ICARE Urges Mayor to Fund Affordable Housing Crisis with $10 Million Trust Jacksonville advocates from ICARE are demanding a $10 million affordable housing trust fund from Mayor Donna Deegan's office, citing a growing crisis in housing affordability. While the Mayor expressed commitment to doing her best, a specific dollar amount was not pledged, leaving the future of the fund uncertain as budget deliberations continue. Affordable housing advocates are amplifying their call for a $10 million dedicated trust fund, urging Mayor Donna Deegan to prioritize this critical resource in her upcoming budget. The Interfaith Coalition for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment, widely known as ICARE, has voiced significant concerns about the escalating housing costs impacting Jacksonville residents. During a recent assembly attended by approximately 800 individuals, ICARE representatives directly addressed the Mayor, emphasizing that housing affordability is the primary concern for the community. While Mayor Deegan did not commit to the specific $10 million figure requested, she assured attendees that she would 'commit to doing the very best I can' to address the issue. This pledge, however, falls short of a firm commitment, prompting ICARE to express its intention to collaborate closely with both the Mayor's office and the City Council to secure the necessary funding. The proposal faces a crucial hurdle as any city budget allocation requires approval from the City Council, which previously rejected a similar housing fund proposal in 2024. Advocates argue that the requested sum represents a modest fraction of the city's overall budget, approximately half a percent, and would serve as a vital starting point, citing examples of other municipalities that have made more substantial long-term investments in affordable housing. Joshua Hicks, Jacksonville's Director of Affordable Housing, underscored the importance of such city-backed funding, explaining that it is instrumental in bridging financial gaps that often impede the progress of affordable housing developments. He elaborated that affordable housing projects typically yield lower rental income compared to market-rate properties, creating a persistent deficit that requires intervention. Hicks detailed how the city, through federal and state funds, as well as public-private partnerships, works to cover this gap, often through loans that are eventually repaid. He further explained that a dedicated trust fund could support a multifaceted approach to housing assistance, encompassing down payment assistance programs, home repair initiatives, rental support, and crucial eviction prevention services. ‘ICARE asked for $10 million, and she was not able to commit to 10 million because we won’t know what the budget is going to look like for another month, month and a half,’ Hicks stated, adding that he anticipates the Mayor will allocate some funds during the budget process, but the exact amount remains undetermined due to ongoing budget deliberations. Current U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that the area median income in Jacksonville stands at $71,277. For individuals earning approximately half of this amount, around $35,000, housing expenses can consume over 65% of their income, illustrating the severe financial pressure many households are experiencing. Joy Viau, a member of ICARE's housing committee, passionately articulated the transformative potential of the trust fund, stating, ‘People need to know that this trust fund can change lives.’ She emphasized that the benefits would extend to a wide demographic, from seniors to recent college graduates and working individuals, with a particular focus on those with very low to low incomes. The current advocacy effort follows a setback when the City Council's Finance Committee decided to remove a proposed $10 million housing fund from the prior year's budget. The Deegan administration had previously indicated that the unfunded program had the potential to attract an additional $30 million in private investment and stimulate up to $120 million in housing development. It is anticipated that the proposed trust fund will be incorporated into the Mayor's forthcoming budget proposal, although the precise funding level is still to be finalized. The reporter, Tiffany, returns to Jacksonville, Florida, having previously worked at WBND in South Bend, Indiana. She is a graduate of Mandarin High School and the University of North Florida (UNF). Tiffany also completed an internship at WJXT and joined the station in 2023 as a Consumer Investigative Reporter and a member of the I-TEAM.