Guest Commentary | Beyond a temporary fix: Housing Authority is building lasting solutions
The demand for affordable housing continues to rise across the region as countless families and individuals work to overcome barriers to accessing safe and secure housing.
However, people in need of affordable housing options don’t need a bandage to temporarily fix their problems, but rather a lasting affordable housing solution that empowers them to move beyond their circumstances and thrive.
Serving on the board of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers for the past seven years, I’ve seen that the Housing Authority is committed to providing just that – a permanent foundation that offers residents stability and opportunities to prosper.
Throughout nearly four decades of not-for-profit work in Southwest Florida, I saw first-hand the need for affordable housing in our region and that there simply was not enough affordable housing in our area. Many of the individuals and families I served over the years barely met the living wage and had a difficult time with stability, especially if they had children. They needed a lot of additional resources and services besides just housing.
The Housing Authority leverages long-time connections with many local nonprofits and resource centers to gather and bring resources directly to residents without them having to leave their community. Throughout this process, the Housing Authority and its partners ensure residents have the resources they need to succeed while the Housing Authority provides and manages the housing component.
Additionally, the Housing Authority offers two programs to its residents including the Jobs Plus Initiative and the Family Self-Sufficiency program. Jobs Plus addresses employment needs among public housing residents by incentivizing and enabling employment and providing services designed to support job readiness and retention. Jobs Plus works one-on-one with residents, guiding them through the employment process and providing continuous support as residents achieve their employment-related goals.
The Family Self-Sufficiency program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program designed to help public housing residents, Housing Choice Voucher participants and residents of multifamily assisted housing to increase their earnings and build assets and financial capability. Through the guidance of a case manager, residents receive help with job searches, an escrow savings account, credit counseling, budget preparation, homeownership counseling and much more.
Both programs require residents to remain stable and committed until completion. To ensure this happens, the staff works with and regularly checks in with families and holds them accountable in maintaining that stability so the family can function and be successful.
I’ve learned throughout my career that you can have a wonderful nonprofit mission, but an organization cannot accomplish its mission without an impactful leader that can effectively run an organization and deliver true solutions. Drawn to the Housing Authority’s impactful mission and strong executive leadership, I have found my time with HACFM to be both a rewarding and eye-opening experience.
What I’ve seen through the Housing Authority is that it doesn’t just provide people with a bandage. It doesn’t take residents into its communities with the goal of housing them forever. Staff walk alongside residents to work through each unique situation and provide them with the resources they need to thrive.
Not every situation is the same and shouldn’t be treated as such. Some residents may end up staying in Housing Authority communities due to their age, potential disability, veteran status and other factors that make them more vulnerable. However, the Housing Authority offers its residents paths to become homeowners or become more financially independent. Whatever journey the resident may end up taking, they’ll be provided with options and support to overcome their circumstances.
That’s why I choose to champion the Housing Authority’s mission. I am proud to see how lives can be transformed through the power of a helping hand, and I hope to witness the change for generations to come.
Meg Geltner has served on the board of commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers for seven years. She has been a pioneer in the social work profession developing programs including residential and outpatient services for rehabilitation, affordable housing and a primary care clinic. Her advocacy work both statewide and locally has made lasting changes over the years to the health of the disadvantaged through advocacy, education, and research. The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers and its nonprofit development arm, the Southwest Florida Housing Foundation, serve as a catalyst for expanding access to safe, stable and sustainable housing throughout Southwest Florida. Together, the organizations support individuals, families and seniors across the region by connecting them with affordable housing solutions and associated programs tailored to their needs. For more information visit HACFM.org.