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Residents urge restoration of $10M for HOPE affordable housing fund at county hearing
Summary
Multiple public commenters called on commissioners to restore $10 million to the HOPE Affordable Housing Fund in the FY2025 budget, citing housing instability for teachers, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities and offering program outcomes since 2019.
Dozens of residents and community volunteers spoke during the Hillsborough County budget reconciliation public hearing on July 31, urging the Board of County Commissioners to restore a $10 million allocation to the HOPE Affordable Housing Fund.
Nicole McCutcheon told commissioners she asks that the $10,000,000 allocated for the Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Fund be kept in the 2025 county budget and described how her sister, a lead preschool teacher making about $18.50 an hour, struggles to afford local rent. “How are families of all income levels going to survive if qualified preschool teachers have to move out of the Tampa Bay area?” McCutcheon asked.
Speakers representing HOPE and faith groups framed the request as both a practical and moral imperative. Sheila Simmons Tribble, co‑chair of HOPE’s Affordable Housing Committee, said the $10 million could help create roughly 500 permanent supportive housing units tied to mental‑health services. Lois Price, a 20‑year HOPE volunteer, said since 2019 the county’s affordable‑housing fund helped create almost 1,200 units and that of the $48 million allocated since 2019 only $2 million remained uncommitted.
Other commenters — including Russell Miller, Ben Braver, Reverend Steve Blinder, Shirley Susich, Geraldine Rogers Toombs and John Day — described personal anecdotes about rent increases, the cost of living for seniors and workers, and the community benefits of stable housing. Their unified ask was that the board restore the HOPE fund to at least $10,000,000 in FY2025.
