Affordable Housing in Walton County

Walton Sun:

As the value of real estate skyrockets in the Panhandle, ?affordable housing? has become a buzzword in Walton and neighboring counties.
?We?re not talking
about teachers and police officers,? Executive Director of Walton County Housing Ingrid Burmeister said. ?It?s those working at McDonald?s or the elderly.?
?Affordable housing? is often defined as not costing the occupant more than 30 percent of his or her total income. For someone making $10 an hour, that would equal roughly $480.
Housing and Urban Development attempts to make housing affordable for those on low or reduced incomes through vouchers. Approximately 60 HUD vouchers have been given to Walton County residents that have yet to be used.
The rental seekers can?t find anything because so many rental properties have been taken off the market, Burmeister said. ?Landlords are just selling their units.?
Angella, who asked her last name not be used, is a single mother working towards a degree. Without assistance from HUD she couldn?t afford to live in Walton County.
?It?s getting more expensive. If it weren?t for HUD, I wouldn?t be able to pay the bills,? Angella said.
Walton County?s housing problem is ?not unique,? since housing around the country is rising. However, the problem generally occurs in large metropolitan areas, HUD spokesperson Donna White said.
To help alleviate the problem locally, the Walton County Board of Commissioners voted to pursue the purchase of state land to provide workforce housing.
The BCC?s approval was necessary for the Walton Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization, to begin negotiating the purchase of state land to create a community land trust, Chairman Joe Burton said.
?We?re structured to work with local and state to make this a reality,? he said.
Seven lots listed located north of 393 and a 10-acre parcel off of J.D. Miller Road are currently being investigated. The land tracts are not contiguous with any state park lands, Burton said.
Many within the county are concerned that a lack of affordable housing may thwart Walton County?s economic growth.
?If we can?t find housing that?s attainable, then we?re going to be severely limited to what we can do in the future,? Commissioner Cindy Meadows said.
?A lack of employees is linked to affordable housing,? Burton said.
Groups continue to discuss affordable housing, but ?I don?t know where those homes are at,? Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen said. ?How can a medium income family find a home??
?It?s an issue we?ve got to deal with,? Meadows said. ?I think we?re at the critical stage now.?