United Way of Indian River County held the latest installment of its Powered by Purpose Speaker Series on January 23, hosted by Northern Trust. The event focused on housing challenges in the community and featured two distinguished speakers: Chris Balter, Director of Planning & Development Services for Indian River County, and Jeff Francisco, Chief Strategy Officer for Indian River Habitat for Humanity.
The Powered by Purpose Speaker Series is designed to educate and engage community members on pressing issues, fostering collaboration, and highlighting actionable solutions. The event on housing delved into the history, current challenges, and potential solutions for the housing crisis in Indian River County.
Jeff Francisco provided a historical overview of housing in Indian River County, noting that during the recession, Habitat for Humanity was the county’s leading home builder. He highlighted the rise in housing costs and the compounding challenges of inflation, insurance costs, and increased demand from single-earner households entering the market in 2010.
Chris Balter emphasized the stark reality that 50% of renters in Indian River County are cost-burdened, spending a significant portion of their income on housing. He outlined potential solutions to address these challenges, including:
- Increasing housing supply through density and zoning adjustments.
- Waiving impact fees for affordable housing developments.
- Expediting permitting processes.
- Establishing a housing trust fund.
- Offering employer incentives to offset costs like childcare.
Both speakers encouraged attendees to advocate for legislative changes, particularly in areas like insurance reform and housing legislation.
United Way of Indian River County’s efforts, such as supporting the creation of a Community Land Trust through Coalition for Attainable Homes, were praised for convening leaders and driving meaningful progress toward sustainable and affordable housing solutions.
“This series is about bringing together experts, community leaders, and residents to tackle the challenges we face collectively,” said Meredith Egan, Chief Executive Officer for United Way of Indian River County. “Housing is a vital issue, and we’re proud to host discussions that can lead to impactful action.”
