FAST Action Tonight – 7 pm March 22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 22nd, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Pat Fling, FAST Board member

Jessica Sanchez, FAST organizer, 813-679-2745 jsanchez@thedartcenter.org

Thousands of faith leaders in Pinellas call on County Commission to prioritize low-income housing

Clergy and Faith Leaders demand that County Commissioners stop spending affordable housing funds on people making more than the area median income and instead prioritize the 70,000 families making $56,000 or less that are one paycheck away from homelessness

WHAT : FAST Nehemiah Action Assembly

WHEN : Monday, March 22nd at 7pm

There will be opportunity for media to speak to FAST leaders and clergy on the record starting at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE : Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 4661 82nd Ave N, Pinellas Park

Zoom option also available – register here: Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: FAST Nehemiah Action. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CY6HJ-HAQV6xLQDeo4NGBw?_x_zm_rtaid=dW3kHdnCQumEwY-MDXsZEA.1616430592888.569c775a60b0f2bbc40a969ff0ec42b7&_x_zm_rhtaid=863

WHO : Commissioner Kathleen Peters

Commissioner Dave Eggers

Rev. Lee Hall-Perkins, Mt. Zion United Methodist

Flo Young, Bethel Community Baptist Church

Pat Fling, Unitarian Universalists of St. Petersburg

WHY — to push Pinellas County Commissioners to stop spending affordable housing funds set aside for low-income families on housing complexes that mainly benefit families with above-average income

[COUNTY], FL. – According to the Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing at the University of Florida, over 70,000 families in Pinellas county pay make 80% of the Area Median Income ($56,250 for a family of four) or less and pay more than half their income toward rent. These families are one missed paycheck away from homelessness. In 2019, County Commissioners committed to the community that they would spent 4.15% of the Penny for Pinellas tax on affordable housing, and passed resolution 19-6 clarifying how these funds are to be spent to mainly help low-income families. In January, however, the county approve $9.6 million in funding for housing complexes where only 13% of the units are for families making $56,000 or less.

Commissioners Peters and Commissioner Eggers, are confirmed to attend the FAST Community Action where over 2500 members of the community gather to seek their commitment to spend all remaining money set aside for affordable housing in ways approved by resolution 19-6 that benefit mainly low-income families. Due to the pandemic, this event will take place on Zoom and in a car-rally style event at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinellas Park.

www.fast-pinellas.org

Pat Fling, FAST Board Member

flingp@att.net
727-600-0509