Ashon Nesbitt and the Florida Housing Coalition (FHC) are redefining affordable homeownership in Florida by ensuring homes remain permanently affordable, climate-resilient, and widely accessible. With its groundbreaking Community Land Trust (CLT) Training and Certification program, FHC is working to standardize and legitimize the CLT model across the state. Developed in partnership with Freddie Mac, this program is helping institutional stakeholders recognize its potential and invest in it.
Shared equity models like CLTs are increasingly recognized as effective tools for long-term housing stability. By retaining ownership of the land and leasing it to homeowners, CLTs allow families to purchase homes at below-market rates. This model ensures affordability both now and in the future by removing the land from the equation—the portion that typically appreciates in value—while empowering families with the financial benefits of homeownership and lowering the risk of foreclosure.
However, the adoption of CLTs has faced challenges, especially in gaining institutional recognition from banks, insurers, and government entities. Financial institutions have been hesitant due to differences in underwriting and the complexities of the CLT model, while insurers struggle with the non-traditional ownership structure. These barriers have made it difficult for CLTs to integrate into the broader housing finance system.
To address these challenges, FHC has partnered with Freddie Mac to create the CLT Training and Certification program. This initiative is helping nonprofit organizations standardize CLT practices, making them more accessible and understandable to national banks, insurers, and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). By establishing a recognized industry standard, FHC is not only legitimizing CLTs but also creating a more attractive and navigable opportunity for financial institutions and regulatory bodies.
Through a comprehensive seven-module training program, FHC equips nonprofit organizations with the tools to:
- Structure legal documents to secure long-term affordability and tax benefits.
- Strengthen organizational capacity and governance.
- Engage lenders, insurers, and policymakers to reduce financing barriers.
Upon completion, CLTs receive a certification letter from Freddie Mac, a nationally recognized endorsement that opens doors to new financing opportunities and stronger institutional partnerships. Since launching the program, FHC has certified 11 CLTs, with more in the pipeline—demonstrating the growing acceptance and recognition of the CLT model.
FHC is now building on this foundational work to integrate climate-resilient design and addresses Florida’s “missing middle” housing gap by expanding CLTs to include multi-family options, offering more affordable pathways to homeownership for a wider range of families. Integrating these two elements is a critical step in ensuring that CLTs remain relevant in addressing Florida’s housing and climate challenges.
Climate-Resilient Housing
Florida’s vulnerability to hurricanes and rising insurance costs make climate resilience a critical component of long-term affordability. After Hurricane Ian in 2022, Nesbitt saw firsthand how a gated community of homes built with resilient materials had weathered the storm with minimal damage. This experience deeply resonated with him, leading him to ask question, “Why shouldn’t these durable, high-quality construction techniques be the norm for affordable housing?”
FHC is now embedding climate resilience into its CLT model, ensuring that homes exceed local building codes to withstand extreme weather events. Partnering with organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, FHC is also evaluating how resilient construction can reduce homeowners’ insurance costs—further enhancing affordability.
Missing Middle Housing
Florida’s housing market is increasingly unaffordable, especially for households that earn too much to qualify for subsidies but too little to afford a single-family home. This “missing middle” gap—families who struggle to enter homeownership despite stable incomes—demands new approaches.
FHC is leveraging CLTs to prioritize multi-family housing models such as duplexes and triplexes, offering more affordable pathways to homeownership. By integrating these options into its training and certification program, FHC is helping CLTs advance their impact and provide stable, affordable homes to more Floridians across the income spectrum.
FHC’s approach has the potential to transform the affordable housing landscape in Florida. By setting clear standards, securing institutional recognition, and integrating new housing options, the CLT Training and Certification program is transforming CLTs from a niche concept into a mainstream strategy.
“We are not just strengthening individual CLTs,” says Nesbitt. “We are reshaping the landscape of affordable homeownership in Florida.”
With growing demand for permanent affordability and climate-resilient housing, FHC’s model provides a replicable framework for other states seeking sustainable homeownership models.