As Miami-Dade County grapples with a shortage of approximately 118,000 affordable housing units, a nonprofit in South Florida is planning a $53 million project to create 100 homes for families struggling with rising rents. The proposed development in Homestead will transform unused land behind an existing community centre into a five-storey residential building, offering a new approach to tackling the region’s housing crisis.Touching Miami with Love, a Homestead-based nonprofit, is leading the project, which is expected to break ground in 2027. The organisation hopes the development will help families remain in the neighbourhoods where they have lived for years instead of being forced to move because of increasing housing costs.The initiative also highlights how underused land and smaller residential developments, including backyard homes, could help expand affordable housing options across South Florida.
Nonprofit plans $53 million development with 100 affordable housing units
For Trina Harris, who leads Touching Miami with Love, the housing crisis is something she sees affecting the families and employees connected to her organisation.The nonprofit provides free after-school and summer camp programmes, job training and family services. However, Harris said access to stable and affordable housing has become one of the most pressing needs in the community.“We’ve seen residents that have had to move out of the community. We’ve seen our staff members who struggled to afford the rents in the community where they grew up, and it’s disheartening,” Harris said, according to NBC6.Around five years ago, a survey of families served by the organisation identified housing as a major concern. That prompted Harris to explore how the nonprofit could take a more direct role in addressing the problem.Rather than waiting for an outside developer, she began exploring how the organisation could become a developer itself.“Originally, we were not thinking that we can be developers as a nonprofit organization,” Harris said.Through training and support from initiatives such as the Greater Miami Housing Funders Collaborative, Harris learned how to navigate the development process, understand financing and take on the responsibilities involved in building affordable homes.“So, I’ve been able to learn and be trained in how to become a developer,” she said.The proposed five-storey building will have 100 affordable housing units. Harris said the organisation has secured funding for the $53 million project, which is expected to begin construction in 2027.
Miami-Dade faces a shortage of 118,000 affordable homes
The project comes as Miami-Dade County continues to face a significant shortage of affordable housing. Annie Lord of Miami Homes For All, a nonprofit working on the county’s housing challenges, said the area has an estimated gap of 118,000 affordable housing units.The shortage has left working families struggling to keep up with housing costs, while rising rents have made it increasingly difficult for long-time residents to remain in their communities.In May, community leaders, nonprofit organisations and residents gathered to discuss ways to address the crisis and identify opportunities to create more affordable homes.Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told NBC6 that the county was working to speed up housing development by streamlining permitting and reducing administrative delays for affordable housing projects.She also pointed to efforts to encourage similar policies within the City of Miami, saying local authorities were working to cut red tape and facilitate development within the existing regulatory framework.
Can unused land and backyard homes help ease the housing crisis?
Alongside large residential developments, local housing advocates are exploring smaller-scale opportunities to increase the supply of homes.The Greater Miami Housing Funders Collaborative is working to connect community organisations and aspiring developers with financial resources, training and support to turn affordable housing proposals into actual projects.One opportunity involves making better use of underused land in existing neighbourhoods. Miami-Dade County also allows accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ADUs, in certain areas.These smaller residential units can be built on properties that already have a primary home. Depending on local regulations, they can provide additional rental housing while potentially offering homeowners another source of income.Such options could help expand the housing supply without relying exclusively on large-scale developments. They also create opportunities to use existing residential properties and vacant or underused land more efficiently.
Project hopes to inspire other nonprofits to build affordable housing
For Touching Miami with Love, the proposed 100-unit development represents more than a construction project. Harris hopes it will encourage other community organisations to examine how they can use their land and resources to address local housing needs.She said the response from families and employees who have been shown the plans has been encouraging.“Seeing the smiles on the faces when we show our families and our staff members what is coming, they’re overjoyed. And they’re like, wow, is this going to be for us?” Harris said.With Miami-Dade facing an estimated shortage of 118,000 affordable homes, the Homestead project could offer an example of how nonprofits, local organisations and community-led development can contribute to addressing the crisis.The planned 100 homes will not close the county’s housing gap, but the project reflects a wider effort to find new ways to create affordable places to live, using both large developments and smaller opportunities such as backyard homes.