FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Weeks ago, city council members declared a housing crisis in Fayetteville.
While a task force is now being put together, council members also considered adding a full-time city employee who could help attract more affordable housing to the area.
During the meeting, council members went back and forth on whether or not the city needs a housing coordinator to help draw in more solutions.
The city council wants the coordinator to be a liaison between organizations and residents while working to bring in better options. The new position would cost the city $90,000 which it would plan to pay for with American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Ultimately the council voted not to approve this position at this time with a vote of 5-3.
During the meeting, Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan said that he is in charge of picking the Housing Crisis Task Force, and this position may just be too much for them to handle right now.
“We all worked together over about three meetings. It's been several hours, and I thought we could work this thing through, but obviously it's not necessary, but I know that I had the charge of picking this task force and I will," Jordan said.
While this did not pass tonight, Jordan says the council might try to pick this idea back up in the future.
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