Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, March 28, 2024

Grassroots efforts to improve affordable housing and address flooding issues in Volusia County were the focus of the March 18, F.A.I.T.H. Assembly meeting at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Port Orange. F.A.I.T.H., an organization of faith-based members, is working with local government to improve residents' lives and address injustices in the community.

Virginia Bennett, a Daytona resident, shared her experience after Hurricane Ian ravaged her home in Big Tree Village, Midtown, stating, "It looked like the ocean. There were white caps on the lawns." Bennett's home suffered catastrophic damage, leading to several relatives living with her daughter for months.

Fran Owings of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Daytona Beach recounted her struggles after being displaced by flooding, saying, "Running out of money she ended up living in her car for six months."

F.A.I.T.H. is collaborating with elected officials to introduce low impact development (LID) requirements in new constructions and modifications to existing structures to mitigate flooding issues. Council Chair Jeff Brower and council member David Santiago have pledged support for a hybrid strategy linking new development incentives to LID strategies.

The Affordable Housing Committee is advocating for the establishment of a Housing Trust Fund in Volusia County to assist in creating, rehabilitating, and preserving affordable housing. The fund would be sustained by linkage fees to address the connection between new development and rising rent costs. F.A.I.T.H. secured commitments from Mayor Derrick Henry and Commissioners Ken Strickland and Paula Reed to pursue these fees with contributions from state, federal, and private sources for affordable housing initiatives.

The efforts of F.A.I.T.H. aim to address both flooding challenges and affordable housing issues in Volusia County through collaboration with local government officials and the implementation of sustainable solutions.