Affordable housing is a hot topic and we’re learning that even more after hearing from you, our viewers.

Spectrum Bay News 9 aired a story highlighting $325,000 homes being sold in a predominately Black, low-income neighborhood in South St. Pete.

Charles Sorensen saw the story and reached out to share how those rising home prices are impacting his family.

“This affordable housing, this is not fair verbiage,” he said.

Sorensen was born and raised in St. Pete and he’s watched as home prices increased over the years, pushing people like him to other cities in the county. But now, he’s being pushed even further. He fears the same is being done to people who live in South St. Pete.

He asked, “Impoverished people or people of certain financial means were forced to that side of town, now we’re kicked out?”

“It’s like we move to the bad part of town to afford where we can where we’re pushed to, and then as soon as we’re pushed there, it’s like you push a caged dog back and then you take the cage away,” he said. “No, we’re gonna fight now.”

This listing has caused a lot of reaction, including from a Pinellas County commissioner.

The devoted husband and electrician said the rising home prices are affecting him and he’s just renting. He said his dream of actually owning a home seems out of reach.

“It’s been a struggle. I recently was told I need to move out because Airbnb is gonna give my landlord $2,000 versus my $1,300,” he said. “I can’t afford to buy but I go to a rental and while I’m there at the rental someone comes and says hey can I buy it? Well sorry I’m not there so I have to walk away there’s no conversation.”

Sorensen said he’s not alone when it comes to St. Pete and Pinellas County natives moving out of the area for affordable housing. After searching and fearing homelessness, his wife was able to find the couple an affordable apartment, but it’s in the next county over.

Sorensen said his fight to live in Pinellas County again is far from over.

“Is somebody gonna speak up for the blue collar workers that go to work everyday and work doubles everyday, seven days a week?”, he said. “I’m gonna get to the bottom of this. Someone has to answer for this.”