{"id":954879,"date":"2026-07-23T22:01:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T22:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/954879\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T22:01:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T22:01:26","slug":"jacksonville-rejected-a-10m-housing-trust-fund-2-years-ago-the-city-is-trying-again-heres-the-programs-it-would-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/954879\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacksonville rejected a $10M housing trust fund 2 years ago, the city is trying again. Here\u2019s the programs it would fund"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\"><strong>JACKSONVILLE, Fla.<\/strong> \u2013 Mayor Donna Deegan is asking the Jacksonville City Council to approve $11 million for affordable housing and homelessness initiatives in the city\u2019s proposed budget, marking a significant increase after affordable housing funding was largely scaled back during the past two budget cycles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news4jax.com\/topic\/Addressing_A4dability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.news4jax.com\/topic\/Addressing_A4dability\/\">Click here for more Addressing A4dability coverage.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The proposal includes $6.3 million dedicated to affordable housing programs, with the largest share, $4.9 million, used to launch Jacksonville\u2019s first Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The remaining funding would support homelessness services and housing-related initiatives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The money would help pay for:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 etvbxt font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\">\n<p>Down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\">\n<p>Incentives for developers to build affordable housing. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\">\n<p>Utility connection costs for new developments helping keep rents lower.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">$1,000,000 is proposed to fund the city\u2019s emergency rental assistance and eviction diversion program. According to the city, the program has helped more than 650 families avoid eviction over the past two years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Another $400,000 would fund heirs\u2019 property assistance through LISC Jacksonville, helping families preserve inherited homes and prevent properties from being lost or sold outside the family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">City leaders say the investment is intended to increase affordable housing, help more residents become homeowners, prevent evictions and create a long-term funding source to address Jacksonville\u2019s housing shortage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Affordable Housing Director Joshua Hicks said Thursday that the city faces a shortage of 47,000 affordable housing units. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">\u201cThis budget about what can we do today to address the problems of tomorrow,\u201d Hicks told News4JAX. \u201cThe problems tomorrow is generating the supply that we need to ensure that we\u2019re building enough affordable housing to compliment the workforce and market rate housing that we are building.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The proposed trust fund would be seeded with $4.9 million this year and is designed to become a permanent source of local housing dollars rather than relying solely on annual budget negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>Filling the workforce housing gap<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">One of the most anticipated pieces of the proposal is the return of Jacksonville\u2019s locally funded down payment assistance program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The program was last funded during the 2023-24 budget but was not included after most of the city\u2019s affordable housing funding requests were cut in last year\u2019s budget. In 2025, the City Council ultimately approved just $900,000 for affordable housing initiatives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Without local funding, the city has relied on its federally funded down payment assistance program, which is limited to households earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or below. That currently equals $60,880 annually for one person or $86,960 for a family of four.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Eligible buyers can receive up to $25,000 in assistance through the federal program, which serves roughly 100 to 150 households each year. Participants are also required to complete home maintenance and financial education courses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Because federal rules cap eligibility at 80% AMI, many working residents earn too much to qualify but still cannot afford to buy a home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The mayor\u2019s proposal would fill that gap by creating a locally funded program for households earning 81% to 120% of the Area Median Income, which is about $61,000 to $91,320 annually for one person or $94,000 to $140,880 for a family of four.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The proposed program would provide up to $15,000 in down payment assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers and is expected to help another 100 to 125 households if the City Council approves the proposed $1.5 million allocation. Participants would also complete homeownership education before purchasing a home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">\u201cDown payment assistance program, rental assistance programs, and other eviction diversion programs allows people to stay housed who are currently in financial need,\u201d Hicks said. \u201cThat\u2019s vitally important.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Hicks said the goal is to help teachers, nurses, police officers and other working professionals who make too much for federal assistance but still struggle to afford today\u2019s housing market.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">He also said increasing homeownership benefits the broader housing market by helping renters transition into ownership, freeing up rental units while allowing families to build long-term wealth through homeownership.<\/p>\n<p>Looking beyond one budget cycle<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The proposed trust fund also represents a different approach than previous affordable housing proposals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Two years ago, a proposed $10 million affordable housing trust fund failed to win City Council approval. Last year, most of the administration\u2019s affordable housing request was removed from the budget.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">This year, the Deegan administration is proposing both the funding and companion legislation to formally establish the trust fund, with the long-term goal of creating recurring revenue that would continue supporting affordable housing beyond future budget cycles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">If approved, Jacksonville would join several Florida communities, including Miami, Orlando, St. Petersburg and Pinellas County that already operate affordable housing trust funds. Housing advocates say those dedicated funds provide stable, long-term local funding to build and preserve affordable housing rather than depending on annual budget decisions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The City Council will consider the proposal during this year\u2019s budget hearings.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Mayor Donna Deegan is asking the Jacksonville City Council to approve $11 million for affordable&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":954880,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5136],"tags":[16547,29397,852,5229,5310,10083,3188,723,7065,7310,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-954879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jacksonville","tag-addressing-a4dability","tag-addressing-affordability","tag-affordable-housing","tag-america","tag-city-council","tag-donna-deegan","tag-fl","tag-florida","tag-housing","tag-jacksonville","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/954879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=954879"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/954879\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/954880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=954879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=954879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=954879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}