Dear Mayor Dailey: Affordable Housing Isn’t Just Nice — It’s Necessary

I’ll never forget driving to class one morning and passing a small cluster of tents not far from campus. One girl sat quietly beneath a tarp, textbooks spread out in the dirt. She looked tired—like she had already studied all night, but not rested at all. I walked by, heart thudding, realizing that this moment could’ve been me, or my roommate, or anyone balancing school and rent. That’s when it hit me: if our mayor asked what should be the top local issue to tackle, my answer would echo in that girl's hollowed eyes: affordable housing.

Because when you don’t have a place to sleep, everything else class, work, hope and falls apart.

Why Housing Must Be the Top Priority in Tallahassee

Tallahassee’s housing challenge isn’t abstract—it’s massive. The metro area needs 187,283 housing units to meet demand, yet only 172,558 currently exist, leaving a gap of 14,725 homes.PadSplit To worsen matters, workers need to earn 38.6% more than the city’s median income of $28,975 just to afford median rent of $1,311.PadSplit

For lower-income households, the need is direr: Leon County is projected to face a shortage of 13,100 affordable units by 2030 for families earning under $35,000.buildflorida2030.com

Amid this, students—making up 35% of the population—are squeezed the hardest. Rent rose 8% in 2023, while incomes barely budged, making affordability even more out of reach.The Famuan

What’s Already Being Done — And Why More Is Needed

Tallahassee is building momentum. The Lafayette Gardens complex—with rents ranging from $389–$1,112—opened thanks to $16 million in federal tax credits, offering modern homes to low- and moderate-income residents. The city is also advancing inclusionary housing policies, requiring 10% of units in large developments be affordable.Talgovpsft.talgov.com

Moreover, the new Ridge Road Flats, a 250-unit rent-restricted complex for households earning up to 70% of AMI, just opened south of the city.Wikipedia Leon County has allocated $750,000 for home rehabilitation and approved 158 affordable units under its “Live Local Act.”heretallahassee.com And the city’s creative use of $500K in SHIP funding leveraged over $5.2 million in affordable housing stock, plus $750K in support for new homebuyers.Talgov

These are important wins—but they’re not enough to close the massive gap.

Why It Matters—For Our City, Our Students, Our Future

When housing costs spiral:

  • Students drop out or endure crippling stress.

  • Essential workers—nurses, grocery clerks, teachers—struggle to live where they work.

  • Emergency services and shelters bear the rising cost burdens.

Fixing housing isn’t just morally right—it’s economically smart. Safe, stable housing reduces health costs, strengthens the workforce, and lifts the local economy.

What Tallahassee Can Do—Starting Now

Here’s my action plan:

1. Expand Inclusionary Requirements & Incentives
Raise the affordable-unit requirement in large developments. Offer tax breaks or fast-track permits to builders who exceed that baseline.

2. Empower “Housing First” & Rapid Construction Models
Pilot modular “pallet housing” for immediate shelter, like Governor Dailey has advocated, while investing in long-term “Housing First” support.Wikipedia

3. Use City Land Strategically
Repurpose city-owned lots for infill affordable housing—partnerships like Lafayette Gardens show this works.

4. Boost Support for Low-Income Homeownership
Expand down payment aid, rehab programs, and community land trust models so families can build equity affordably.Talgov+1

Visuals That Speak Volumes

(Shown above) Powerful imagery can spark empathy and action:

  • A chart showing the housing gap.

  • Photos contrasting new affordable complexes with nearby encampments.

  • Visuals of student life disrupted by housing insecurity.

These images say: “This is here. This is real. Solutions are urgent.”

Call to Action: A Message to Mayor Dailey—and Our Community

Mayor Dailey, you’ve made tremendous progress, but the housing crisis demands relentless urgency. Let housing be your administration’s legacy.

To my fellow students & residents:

  • Volunteer with local housing nonprofits.

  • Write your city commissioner—ask, What are you doing to create affordable units?

  • Support ballot initiatives or policies that invest in housing, even if they carry a small cost—they pay dividends in community strength.

Here’s where to start locally:

  • CESC (Connecting Everyone with Second Chances) – provides programs like The Dwellings and Kearney Center.Tallahassee State College

  • Leon County Homeownership Development Program – grants up to $100K to support low-income first-time buyers.Tallahassee State College

  • City of Tallahassee Housing Programs – from rehab loans to inclusionary housing support—found through Talgov’s housing division.Talgovpsft.talgov.com

References

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