The City of Clearwater Affordable Housing Advisory Committee met on October 3, 2023, to discuss various initiatives aimed at improving affordable housing in the area. A significant focus of the meeting was on exploring potential incentives for landlords and understanding the current rental market dynamics influenced by rising taxes and insurance costs.

Committee members emphasized the need to research successful housing initiatives from other communities across Florida's 64 counties. They suggested that Clearwater could benefit from learning about programs that have proven effective in neighboring municipalities, particularly from St. Petersburg, which was highlighted as a leader in affordable housing solutions. The idea of inviting housing specialists from St. Petersburg to share their insights with Clearwater's committee was proposed as a valuable step forward.

The discussion also touched on the use of tax increment financing and other funding mechanisms to support affordable housing projects. However, members acknowledged that some existing programs face administrative hurdles, which could complicate their implementation.

While the committee recognized the importance of these discussions, it was agreed that there was insufficient time to fully develop these ideas for inclusion in the current document. Instead, they decided to table the topic for further exploration in future meetings of the Neighborhood Affordable Housing Advisory Board (NAHAB).

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue addressing these critical issues in upcoming sessions, aiming to create a more conducive environment for affordable housing in Clearwater.