JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As Jacksonville’s finance committee budget hearings continue, Councilman Matt Carlucci is advocating for the reinstatement of $3 million in funding for affordable housing.
The funds were previously removed, prompting Carlucci to address the finance committee chair directly during a meeting on Monday on workforce development.
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Councilman Raul Arias’ meeting initially focused on allocating $15 million toward education and workforce development. However, the conversation shifted when Carlucci raised concerns about the absence of affordable housing funding in the budget. Carlucci emphasized the importance of affordable housing.
“I’m trying to make the appeal to find, help me find that $3 million,” Carlucci said. “I am an at-large council member, so I deal with everybody in Jacksonville. And I have spoken to so many folks at different town meetings and places, and they’re struggling to find a home to live in.”
Carlucci gave News4JAX an email he had received from Joshua Hicks, Housing Liaison for the Deegan Administration.
In the email, Hicks shared a list of affordable housing projects and programs he said could benefit from $3 million in funding incentives, including JWB Tax Credit Affordable Housing Project (110 units), Normandy Cove Affordable Housing Project (144 units), and Town Center “Vestcor” Affordable Housing Project (240 units).
Finance committee chair Arias highlighted the availability of federal dollars for affordable housing, arguing that the focus should be on workforce development.
“There’s already a lot of federal dollars for that, but there’s nothing coming in for the workforce component of it,” Arias said.
The $15 million earmarked for workforce development would be distributed among FSCJ, UNF, the Northeast Florida Business Association, and the Workforce Training Center.
“So, we’re right now focusing on so many different parts of town that have to do with education, workforce,” Arias said. “To me, this is a piece of legislation that honestly, you don’t see quite often every single day.”
Arias emphasized the demand for trade jobs, noting that shortages in fields like HVAC and AC technicians lead to high service costs and long wait times.
“In my opinion, we definitely have a demand for this,” Arias stated. “There’s not enough. And sometimes you have to wait multiple days, if not a week, to have somebody come to your house to perform that service.”
Despite differing priorities, Carlucci and Arias shook hands at the end of the meeting, with Carlucci pledging support for Arias’ workforce development bill. Carlucci remains hopeful for answers on affordable housing funding.
“It’s a collegial thing, ‘I’ll help you with your goal. Try to help me with my goal,’” Carlucci said. “If he doesn’t find the money for me, I’m still going to help him on his bill. But if he doesn’t find the money for affordable housing, then I’ll go find it on my own.”
“We still have two more days of the budget hearing,” Arias said. “And once we get to wrap up, then will we’ll see where we stand with the budget. And if we have any more room for additional dollars for affordable housing.”
With more budget hearings scheduled this week, there may soon be clarity on the availability of funds for affordable housing.
As the city council navigates these discussions, the focus remains on balancing the needs of housing and workforce development to benefit Jacksonville residents.
