SWFL Affordable Housing Crisis and the Start of Sustainable Solutions

We have all heard news and read ar­ticles indicating housing affordability is a major concern in Southwest Florida. Not only does it impact the families directly seeking housing, but also our schools, government, restaurants, trades… almost all businesses. No one is immune to the effects, but we’re all impacted in different ways. This topic is not new in our area. However, the sit­uation has certainly been exacerbated by unprecedented increases in housing costs and availability in both the rental and homeownership markets. Did you know that since 2020, there have also been innovative steps taken to improve housing affordability in the near and long term? I have enjoyed an opportu­nity to get involved as a board member and advocate for a nonprofit housing organization called Collier County Community Land Trust (CCCLT) and witnessed a surge in both interest and potential solutions for creating more housing opportunities in our com­munity that are affordable, attractive and smart, a place where tenants and homeowners are proud to call home.

LOCAL AND STATE POLICY INITIATIVES TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES

You may have heard of the Live Local Act. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo made this initiative a prior­ity when she assumed her role as leader of the Senate. This housing bill pro­vides incentives and mandates to help stimulate creative development with affordability requirements. Even prior to the Live Local Act being signed into law, we saw a spate of Land Develop­ment Code changes in Collier County with similar intentions. Multifamily housing with affordability restrictions were added as an eligible use for cer­tain commercially zoned properties. Additional density is now allowed for multifamily housing with affordability restrictions in activity centers or along certain transit corridors. Leaders at both the local and state level have taken notice of the housing affordability issues in our communities, and they are streamlining ways to create new opportunities.

COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION ARE KEY TO SOLUTIONS

New legislation does nothing without effective implementation. Since joining the CCCLT board at its inception in 2020, I have witnessed a growing level of communication and collaboration between county gov­ernment, developers and associated professionals, and the community at large. The CCCLT was one of the first six land trusts in the country to receive certification through Freddie Mac. It was created to retain affordable hous­ing in perpetuity for future generations. In addition, incentives and resources are available for developers that en­gage and form strategic partnerships with the CCCLT. We already formed a strategic partnership bringing 320 af­fordable rental units to Collier County and have several others in the works. Our newest initiative is to launch a housing alliance, which will serve as a centralized location for gathering and sharing important information related to housing affordability. It will be a partner to the development community seeking local resources. If you would like additional information about this initiative, please reach out to Michael Puchalla, the executive director of CCCLT, at michael@collierhousing. com. Please visit collierclt.org to learn more.

Todd Sabin served as past treasurer of the CCCLT and is now moving into the position of chairman of the Board of Directors. He also will serve on the Board of Directors for The Housing Alliance, Inc. Sabin can be reached at toddsabinmpa@gmail.com.