'Waitlists are long and the resources are already gone': Housing concerns stressed by LCS officials

City, county and schools officials came together for a meeting Wednesday to share ideas and concerns, the top of which was the ongoing push for more housing. 

They also discussed a push from Leon County commissioners to make the capital city more attractive for sports tourism and plans to to revitalize Tharpe Street and bring mental health resources to kids.

Leon County Schools staffers stressed the need for affordable housing in a meeting with city and county officials in the meeting.

Social workers with the district told City of Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey, Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox, City Manager Reese Goad and County Administrator Vince Long that housing was the most urgent concern among the children they serve.

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“The waitlists are long, and the resources are already gone,” said Kim Scott, director of student services.

Scott said they are helping 66% more students this year compared to last.

Superintendent Rocky Hanna said he invited the social workers so the city and county could hear directly from them about the city’s affordable housing crisis.

The social workers shared stories of students whose parents work but don’t make enough money to afford the salary that landlords are asking for on leases – a tenant must make three times the monthly rent.

“There’s just so much, and the supply isn’t there, and it’s frustrating,” said social worker Ruth Boykin.

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Goad touted the city’s efforts in bringing more rental units to Tallahassee and said the affordable housing is spread out through the city, it’s not in one location, so “it may not be so obvious to everyone,” he said.

City leaders mentioned two new developments, the Altera Apartments in Capital Circle and Magnolia Oaks, as opportunities for affordable housing. But local outreach to let residents know of these opportunities isn't centralized.

Other business

Maddox said he would like to see a community-wide push to provide resources for people to address mental health, particularly among school children.

He highlighted the fledgling work of the Council on the Status of Men and Boys, operated by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the hope that mental health resources can extend to young men. 

“These kids are dealing with mental health issues that we never had to worry about,” he said, noting the ubiquitousness of social media.

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“There's so much of a need there that we need to focus in on... How do we highlight to folks that your mental health is just as important as your physical health?”

Maddox also sought to bring in ideas from Hanna and School Board Chairwoman Alva Striplin as the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency begins work to put sidewalks on Tharpe Street.

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The long sought after project is slated to start this year. Maddox said he had concerns about fast tracking portions of it to provide safe walking access for grade school students and people who live and work along the corridor.

“How do we create transportation, multimodal options that are in the best interest of our students and the people who live off that street and try to get to work every day?” he asked.

Maddox, who launched a discussion at the county’s annual retreat last month about increasing sports tourism opportunities, said there may be a way to incorporate the school district’s Gene Cox Stadium and the Fairgrounds into the picture.

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Hanna agreed.

“We’re missing a huge opportunity,” he said.

Dailey said if anything was to happen at the fairgrounds, including discussions about moving it, the responsibility would lie upon the county and the independent body that operates the South Monroe facilities. 

“It is a complicated relationship to begin with,” Dailey said. “It all starts with the legal relationship between the county and the fairgrounds authority.”