“Affordability” is a major concern across the U.S., and the lack of affordable housing for first-time home buyers has become a crisis in Central Florida. What can be done?
It’s not just the common “affordability” complaints, e.g. housing prices, wages and mortgage interest rates. Some challenges relate to a workforce that looks nothing like it did a generation ago. Remote and hybrid work, irregular income from gig economy jobs, and changes in how and where people live are redefining the meaning of “home.”
Yet the very foundations — from mortgage underwriting to down payment requirements – are rooted in the past.
In Central Florida, these tensions are not just theory. There’s surging housing demand, but the supply of affordable homes has lagged. Even though the market shows signs of cooling, many working families remain priced out.
The disconnect starts with where people work and what they do for a living.
Millions now operate outside traditional geographic boundaries. Remote and hybrid roles allow people to live where they can afford a home, rather than near an office. This also applies for gig, contract and seasonal workers. Nurses, drivers and contractors earn income that might not satisfy lenders.
The flexibility clashes with a mortgage system that prioritizes consistent paychecks and lengthy employment histories.
Also, construction and land costs continue to rise and zoning rules often limit the types of homes that can be built. Florida has seen skyrocketing homeowner insurance rates.
Thus, more households (40% in 2024, according to USA Facts) are “cost-burdened,” paying higher than 30% of income toward housing. The Orlando metro area ranks among the worst for affordable housing.
These new realities have a human face. Consider Jackie, an assistant manager at a local bank. She could not find a safe, affordable home for her and her son. Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka stepped in and provided one so that they didn’t have to move out of the community they love. Or Jaylon, dedicated single father of Micah, a son he adopted after meeting at the youth care organization where Jaylon works. Aware of the challenges Micah could face, Jaylon stepped in, showing him the potential for a bright future, including college. With rising rent, Jaylon wanted to provide a stable home and joined the Habitat Financial Academy and Homebuyer Program.
Their experiences highlight a painful truth: today’s road to ownership was not built for today’s workforce. That must change.
Homeownership models must become more flexible. We need mortgage products that leave room for nontraditional income. Down payment assistance and savings programs should align with modern employment realities, not penalize families for participating in the financial innovation reshaping the broader economy.
Long-term sustainability matters too. Energy-efficient homes, thoughtful construction, and durable designs protect families from the volatility of utility costs, weather-related events, and repairs.
Most importantly, we must treat homeownership as community infrastructure that’s essential to workforce stability and regional resilience.
Affordable homes help retain teachers, health-care workers, first responders and service providers. They strengthen local economies and build neighborhoods. When families can live where they work, they invest — in schools, in commerce and civic life.
Nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity are stepping into this gap, but we cannot do it alone.
At Habitat Seminole-Apopka, collaboration with local government has unlocked land, updated permitting processes, and reduced barriers to construction. Corporate partnerships have expanded resources. Volunteers help lower costs and build community. They increase civic engagement and fellowship among neighbors.
Our model, which includes sweat equity and financial education, empowers families with skills and confidence, not just keys. In a changing workforce, that empowerment matters.
As the Florida Legislature convenes this month in Tallahassee and affordability dominates the agenda — including housing policy bills that would empower cities and counties — Central Florida’s families are watching closely. These debates will shape whether they can afford to live near where they work.
We are advocating before the Legislature, and you can too. If you already own a home and want to help, your advocacy, your volunteerism, and your contributions can support our work. It’s one of the most important investments we can make in Central Florida’s future.
Penny Seater is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka.
