Ability Housing, a nonprofit developer of affordable multifamily housing across Florida, recently announced the appointment of Paula Naugle Bides as the organization’s chief of strategy and development.
Bides brings decades of nonprofit leadership and community relations experience in the health care sector to support Ability Housing’s growth across the state of Florida. As chief of strategy and development, she is responsible for driving organizational strategy, fund development and partnership growth. Additionally, Bides is focused on enhancing operational efficiency, leading marketing and communications initiatives and implementing new strategies that support Ability Housing’s mission and long-term growth.
Bides joins Ability Housing at a pivotal time for the organization as it continues to pursue its goal of developing more than 2,200 affordable housing units across Florida by 2030 while maintaining its portfolio of properties and supportive case management services at the highest level.
As Ability Housing achieves its 35th anniversary this month, its current development pipeline spans across three of Florida’s key growth markets: Jacksonville, Orlando and St. Petersburg, which will provide an affordable new start for nearly 300 individuals and families upon completion. These projects, all currently under construction, complement the opening of new communities in St. Augustine and Jacksonville, which have brought more than 180 units online in the past year alone.
Bides has spent nearly 20 years working in health care to improve access, strengthen community health and address barriers to care, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations. Her work has included developing programs that address food insecurity and women’s health, identifying and responding to community health needs and building partnerships that connect people with health care and other critical resources.
Through her work with organizations including UF Health and Ascension, she has focused on creating practical, community-based solutions designed to improve health outcomes and quality of care.
“Paula is an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Reggie Fullwood, CEO of Ability Housing. “Not only does she have tremendous passion for community service, but she also understands our mission and has significant experience in helping organizations bridge barriers and strengthen relationships. As we embark on the next phase of our evolution and strive to become Florida’s top nonprofit affordable housing provider, Paula will play a pivotal role in our growth. Because of her extensive background in the health care and nonprofit sectors, she brings a unique perspective and skillset that will be very impactful to our work.”
“Throughout my career, I have emphasized the critical role that social determinants of health play in shaping the well-being of people and communities,” said Bides. “One finding has consistently emerged during my years of leading community health needs assessments across the state: people need access to safe, stable and affordable housing. I have long admired Ability Housing’s inclusive and holistic approach to addressing this critical need, helping individuals overcome barriers and creating healthier outcomes at the individual, family and community levels.”
Bides is an alumna of the Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2023 and volunteers with multiple local nonprofit organizations, including National Charity League of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center and The DONNA Foundation. Additionally, she is a member of the Jacksonville Women’s Network. She earned her Master of Public Administration from the University of North Florida and Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Central Florida.
For more information about Ability Housing, go to abilityhousing.org.
