Housing Initiatives

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What is affordable housing?

Housing is considered affordable when a household spends no more than 30% of its gross monthly income on a home priced at fair market rate.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in the Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $24.63, about 21 percent below the nationwide average of $29.76. At the hourly, full time wage of $24.63, no more than $1,280 should go towards housing expenses. As of February 2024, the median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Port St. Lucie, FL is $2,575. This is +29% higher than the national average. (Zumper 2024).

It’s also important to note that affordable housing is not the same as public or Section 8 housing. Affordable homes look just like regularly priced homes except the cost is reduced to help working-class families that meet certain income criteria thrive in our community.

Who is in greatest need?
Teachers, emergency responders, government employees, nurses, and other working-class families and individuals.

Housing affordability impacts everyone, whether they realize it or not. In St. Lucie County, median home prices are among the highest in Florida. This has forced large segments of middle class and working class families to either live here un-affordably or live in other counties, where they spend their money on homes, groceries, gas, and other expenses. They are people such as teachers, teacher’s aids, nursing assistants, medical technologists, retail workers, government employees, emergency services providers, and law enforcement. All the while, they commute to jobs in St. Lucie County, which contributes to traffic congestion as well as negatively impacts quality of life and economic development.

Housing affordability is a legal obligation. Every unit of local government in Florida is required by law to provide for the housing needs of its entire community pursuant to the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act of 1985 (Chapter 163, Part II, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the Growth Management Act). The Growth Management Act sets certain requirements for each element in the plan. The requirements for housing are found in 163.3177 (6)(F), Florida Statutes.

The state, through a contract with the Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing, provides every local government with data showing how many units of homeownership and rental units are needed within the jurisdiction. Data can be found here.

Affordable housing improves the economic health of a community. Aside from the legal obligation to provide housing for the entire current and anticipated population, every local government in Florida should provide a mix of housing so that it can continue to grow economically. When new industries evaluate a prospective community, one of the factors they consider is whether adequate workforce housing is available. New industries provide jobs and a substantial ad valorem tax base. To attract new industry and raise the ad valorem tax base of a community through the development of nonresidential properties, there must be an adequate inventory of affordable housing.

For hardworking families and individuals, housing affordability is particularly crucial in an area like St. Lucie County. We need our emergency responders, nurses and teaching professionals to have a place to call home in the community where they work. This not only helps them and their families but, ultimately, it benefits all who live here.

^{Page Last Updated: July 17, 2024}

Surplus Property for Affordable Housing

During the 2023 Florida legislative session, Senate Bill 102, also known as the Live Local Act, was signed into law, amending Section 125.379, Florida Statutes. By October 1, 2023, and every three years thereafter, each county shall prepare an inventory list of all real property within its jurisdiction to which the county or any dependent special district within its boundaries holds fee simple title, and which is appropriate for use as affordable housing. The bill also requires local governments to maintain a public written policy outlining procedures for expediting permits and development orders for affordable housing projects. Please see municode Section 11.02.03.

The following properties have been identified as appropriate for affordable housing.

Address	Parcel ID	Legal Description
5802 Winter Garden Parkway, FP	1301-613-0089-000-6	LAKEWOOD PARK-UNIT 11- BLK 140 LOT 5 (MAP 13/12N) (OR 4019-854)
3509 Avenue I, FP	2404-608-0157-000-7	GARDEN CITY FARMS 05 35 40 FROM NW COR OF TRACT 102 RUN E 150FT, TH S 30FT FOR POB, TH RUN E 240 FT, TH S 135 FT, TH N135FT TO POB (72) (0.74AC)
4913 Palm Drive, FP	3402-608-0172-000-5	INDIAN RIVER ESTATES-UNIT 07- BLK 43 LOT 28 (MAP 34/02N)
Birch Drive, FP	3402-608-0180-000-4	INDIAN RIVER ESTATES-UNIT 07- BLK 45 LOT 3 (MAP 34/02S)
Birch Drive, FP	3402-608-0376-000-5	INDIAN RIVER ESTATES-UNIT 07- BLK 50 LOT 28 (MAP 34/02S)
5507 Seagrape Drive, FP	3402-609-0049-000-7	INDIAN RIVER ESTATES-UNIT-08- BLK 23 LOT 36 (MAP 34/11N)
Hickory Drive, FP	3402-609-0436-000-7	INDIAN RIVER ESTATES-UNIT-08- BLK 63 LOT 38 (MAP 34/11S)
5606 Spruce Drive, FP	3402-610-0100-000-7	INDIAN RIVER ESTATES-UNIT 09- BLK 73 LOT 17 (MAP 34/12N)

The properties identified as appropriate for use as affordable housing on the inventory list adopted by the county may be used for affordable housing through a long-term land lease requiring the development and maintenance of affordable housing; offered for sale and the proceeds used to purchase land for the development of affordable housing or to increase the local government fund earmarked for affordable housing; sold with a restriction that requires the development of the property as permanent affordable housing; or donated to a nonprofit housing organization for the construction of permanent affordable housing. Alternatively, the county or special district may otherwise make the property available for use for the production and preservation of permanent affordable housing.

Blue Sky Landing

On October 27, 2017, St. Lucie County was escheated a 9.16-acre parcel located on McNeil Road. In an effort to address the county's shortage of affordable housing, an advertisement to solicit qualified, licensed and insured developers to develop a multifamily affordable housing community on the site was issued on October 21, 2019. The sole responder to the RFQ was Blue Sky Communities, LLC.

Phase I was completed in November of 2023 and will consist of 82 units. The remaining 82 units were completed in April of 2024. The community features a clubhouse, pool, gazebo, and tot lot.

For more information visit, https://www.blueskylanding.com/

Partnership with Habitat to Build Homes

In September of 2021, St. Lucie County acquired a 2.2 acre parcel of residential property located at 5005 Deleon Avenue in Lakewood Park. In an effort to address the need for affordable housing, the County issued a Request for Qualifications in November of 2021. St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity was the sole responder. Habitat has began construction on ten townhomes on the parcel to be made available to homebuyers earning 80% of the Area Median Income or below. A Community Land Trust model of ownership will allow for long term affordability.

HOME Investment Partnership Program ARP

This is a special allocation of HOME funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Funds can be used for the following activities.

Production or Preservation of Affordable Housing
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
Supportive Services, Homeless Prevention Services, and Housing Counseling
Purchase and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter

Congress authorized the use of HOME-ARP funds to provide housing, shelter, and services to specific qualifying populations (QPs). These four QPs are:

1. Homeless as defined in 24 CFR 91.5;

2. At risk of Homelessness as defined in 24 CFR 91.5;

3. Fleeing, or Attempting to Flee, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, or Human Trafficking2 (referred to herein as domestic violence/sexual assault/trafficking); and,

4. Other populations who do not qualify under any of the populations above but meet one of the following criteria:

A. Other Families Requiring Services or Housing Assistance to Prevent Homelessness

B. Those At Greatest Risk of Housing Instability

The County is currently in the process of identifying a project.

St. Lucie County, FL

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Housing Initiatives