Affordable Housing in St. Johns Faces Challenges

Communities across the state and nation are struggling with an affordable housing crisis, and St. Johns County is no different. In addition to government efforts, community organizations are also pitching in to find solutions, including the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, which has made housing issues a prime focus.

“The housing market in St. Johns County is facing significant challenges, characterized by escalating home prices and a limited supply of affordable housing,” said Aliyah Meyer, economic development coordinator at the Chamber. “Since 2019, home prices have surged by 50%, while income growth has only risen by 17%, making homeownership increasingly out of reach for many residents. The availability of affordable homes is severely constrained, with only 1% of single-family homes and 17% of town homes priced under $260,000. Rental options are similarly scarce, as only 10% of apartment listings fall within the $1,000–$1,500 range, and nearly all are one-bedroom units. Additionally, the county’s population is growing by 5% annually, amplifying the demand for housing.

Meyer said the shortage of affordable housing is made worse by vacation rentals, which limit the availability of longer-term options.

“The rise in short-term vacation rentals has further exacerbated the housing shortage by reducing the supply of long-term rental properties,” she said. “The combination of these factors has led to a severe housing crisis, disproportionately affecting essential workers and middle-income households.”

But there are several efforts underway in the county to address the problem.

“In response to the housing crisis, St. Johns County is implementing several initiatives aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing,” she said. “These efforts include zoning and density adjustments, such as relaxing restrictions on multi-family developments and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and revising zoning policies to promote mixed-use developments near job centers.”

Meyer said other incentives are also being used to increase the availability of affordable housing units.

“Workforce housing incentives are also being implemented, such as advocating for inclusionary zoning to ensure developers include affordable units in new projects and offering financial incentives to support affordable housing construction,” she said.” Public assistance programs are expanding, including rental assistance and down payment support for essential workers, as well as exploring Community Land Trusts to maintain housing affordability and prevent gentrification.

Other efforts underway include infrastructure improvements, investing in public transportation and expanding services to support new developments, she said.

“The county is learning from successful initiatives in other Florida cities, including Orlando’s inclusionary zoning policies and Pinellas County’s affordable housing trust fund,” Meyer said. “While these initiatives show promise, the scale of the affordability crisis demands urgent and ongoing policy interventions to ensure long-term housing accessibility for local workers.”

The impact of the affordable housing crisis goes beyond the strain on residents. It is also an economic development issue.

“The housing crisis in St. Johns County is having a profound impact on the local economy,” Meyer said. “One of the key effects is workforce shortages, as employers in sectors like healthcare, education and hospitality struggle to fill job vacancies due to the lack of affordable housing options. With over 25,000 job vacancies in the county and healthcare projected to add 4,000 new positions in the coming year, this shortage of affordable housing is hindering the county’s economic outlook.”

Meyer said addressing the affordable housing crisis is important for the county’s economy and the quality of life of residents.

“If these issues are not addressed, they will continue to impede economic growth, increase income inequality, and create additional difficulties for essential workers to live in the community they serve,” she said.