Ability Housing and United Way of Northeast Florida are developing new partnerships, systems and programs to address local housing challenges, thanks to a combined $650,000 in philanthropic funding from JPMorganChase. The nonprofit organizations recently received capacity-building grants as part of the bank’s $40 million in philanthropic support to improve housing affordability across the country.
Ability Housing will apply its $350,000 grant toward upgrading the financial systems and information technology processes that power its mission of creating flourishing communities where everyone has a home.
This work will improve efficiency as the organization is actively leasing units at Villages of New Augustine, a 92-unit community in St. Augustine. Earlier this year, Ability Housing also broke ground on Village at Lake Forest, which will create 120 new affordable apartment homes in Jacksonville.
United Way of Northeast Florida will use its $300,000 grant to convene the CDC Capacity Collaborative to strengthen Jacksonville’s Community Development Corporations; increase access to affordable, resilient housing; and advance systems-level solutions for cost-burdened households.
This commitment builds on the organization’s “ALICE Promise” to develop and invest in community-driven solutions that address financial instability for all families living below the ALICE threshold as well as will help achieve the organization’s goal of 450 senior homes repaired by 2030.
“The funding to upgrade our financial and IT systems arrives at a perfect time, as we are growing with the goal of supporting the demand for more affordable housing units,” said Reggie Fullwood, chief executive officer of Ability Housing. “We are extremely appreciative to JPMorganChase for their support as we are preparing to welcome more than 200 Northeast Florida families to a new, affordable home with the completion of two new communities. The efficiencies gained from this process will free up more time to focus on mission delivery and resident services.”
The demand for affordable housing far outpaces supply in Northeast Florida. A family of four with a household income of $51,250 or less faces a steep shortage of options; the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates Jacksonville needs more than 49,000 housing units to meet the demand afforded by these struggling families.
A staggering 39.6% of households in Northeast Florida face financial hardship, according to the latest ALICE report from United Way of Northeast Florida and its research partner United For ALICE. This population includes households living in poverty and those known as ALICE.
ALICE households earn above the federal poverty level but still struggle to cover essential expenses. They are typically those working one or more low-wage jobs with little or no savings and are often overlooked and undercounted by traditional poverty measures.
Building more affordable housing is one solution to the challenges these families face; neighborhood-level support is also critical to incorporate new housing and its residents into an existing community. Ability Housing and United Way of Northeast Florida plan to use their grants to strengthen the organizational infrastructure that helps local families find, secure and maintain housing.
JPMorganChase has made previous investments in affordable housing efforts in Jacksonville, including a $500,000 philanthropic commitment toward LISC Jacksonville in 2023 to support its Heirs’ Property and Family Wealth Creation programs.
