Nearly 200 Residents Turn Out for 10th Annual Housing Fair, Connecting with Resources on Renting, Buying, and Planning

The City of Palm Coast, Flagler County Government, and Mid-Florida Housing co-hosted the 10th Annual Flagler/Palm Coast Housing Fair on Saturday at the Palm Coast Community Center. The event ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and drew nearly 200 attendees who took part in workshops, presentations, and one-on-one conversations with housing professionals and community partners.

What the event covered

The fair was designed to help residents at any stage of their housing situation — whether they are renting, looking to buy, or simply trying to understand what options are available to them. Educational sessions throughout the day covered topics including how to spot unlicensed contractors, foreclosure prevention, homeowners’ insurance, and fair housing protections.

One of the most well-attended presentations was titled “Estate Planning Essentials: Trusts, Wills, and Lady Bird Deeds.” The session drew strong interest from residents looking to protect their homes and plan ahead for the future. Attendees who participated left with printed materials and expressed interest in seeing the session offered again at a future event.

Another session, “Unlocking Opportunity Simplified: Grants, Rehab & Buyer Assistance,” offered personalized guidance on available financial programs. During that session, a mother attending on behalf of her daughter — a nurse who hopes to become a homeowner — learned that her daughter’s obstacle was not her credit score, but rather her debt-to-income ratio. Through one-on-one support at the fair, the family was connected to additional resources and the daughter is now enrolled in an upcoming free money management workshop to help her move toward homeownership.

Elected officials engage with residents

Palm Coast City Council member Charles A. Gambaro Jr. and Flagler County Commissioner Kim Carney both attended the event and spoke directly with residents about their housing concerns and experiences. Their conversations, according to the city, reinforced the need for continued collaboration between local governments to expand housing opportunities and meet the changing needs of the community.

What organizers said

“This event was about meeting people where they are and helping them take that next step. Whether that’s renting, buying, or simply understanding their options. We saw firsthand how impactful these conversations can be, from answering simple questions to helping someone realize homeownership is closer than they thought. That’s why we do this work.”

— Jackie Gonzalez, Site Development Coordinator, City of Palm Coast

Community partners and sponsors

The event was supported by a broad group of community organizations and businesses, including the Flagler County Housing Authority, Mid-Florida Housing Partnership, City of Bunnell, Flagler County Government, Flo Mortgage, NextHome, Ameris Bank, Atlantic Surf Construction, Holiday Builders, Starlight Homes, Truist Bank, the Flagler County Association of Realtors, and Big Frog Custom T-Shirts.

Resources and what comes next

Residents who want to continue exploring housing assistance can find information about the City of Palm Coast’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program on the City of Palm Coast website. Details about the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program are available through the Flagler County Government website.

For those who could not attend or want to learn more, the City of Palm Coast is hosting a free housing workshop on Saturday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southern Recreation Center.