TheChurchAddresses the HousingCrisis

Building affordable homes on church properties

-Debrah Hall-McCullon

Houses of worship are being recruited to build affordable homes on vacant or underutilized church land.

The national nonprofit Enterprise Community recently announced $1.3 million in grant funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation that would go toward helping 15 South Florida congregations in Dade County convert underused church property.

The nonprofit will assist clergy, who may lack the resources or knowledge to cut housing deals, in navigating the development process, negotiating long-term ground lease agreements and vetting development partners, such as architects and designers.

This is a small dent in a huge problem but the church is getting involved to help with the housing crisis.

Florida seems to be a state that people are always flocking to and never leaving, with its temperate weather, great beaches and lots of excellent attractions. However, even Florida is feeling the results of market forces, which are increasing mortgage rates, driving up home prices, and thus driving out people. In fact, the Florida cities on this list are showing alarming signs that could be pointing toward a housing crisis.

For years, as the cost of buying a home or renting an apartment has risen faster than in most other states, Florida legislators have not made it a priority, routinely diverting millions from the fund devoted to financing affordable housing.

That changed during the legislative session this year, when the Legislature passed the state’s most meaningful housing legislation in decades.

Lawmakers passed a record $711 million plan to build affordable housing, incentivize new construction through tax breaks and offer interestfree loans to help Floridians afford down payments.

Republicans call it a market solution to a growing problem that threatens the state’s economy.