JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville city leaders are rolling out a new tool designed to give residents a clearer picture of the city’s ongoing efforts to address the affordable housing crisis.
Mayor Donna Deegan announced the launch of the city’s Affordable Housing Dashboard, an online platform that tracks affordable and workforce housing projects across Jacksonville.
Deegan called housing affordability one of the city’s most pressing issues, and many residents have voiced similar concerns — particularly about rising rent costs and a lack of affordable options.
The new dashboard allows the public to see where new affordable and workforce housing projects are being built, how many units are available, and what progress has been made since Deegan took office.
“This is our new Affordable Housing Dashboard, and one of the first things it shows is what Mayor Deegan has done since she was elected,” Joshua Hicks, the city’s affordable housing director, said. “It gives residents a way to see the progress for themselves.”
Hicks said the city has tracked nearly 6,400 multifamily units since Deegan took office. That includes about 5,000 affordable units for people earning around $54,000 a year and roughly 800 workforce housing units for middle-income earners.
The dashboard also includes an interactive map showing affordable housing projects in 10 of Jacksonville’s 14 City Council districts, with plans to expand citywide by early next year.
“One of the things folks can look at if they’re moving to Jacksonville is where affordable housing developments are popping up,” Hicks said. “As we add more data and features, people will be able to use it as a one-stop shop for finding housing.”
City leaders estimate Jacksonville’s housing shortfall remains at about 50,000 affordable units, even as the city adds roughly 17,000 new residents each year.
Developers plan to update the site monthly, adding new features such as developer searches and neighborhood maps.
“Our goal is for this to be a living tool — one people can use to find housing and one that shows we’re serious about increasing supply across Jacksonville,” Hicks said. “Times are tough for a lot of people. Inflation is high and prices have gone up, so we need to make sure affordable housing is available.”
City officials said the dashboard will continue to evolve, with new charts, data and features added regularly. The project was developed by city employees.