Saturday, May 5th
11:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Tampa residents are coming together on May 5th to hold a press conference to demand that local electoral candidates make affordable housing a priority. This press conference is one of many actions around the country demanding action on affordable housing as part of National Housing Week (May 1-8), first started by the nonprofit organization Our Homes Our Voices.
Here in Tampa, development is at an all-time high, but affordable housing is not a priority of developers, nor most of our current elected leaders. An increasing number of people, including veterans, nurses, teachers, and students, are competing for a shrinking pool of affordable housing units. Workers need a place to live that is close to their jobs. This is particularly true in a city with dismal public transit options.
Over 1,000 units of affordable housing have been torn down in the downtown Tampa area in the past 5 years, but developers are not required to replace what they destroy. Common sense policies should be passed that require developers to build at least as many affordable housing units that they remove. Election season is right around the corner. Leaders at all levels of local government must recognize the importance of affordable housing to the economic and social vitality of our city, and must make regulations that facilitate the development of affordable housing a reality.
Who: Our Homes Our Voices, Transit Now Tampa Bay, Organize Florida, Hillsborough Community Protection Coalition, Sex Worker Solidarity Network, Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, Sky White for Board of County Commission
Where: Sidewalk in front of vacated North Blvd. Homes affordable housing complex at intersection of Main Street and Willow Avenue
Please Note: The survey, was conducted by Murphy’s former pollster and paid for by an unnamed Murphy supporter.
