Building Stability in 2025: Non-Profit Collaboration Advances Attainable Housing Solutions

Aligned to amplify housing affordability, The Housing Alliance formed in 2024 to be the hub for housing in Collier County with a focus on workforce, lower income, and senior housing.

The Housing Alliance works with privateand public partners with the goal to make much needed housing in Collier County a reality by bringing together aspiring homeowners, renters, property developers, local government, funders, donors, and the community-at-large. Through a formal affiliation agreement, The Alliance amplifies and supports the services provided by HELP which includes its flagship housing navigator program and HUD-certified financial counseling and homebuyer education, as well as the CCCLT which provides land acquisition and partnership opportunities for affordable housing developments.

“Our goal isn’t temporary shelter—it’s permanent stability,” said Michael Puchalla, Executive Director of CCCLT, The HousingAlliance and HELP. “We believe anyone in Collier County should have access to housing that’s both affordable and enduring. Through structured coordination and collaboration, our affiliates have united our efforts to bring private and public partners together with the goal to make much needed housing in Collier County a reality – and the results are paying off.”

Founded in 2020, CCCLT’s mission has always been to secure permanently affordable housing through community stewardship and innovative development—efforts that have come sharply into focus in 2025 after joining forces with the newly formed non-profit alliance. Through collaboration with the Collier Community Foundation and other local non-profits, CCCLT leverages shared resources to advance large-scale housing affordability efforts.

This networked strategy has magnified CCCLT’s impact.

As a nonprofit, countywide land trust, CCCLT separates the ownership of land and housing. This structure ensures that homes remain affordable in perpetuity, while enabling families to build equity. By acquiring land, overseeing stewardship, and offering rental and homeownership opportunities, CCCLT is advancing lasting housing solutions for Collier County.

New Affordable Senior Rentals: A First in Decades

One of CCCLT’s major milestones in 2025 was the completion of the two-phase senior rental development, Cadenza I &II at Hacienda Lakes. These developments offer 320 units exclusively for seniors ages 62+ earning no more than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 10% of the units reserved for seniors earning no more than 30% of AMI.

CCCLT serves as the non-profit general partner for McDowell Housing Partners who developed the project. This was the first new, affordable senior development built in Collier County in decades, and it addressed a critical gap: dedicated, affordable rental housing for the aging population.

For hardworking seniors like Christina Poisson, this new housing opportunity has been a lifesaver.

“When my husband of 30 years left me, I lost everything,” said Christina. “I was homeless for seven years when my boss told me about The Housing Alliance. They helped me fill out the paperwork to get approved for a brand-new apartment at Cadenza. I have never had my own place and never anything new. This is truly a dream come true.”

Build-to-Rent-to-Own (B2R2O): Homeownership for the Future

This year, CCCLT and The HousingAlliance joined forces to help advance a Build-to-Rent-to-Own (B2R2O) initiative, with a pilot 36-unit townhome development for low- to moderate-income workforce buyers. This unique concept utilizes philanthropic impact investment to create a structured process for members of the workforce to move from renting to owning, building credit and equity along the way. This marks a significant stride toward expanding homeownership at accessible price points, augmented by pre- and post-purchase counseling and stewardship services supported by HELP. This holistic approach underscores the affiliation’s emphasis on stable, sustainable homeownership for CollierCounty residents.

In just one year, through The Housing Alliance’s ongoing advocacy and education, the formal launch and expansion of HELP’s Housing Navigator Program and by establishing partnerships with property developers and philanthropic partners through CCCLT, more people in need are finding housing that is attainable. While remarkable strides have been made in the uphill battle to alleviate the housing crisis, more needs to be done.

“By leveraging strong partnerships and working with our donors we can bridge obstacles for developers and aspiring homeowners and increase housing help for everyone in need,” added Puchalla.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: THEHOUSINGALLIANCE.ORG