City of Jacksonville launches Jacksonville Community Land Trust

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Low-income families in Jacksonville could soon get the opportunity to own a home, thanks to the Jacksonville Community Land Trust.

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The Jacksonville Community Land Trust wants to help low-income families go from being renters to homeowners.

“If a family is spending more than 30% of its income on housing, that’s considered a cost-burden,” explained Dr. Joy Hervey, works as a manager for the Genesis Consulting Group. “And many of our families are spending over 50% of their income.”

Hervey’s family has lived in Jacksonville for the past 12 years. She’s helping lead this effort with her consulting group, working with the city, including Mayor Lenny Curry, and with the Florida Housing Coalition to find lots that it can purchase and own, forever.

“Everywhere you look, you’re seeing that demand for affordable housing and there’s just not enough of it to go around,” Hervey pointed out.

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The land trust is looking to acquire any lots within city limits, while focusing its search on Jacksonville’s north and northwest neighborhoods. JCLT would own the land on which the affordable homes are built, making sure it can only be used to help low and moderate-income families. The families would own the actual home built on the land, and pay a mortgage that goes back to the trust.

“That will be able to serve not just one family, but multiple families over the course of time,” Hervey emphasized.

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The team involved with JCLT hope to have these homes open their doors to families as soon as possible.

“By the end of next year, by the end of 2023, we hope to have at least 15 homes built or under construction,” Hervey explained. ‘We’re working quickly to get families into homes.”

The group hopes this will give families in need a chance to be financially stable and thrive, instead of being weighed down by rent payment.

“It’s exciting,” Hervey said. “When you think about the American dream, for many families that involves having a home.”

The public is invited to an open house at the Beaver Street Enterprise Center on Tuesday, July 19 starting at 6 p.m., where there will be more discussions and presentations on the Jacksonville Community Land Trust.

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