Southwest Florida Housing Market Straining Social Services, Area Charities

The impact of home prices is greater than you think.

Social service agencies in some counties say a Southwest Florida housing market that’s pricing more families out of their homes is leaving them struggling to keep up with all the people who need help.

The closing of a Sarasota soup kitchen, a newly-instituted crackdown on the homeless in Manatee County and Sarasota County, and a supermarket chain’s decision to limit outdated food items given to charity also are threatening local agencies as the holiday season nears.

“There is enough wealth in those counties to keep these agencies alive,” said Michael Stoops, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. “This just should not be happening.”

Part of the problem, according to Ana Romilo of the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition, is the rising price of… just about everything.

Not just the prices of the homes themselves, but the energy costs that you can’t avoid paying, along with property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

The problems of the region are extending beyond rising Florida mortgage costs for thousands. Many social service groups are finding children and families, or the working poor, on their doorsteps in need of a break.

“Everything is so expensive. The rent is up, taxes are up, insurance is up. What are these people to do?” Romilo asked.

Hopefully, there will be greater progress made in the integral area of affordable housing, as well as adequate funding for groups that help the less fortunate.