The Solution to the Immokalee Housing Crisis

IFHA is working with these partners to create a path to success to strengthen the entire community through safe, healthy, affordable housing. Within this overall framework we will provide new hurricane-rated multi-family units in a supportive community. We intend for these new units not just to augment the current housing stock; we intend for these units to replace substandard and overcrowded housing.

Affordability and Sustainability Goals:

• Provide new rental housing 

  • Work with nonprofit and government partners to eliminate substandard housing 

• Maintain rental rates that: 

  • Are at or below 30% of household income

• Maintain financial sustainability of operations 

  Security 

  • Ensure that all new units are Category 5 hurricane-rated

We want to thank the Collier County Commissioners on September 8, 2020 for authorizing the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance (IFHA) project, which will provide 128 safe, affordable rental units to farmworkers, their families and other extremely low-income residents of Immokalee.  The 2-3 bedroom rentals will be able to withstand hurricane winds.  IFHA, a 501-(c)-3 non-profit organization, has purchased ten acres of land in Immokalee on Lake Trafford Road, central to transportation, markets, churches and businesses.  This much-needed project will include a community center, providing space for pre- and after school tutoring, adult education, health counseling, and an athletic facility, as well as meeting and study rooms. A fundraising campaign to finance the project is underway.  

Beyond providing safe and affordable housing to those who harvest our food, IFHA’s goal is to foster community leadership and a sense of inclusion by encouraging residents’ active participation in the property’s management.  Immokalee means ‘My Home’ and, through this project, we will build a sense of home, family and hope in the Immokalee community. 

Dr. Arol Buntzman,

Chair, Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance