Florida Builders and Local Leaders Team Up to Create Lasting Affordable Housing
An innovative partnership between the HBA of West Florida and local lawmakers is offering a blueprint for how communities across the U.S. can create lasting, affordable housing.
Project collaborators pose in front of one of the homes. Left to right: Alicia Popper of Habitat for Humanity/CLT, Austin Tenpenny of aDoor Properties, Jennifer Mancini of the HBA of West Florida, Kyle McGee of Sunchase Construction, City of Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, Sam Young of Habitat for Humanity/CLT, Shelby Johnson of Johnson Construction, and Amir Fooladi of ParsCo.
In June 2024, the City of Pensacola donated three properties to the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust — an initiative launched by Pensacola Habitat for Humanity. The mission was to create affordable homes that remain attainable not just today, but for generations to come.
“Affordable housing is a great need in our community, much like it is in communities across the country,” says Jennifer Mancini, executive officer of the HBA of West Florida. “We thought it would better serve our community to build affordable homes in lieu of the traditional ‘dream home.’”
The HBA has taken a leading role in a three-home development project — two new builds and one rehabilitation — made possible largely through the donations and volunteer efforts of HBA members.
Four HBA builder members volunteered to manage the projects: aDoor Properties with Johnson Construction, ParsCo, and Sunchase Construction. In addition, dozens of associate members, vendors, and subcontractors have donated their time, materials, and expertise.
“It’s definitely demanding to coordinate three projects that are dependent on donations,” Mancini says. “This is the first partnership of its kind with the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust, and we’re ‘paving the road’ as we go. But thanks to our experienced builders and generous members, it's coming together beautifully.”
The Community Land Trust Model: A Long-Term Solution
What makes this project unique is that it doesn’t just create homes that are affordable initially; it’s specifically aimed at keeping the homes affordable forever.
The Community Land Trust (CLT) model allows the land to remain under nonprofit ownership while the homes are sold to qualifying buyers — those earning 120% or less of the area median income. If a home owner chooses to sell, the same income eligibility rules will apply to the next buyer.
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity President and CEO Sam Young told the Pensacola News Journal that “too often these projects get funded and affordable housing is built, but it’s only affordable to that first home buyer. If we’re going to address this affordable housing crisis long term, we’ve got to build the stock of affordable housing and the only way to do that is this shared-equity model of the Community Land Trust.”
What’s Next: Expanding Affordable Opportunities
All three homes are expected to be completed and listed for sale this summer. The City of Pensacola is also identifying additional lots in or near the urban core to donate to the land trust—ensuring affordable homes are built in high-opportunity areas.
Proceeds from the sale of these first homes will be reinvested into future affordable housing projects, Mancini explains. And she says this is only the beginning.
“My hope is that this project will serve as an example to other cities and counties across the country,” she says. “When local governments and builders work together, we can make homeownership more attainable for everyone. This is a win-win for all involved.”
