NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The New Port Richey City Council is expected to consider a ban on motels in its highway commercial zoning district along the U.S. 19 corridor.
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According to the proposed ordinance, many of the hotels along this stretch of highway have been converted to short-term transient lodging.
“I know of one case that we’ve come across where a family has been living – a family – has been living in a motel room for two and a half years,” City Manager Debbie Manns said.
Manns said this seems to happen in a number of ways. Some people have evictions on their records and are turned away by landlords. Others may have fallen on hard times and can’t afford the deposits needed to secure an apartment. Manns said that can become even more difficult after people facing this circumstance begin their motel stay, which can cost close to $300 per week.
“It’s just beyond sub-standard in terms of the conditions that these people are living in, and sinful, in my opinion, how much money they’re paying to stay there,” Manns said.
Affects on surrounding businesses
According to Manns, the city has also heard complaints from nearby businesses about problems caused by such long-term lodging.
“I wouldn’t say that it’s affecting us badly, but, you know, it could be cleaned up, for sure,” said Charles Coriaty, who works at The Legends Barbershop, next door to Green Key Beach Motel.
“We do hear from our clientele that comes in that there’s a lot of traffic coming in and out, a lot of police there all the time,” said Jose Tejada, manager of The Legends. “There’s consistently situations going on over there.”
Jay Patel, manager of the Royal Palm Inn, said he has a couple of guests who’ve stayed with him for a few months. Still, he said his motel is not a transient facility.
“A lot of people would be on the street with their kids, homeless, because they cannot afford the first month and last month pay rent,” Patel said.
Symptom of a larger problem?
Patel also noted New Port Richey is not the only area with this problem.
“You go all the way down 19 from Hudson, you go to St. Pete, Clearwater – the same situation,” Patel said.
Don Anderson, CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, agreed that this is not an isolated issue. He said the situation in New Port Richey motels is a symptom of the larger problem of lack of affordable housing in the county.
He said Pasco is also home to more than 80,000 families who are considered “ALICE” – or asset-limited, income-constrained, employed. In other words, they’re people who have jobs, but don’t earn enough to afford basic needs.
In some cases, he estimates ALICE individuals could be spending as much as 70 percent of their income on housing.
“The minute you have a medical expense, your car breaks down, transportation – those are the hiccups that can throw these individuals and these families into a housing crisis and put them out on the street,” Anderson said. “This is something I really believe we’re going to see more and more of in our future. We have lots of development in Pasco County – virtually no affordable housing.”
The first reading of the motel ban ordinance is expected to take place at the city council’s January 15 meeting. It could go into effect after a second reading, which would be held at a later date.
While the ban would take effect immediately, any motels that are currently being used as transient residential lodging would have until December 31, 2021 to shut down. Manns said the city plans to conduct outreach to any long-term residents to provide them with information about relocation assistance.