What does it cost to rent in Daytona Beach? Too much, nonprofit officials say.
It doesn't take much more than a trip to the grocery store for most people to realize that the cost of living is up. But for some, the concerns go well beyond the price of food.
Apartments in Daytona Beach cost less than the state average in general. Yet affording an apartment in Daytona Beach comfortably is a stretch or simply out of reach for some.
A one-bedroom apartment in Daytona Beach was, on average, $1,286 a month as of Feb. 26, according to Zillow Rentals data. Two bedrooms were at $1,647 on average, and three bedroom apartments go for $1,903 on average, according to Zillow data.
Market rates are more than some can afford, according to nonprofit officials and affordability reports.
"I think there is a need for additional affordable units to balance out what's going on in the free marketplace," said Lydia Gregg, executive director and senior housing counselor at the Mid-Florida Housing Partnership.
The partnership is a nonprofit in Daytona Beach that helps connect people with affordable housing, including through education and providing rentals for low-income households.
"Most people call us because the apartment rents are so high, and they're hoping they can find some relief by renting from us," Gregg said.
Gregg said the situation in Daytona Beach is getting to a place where people who work there can't afford to live there.
Data shows that in Volusia County, wages haven't been keeping up with what it costs to live.
The United Way's ALICE Report (which stands for "Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed") looks at households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level but can't afford all of the basic costs of living.
The ALICE Report survival budget considers the minimum costs of essentials such as food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, housing and technology. It doesn't include saving for retirement or a rainy day.
In 2022 in Volusia County, that survival budget was $72,804 for the year for two adults and two children and $84,036 if those two children needed child care.
Volusia County's median household income in 2023 dollars was $66,581, according to a U.S. Census Bureau estimate. The Census Bureau includes single people living alone as a household.
Safety is a consideration in where to live.
The News-Journal used the Volusia Sheriff's Office crime mapping tool to search for crimes within a one-mile radius of several apartments listed in Daytona Beach for under $1,000 a month. Multiple Daytona Beach listings had dozens of crimes reported within about a month. The crimes reported included robberies, burglary/breaking and enterings, motor vehicle thefts and aggravated assaults, among other things.
Anyone can use the Volusia Sheriff's Office crime mapping tool online.
People who need to find an affordable apartment fast better have some cash in hand. Some landlords want first and last month's rent plus a security deposit. People will probably have to pay at least some form of security deposit with the first month's rent payment.
Just qualifying to rent something can be a stretch. Gregg said she often sees landlords looking for tenants who make three times the rent.
"And in our area, that means you're working probably two jobs if you're a single person. ... You literally just can't do it on one paycheck ― not with the wages in our area," Gregg said.
She said that holds true for people from a variety of jobs, including people who work in the school system, at nursing homes, grocery stores, gas stations and more. Those who find a rental are often still struggling because the rents are above their means, she said.
Beyond the rent, there can be fees that aren't part of the listing price, such as application fees (with no guarantee of a rental working out), not to mention utilities.
A recent search of a few popular listing sites showed a handful of single-bedroom apartments at less than $1,000 a month. A couple of those listings were actually rooms for rent in shared spaces.
Some lower-priced apartments might also come with income restrictions, and taking on a roommate one doesn't know brings its own challenges and possible dangers.
Jeremy Royce is a housing specialist with Halifax Urban Ministries in Daytona Beach, which provides housing assistance to low-income people. The demand is high right now for the nonprofit's work.
"All day, every day," Royce said when asked how often people call looking for an affordable place to rent.
Connecting with income-based housing is the only viable option at the moment for some people, he said. But that is scarce, and the wait is lengthy to get help from the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program.
Royce said he'd like to see more new developments reserve a percentage of their units as income-based apartments to help give people "a fighting chance."
"There's no affordable housing right now," he said.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach apartments are too pricy for many, officials say
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