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Community groups press council to boost Affordable Housing Trust Fund to keep HUD awards local
Summary
Lee Interfaith and other housing advocates urged the City of Fort Myers to increase the Affordable Housing Trust Fund contribution from $750,000 to $1,000,000 so sixteen developer projects can keep federal HUD awards and proceed with construction of workforce multifamily housing.
Several speakers representing Lee Interfaith for Empowerment and affordable‑housing advocates asked the council to increase the city's contribution to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to speed multifamily housing projects and prevent the loss of federal HUD funding.
Dottie Morrison, chairperson of the Affordable Housing Committee for Lee Interfaith, told the council that since the trust fund's enactment in 2022 the fund has supported rental vouchers for over 200 families and provided gap funding for projects such as Saint Clare. "Approving the increase to the trust fund to $1,000,000 will build up the fund and enable you to say yes," Morrison said. Patricia Zimmerman and other advocates explained that 16 developers have properties ready to begin construction but need local gap financing and waivers to close deals.
Council discussion accepted the policy goal but several members requested that finance staff include the change in the budget workshop to ensure revenue projections support the increase before formal appropriation.
