with two working parents, have a problem in Indian River County. ![]() Restaurant server Christine Smith is struggling to find affordable housing in Indian River County for herself and her 12-year-old son, Mylz. ![]()
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