Page 58 - LINDec2025-webfile++++
P. 58
Building Stability in 2025:
Non-Profit Collaboration Advances
Attainable Housing Solutions
As Collier County continues to navigate a challenging housing affordability
landscape, a non-profit collaboration between
Collier County Community Land Trust (CCCLT), The Housing Alliance and HELP
(Housing. Education. Lending Program.)
is emerging as a cornerstone of hope and stability.
ligned to amplify housing As a nonprofit, countywide land trust, This year, CCCLT and The Housing
affordability, The Housing Alliance CCCLT separates the ownership of land Alliance joined forces to help advance
A formed in 2024 to be the hub for and housing. This structure ensures that a Build-to-Rent-to-Own (B2R2O)
housing in Collier County with a focus on homes remain affordable in perpetuity, while initiative, with a pilot 36-unit townhome
workforce, lower income, and senior housing. enabling families to build equity. By acquiring development for low- to moderate-income
The Housing Alliance works with private land, overseeing stewardship, and offering workforce buyers. This unique concept
and public partners with the goal to make rental and homeownership opportunities, utilizes philanthropic impact investment
much needed housing in Collier County CCCLT is advancing lasting housing to create a structured process for members
a reality by bringing together aspiring solutions for Collier County. of the workforce to move from renting to
homeowners, renters, property developers, New Affordable Senior Rentals: A First owning, building credit and equity along the
local government, funders, donors, and the in Decades way. This marks a significant stride toward
community-at-large. Through a formal One of CCCLT’s major milestones in expanding homeownership at accessible
affiliation agreement, The Alliance amplifies 2025 was the completion of the two-phase price points, augmented by pre- and post-
and supports the services provided by HELP senior rental development, Cadenza I & purchase counseling and stewardship services
which includes its flagship housing navigator II at Hacienda Lakes. These developments supported by HELP. This holistic approach
program and HUD-certified financial offer 320 units exclusively for seniors ages underscores the affiliation’s emphasis on
counseling and homebuyer education, as 62+ earning no more than 60% of the Area stable, sustainable homeownership for Collier
well as the CCCLT which provides land Median Income (AMI), with 10% of the County residents.
acquisition and partnership opportunities for units reserved for seniors earning no more In just one year, through The Housing
affordable housing developments. than 30% of AMI. CCCLT serves as the Alliance’s ongoing advocacy and education,
“Our goal isn’t temporary shelter—it’s non-profit general partner for McDowell the formal launch and expansion of
permanent stability,” said Michael Puchalla, Housing Partners who developed the HELP’s Housing Navigator Program and
Executive Director of CCCLT, The Housing project. This was the first new, affordable by establishing partnerships with property
Alliance and HELP. “We believe anyone in senior development built in Collier County developers and philanthropic partners
Collier County should have access to housing in decades, and it addressed a critical gap: through CCCLT, more people in need are
that’s both affordable and enduring. Through dedicated, affordable rental housing for the finding housing that is attainable. While
structured coordination and collaboration, aging population. remarkable strides have been made in the
our affiliates have united our efforts to bring For hardworking seniors like Christina uphill battle to alleviate the housing crisis,
private and public partners together with the Poisson, this new housing opportunity more needs to be done.
goal to make much needed housing in Collier has been a lifesaver. “When my husband “By leveraging strong partnerships and
County a reality – and the results are paying of 30 years left me, I lost everything,” said working with our donors we can bridge
off.” Christina. “I was homeless for seven years obstacles for developers and aspiring
Founded in 2020, CCCLT's mission has when my boss told me about The Housing homeowners and increase housing help for
always been to secure permanently affordable Alliance. They helped me fill out the everyone in need,” added Puchalla.
housing through community stewardship and paperwork to get approved for a brand-new TO LEARN MORE, VISIT
innovative development—efforts that have apartment at Cadenza. I have never had my THEHOUSINGALLIANCE.ORG
come sharply into focus in 2025 after joining own place and never anything new. This is
forces with the newly formed non-profit truly a dream come true.”
alliance. Through collaboration with the Build-to-Rent-to-Own (B2R2O):
Collier Community Foundation and other Homeownership for the Future
local non-profits, CCCLT leverages shared
resources to advance large-scale housing
affordability efforts. This networked strategy
has magnified CCCLT’s impact.
58 www.LifeInNaples.net
58

