LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — Local church leaders in Manatee County are pushing for more affordable housing developments and planned to speak to county commissioners Monday about the issue.

They hope to find solutions for residents who are struggling to keep up with their rental or mortgage payments amid rising costs.

What You Need To Know

  • About 500 Manatee County faith leaders are meeting with commissioners to advocate for more affordable housing

  • This will be the second meeting between faith leaders and commissioners since last year

  • Church leaders say more people are coming to them after service to discuss their struggles with increasing costs of rent and trying to find somewhere to live

Among the proponents of this cause is the Rev. Matthew Grunfeld of the Episcopal Church of The Annunciation.

With more than seven years of experience as a priest on Anna Maria Island, Grunfeld said he sees the church as a nurturing home.

"So, I grew up in the church and always found this to be a place that is home," he said. "I get a chance to be with people in their times of need and I get to hear people share their lives with me."

He says one major issues that people come to him about is the rising costs of housing and rent.

“Housing prices are too expensive here,” he said.  

Grunfeld noted that he is also affected by the issue, saying that if his home was not attached to the church he wouldn't be able to afford to live on the island.

But it’s an even bigger problem for others, he said.

“Manatee County is down at least 11,000 units of affordable housing people who are teachers, firefighters, police officers, people who work in all of the service industries who wait tables in the restaurants who work in the shops their ability to find a place to live is a real challenge,” he said.

As a consequence, Grunfeld says people are being compelled to move out of the county.

He will be one of 500 people who represent their church to speak with Manatee County commissioners about the crisis Monday.

Grunfeld attributes the issue to the surging population in Southwest Florida.

"The cost of housing is going up, but the amount you are actually making in wages is not keeping pace with the rising cost of living here," he noted.

This will be the second meeting held by church leaders with Manatee County commissioners to highlight the pressing need for more affordable housing.

"Scriptures tell us about the call to do justice and the call to hold people in positions of power accountable to make sure that all of our communities are livable communities for everyone," Grunfeld said.