South Florida Community Land Trust (SFCLT)

???Exciting News!??? We’ve been awarded?a $631,500 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP), in partnership with?BankUnited! This grant will support the rehabilitation of 22 multifamily rental units in Dania Beach and Hallandale Beach, ensuring these homes remain affordable for low- and moderate-income families in Broward County. With over 40% of renters in the county considered cost-burdened, this effort is a critical step toward addressing our community’s housing challenges. It also?reflects SFCLT’s broader strategy to acquire aging buildings, renovate them, and place them in the community land trust to preserve their long-term affordability. The funding is part of a $55 million AHP initiative supporting affordable housing projects across 12 states and Washington D.C., and we’re proud to be one of just seven Florida organizations selected this year. A huge thank you to?Federal Home Loan of Atlanta,?BankUnited,?Neighborhood Lending Partners, Inc., and our additional funding partners — Broward County Government, Hallandale Beach CRA, United Way of Broward County, JPMorganChase and SELF (Solar and Energy Loan Fund) —??for making this project possible. Together, we’re advancing our strategy to acquire aging buildings, renovate them, and preserve their long-term affordability by placing them in the community land trust. #AffordableHousing #CommunityLandTrust #SouthFlorida #SFCLT #HousingSolutions #BrowardCounty Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eDx3Cgw9

Did you know that the first community land trust in the U.S. was created by Black leaders fighting for racial and economic justice? The CLT model traces its roots back to the Civil Rights Movement, when in 1969, New Communities, Inc. was founded in Albany, Georgia. This visionary effort, led by activists like Charles and Shirley Sherrod, was inspired by the idea that land ownership could be a tool for Black self-determination, stability, and empowerment. Today, CLTs across the country, including South Florida Community Land Trust, continue this legacy—ensuring that homeownership remains accessible for generations. As we celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we recognize the pioneers of the CLT movement and their lasting impact on creating pathways to economic opportunity and strong communities. To hear directly from one of the movement’s founders, read Shirley Sherrod’s powerful reflections on the origins of New Communities, Inc. in Nonprofit Quarterly.

?? Big News from the South Florida Community Land Trust! ?? We are proud to announce that Mandy Bartle, the driving force behind our organization for over a decade, has been promoted to President and CEO. As our Executive Director for 15 years, Mandy guided our organization’s growth, increasing our assets from $1,000 to over $20 million. Under her leadership, SFCLT has developed affordable housing in 13 cities—more than any other community land trust in Florida!—and established a pipeline of 475 additional units, including 51 ready to build and others in acquisition. She has also spearheaded innovative efforts like launching the state’s first revolving fund for community land trusts and creating South Florida’s only comprehensive opportunity map to guide equitable, resilient development. Mandy’s promotion is a testament to her unwavering dedication to creating opportunities for more South Floridians to access affordable, stable and resilient housing. Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition of her leadership and impact! ?? Read more about Mandy and SFCLT at southfloridaclt.org.

We are so proud of our leader, Mandy Bartle, who served as a guest presenter at the Florida Housing Coalition’s Community Land Trust Institute this past fall. Mandy shared her expertise on ground leases and legal instruments with the program's inaugural cohort, helping to educate participants on innovative and permanent solutions for affordable housing across Florida. As the affordability crisis in our state deepens, the Coalition is playing a crucial role in equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools to create lasting change — including community land trusts! That's because our model preserves affordability for generations, protects investments, and helps address long-term housing stability. A big thank you to the Florida Housing Coalition and Matthew Wyman for the opportunity to contribute to this important work. #AffordableHousing #CommunityLandTrust #SouthFlorida

? As 2024 wraps up, we’re reflecting on an incredible year of progress at the South Florida Community Land Trust! ?? We kicked off renovations on 40 units in Hallandale and Dania Beach; ?? Welcomed new funders excited to make a meaningful impact in South Florida; ?? And helped more families find — and keep — affordable, stable housing. None of this would have been possible without our dedicated partners and funders, passionate staff, and supportive community. Thank you all for being part of our journey. Here’s to building even more together in 2025! Happy New Year! ?? #CLTs #AffordableHousing #SouthFlorida

We’re thrilled to announce that very soon we'll be launching our Blue Sky Dania?pilot program, designed to help renters in our community increase their income, save more, and build lasting financial stability. The initiative will provide: ? Personalized, one-on-one coaching to guide participants in reaching their financial goals. ? Wrap-around support for 30 families in our rental homes. ? Financial literacy workshops and neighborhood dinner gatherings to foster community connections and financial growth. This important work is made possible through generous support of the following Funds at the?Community Foundation of Broward:?DRIAL FOUNDATION Fund, Bank of America Field of Interest Fund, and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund. Together, we’re creating a pathway to brighter, more secure futures for South Florida families. Thank you,?Community Foundation of Broward, for believing in our mission! #AffordableHousing #FinancialStability #BlueSkyDania #CLTs

This Thanksgiving, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible people who make our work possible. To our dedicated Board of Directors, our resilient residents and homeowners, our hardworking staff, and the generous funders who believe in our mission—thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities. From all of us at the South Florida Community Land Trust, we wish you a joyful and peaceful Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones.????? ? #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #Community

Congratulations to our very own Fitzgerald Budhoo MBA, who this week was sworn in as a new City Commissioner for Oakland Park! ?? Fitz isn’t just a valued board member—he’s also a homeowner of one of our properties, which is how his journey with the land trust began. Anyone who knows Fitz knows he’s a force of nature with a personality as warm and inviting as a sunny South Florida day. ?? He often credits the transformative power of homeownership as a foundation for his success, and we couldn’t be prouder to see him making waves in our community. ?? Fitz, your leadership and passion inspire us all. Here's to the incredible impact you will surely make for Oakland Park! ?? #Leadership #HomeownershipMatters #CommunityImpact #OaklandPark

Our latest email update is here! In it, we share exciting news about our just updated website, progress on the nine buildings we're renovating in Dania Beach, and the homeownership properties we're developing in Little Haiti. Our regular email updates are a great way to stay connected and informed about our work to create more affordable housing across South Florida. If you haven’t already, take a moment to check it out and subscribe to stay in the loop! READ THE NEWSLETTER ?? https://lnkd.in/eRCP-PQT SUBSCRIBE FOR FUTURE UPDATES ?? https://lnkd.in/eic8_JRY cc: Tanya Ward Benjamin, AICP, John J. Clark

In honor of National Housing Month, we’re sharing an insightful report by Route Fifty?on the transformative impact of Community Land Trusts across the country. CLTs are not only helping individuals and families achieve affordable homeownership but are also keeping rental units within reach by owning and maintaining affordable multifamily properties. ?? As cities nationwide look for solutions to today’s housing crisis, CLTs have become essential tools for providing long-term affordability for both renters and homeowners, easing the burden of rising costs, preventing displacement from gentrification—all while promoting community stability. #NationalHousingMonth #CommunityLandTrust #AffordableHousing?