Miami-Dade County’s estimated shortage of 118,000 affordable homes is pushing residents and workers out of familiar neighborhoods. In Homestead, nonprofit Touching Miami with Love is planning a $53 million, five-storey development with 100 homes on underused land behind a community centre. Construction is expected to start in 2027.
Key takeaways
- The proposed Homestead development would add 100 affordable homes at a projected cost of $53 million.
- The nonprofit says it has secured funding and expects construction to begin in 2027.
- Housing advocates and local officials are also looking at underused land, accessory dwelling units and ways to speed up development.
The project is one community-led response to a housing shortage far larger than any single development can address.
A nonprofit steps into development
Touching Miami with Love provides after-school and summer programs, job training and family services. Its leader, Trina Harris, said housing emerged as a major concern in a survey of families served by the organization about five years ago. Since then, the nonprofit has seen residents and staff struggle to afford rents in the community where they live or grew up.
The proposed five-storey building would be built behind an existing community centre. Harris said the organization has secured the $53 million needed for the project. Training and support from the Greater Miami Housing Funders Collaborative helped the nonprofit learn about development, financing and the process of moving a housing proposal toward construction.
A wide gap and pressure on residents
Miami Homes For All estimates that Miami-Dade is short about 118,000 affordable housing units. The gap is adding pressure on working families as rents rise, making it harder for long-time residents to remain in their neighborhoods. The planned 100 homes would make a modest contribution, but would not resolve the countywide shortage.
County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has said local government is working to streamline permitting and reduce administrative delays for affordable housing projects. Local leaders have also discussed encouraging similar efforts within the City of Miami.
Looking beyond large developments
Housing advocates are exploring ways to add homes at different scales. The Greater Miami Housing Funders Collaborative works to connect community groups and aspiring developers with financing, training and other support. One approach is to make better use of vacant or underused land in established neighborhoods.
Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are another potential source of housing. Allowed in certain areas under county rules, these smaller homes can be added to properties that already have a primary residence. Depending on local requirements, they may provide rental housing while generating additional income for homeowners.
A model other groups may consider
Harris hopes the Homestead proposal will encourage other nonprofits to consider how their land and resources could support affordable housing. The plans have drawn an enthusiastic response from families and staff who see the prospect of homes in the community as a way to remain close to their existing support networks.
If completed, the project could demonstrate how a community organization can take a direct role in housing development. Its scale is limited compared with Miami-Dade’s estimated need, but the effort adds one more route—alongside larger projects and smaller homes—to expanding the supply.