JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Human Rights Commission (JHRC) held a fair housing expo where people learned about affordable housing through workshops and panel discussions with experts.
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Home and mortgage rates continue to rise across the U.S., which is causing alarming concerns. Recently, the average long-term mortgage rate increased to almost 7%. A year ago, it averaged 6.2%
Renters and homeowners across the U.S. are taking fewer vacations, skipping meals, opting out of health care, and working a second job to have money for a home, according to Redfin.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $2.3 million to fair housing organizations in Florida to help promote fair housing and end discrimination.
Barry Farmer, a representative from JHRC, said the expo is a way for people to have a better understanding when it comes to housing.
“The Human Rights Commission and the city are doing their best to push down this information to people so we have a better understanding of how to move forward with home ownership and understanding what’s going on in the current market today,” Farmer said.
Farmer also said affordable housing is a serious topic in Jacksonville.
“It is extremely serious right now, I think we’ve had a couple of bills passed that make it even more of an issue and a concern. So definitely informing people about how to circumvent that is key,” Farmer said.
News4JAX insiders gave their thoughts on the affordable housing crisis.
“I am a mother of three, [I] bought my home in 2022 and the property taxes and insurance has gone up so much, I am currently facing foreclosure. I am a current Florida National Guard member and can’t make enough to keep up,” an Insider said.
Another Insider said, “Currently trying to purchase, and unfortunately do not qualify for a first-time homebuyer. I have basically no debt but with my salary, the debt to income is too high to afford anything that is decent.”