Housing Costs Still High For Hurricane Michael Victims

PANAMA CITY -- Months after Hurricane Michael hit Bay County and other parts of the Florida Panhandle, Crystal Fogg is paying $1,195 a month for a three-bedroom, two-bath property in Fountain, which she considers too high.

"In my opinion, I'm paying about $200-300 more than what this would have rented for before," Fogg said.

Fogg is one of many Bay County residents who said costs for housing -- particularly for renters, who make up a portion of Bay County's population -- have drastically increased after the October storm. The destruction to homes and the need for a place for survivors to stay has led to high demand but short supply, and thus higher prices.

"I feel lucky, all things considered. Even though I feel my place is over priced for 'life before Michael,' I signed the lease here before the prices really skyrocketed afterwards," Fogg said. "I understand the supply and demand concepts when so much is damaged. But too much of this increase is simply inhumane greed."

John Shook, who has been a real estate broker in the Panama City area for almost 19 years, confirmed housing costs have increased but said reports are exaggerated.

"Prices have increased but not dramatically," Shook said. "There's supply and demand. There's more people wanting to live somewhere than there are houses."

Buying a house now is actually a better option than renting because it can be done with the same amount of money, perhaps even cheaper and more quickly, Shook said.

"Too many people are living under the idea that it is impossible to purchase a home," Shook said.

Residents recently sounded off about the sharp rise in housing costs during a mobile office hours event Sen. Marco Rubio's office hosted April 17 at the Panama City Beach Senior Center. Rubio did not attend but his Northwest Florida regional director Mary Beth Barrows did.

"The ripple effect of the housing crisis is now we also have a workforce crisis, which is very quickly pushing us towards an economic crisis," Niki Kelly said during the April 17 event.

State officials are aware of the housing crisis. Earlier in April, when discussing the state appealing the end of temporary federal housing aid for displaced Hurricane Michael survivors, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said, "housing and the lack of affordable permanent housing is a challenge," for those affected. Housing aid to help residents pay for hotel rooms was recently extended for 42 area households but ended for 250 others.

"We don't want people to leave," Moskowitz said.

Fogg, however, was worried that it is already starting to happen with dangerous consequences.

"If the working class leaves because of a lack of affordable housing, then this area will die from the bottom up," said Fogg.

(Patrick McCreless contributed to this report.)

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