In the Jacksonville Beaches, one in five families must choose between spending money on a safe place to live and spending money on groceries, health care, education or reliable transportation. Everyone should have enough money left over after paying rent or mortgage costs to cover life’s necessities.

The statics on affordable housing are staggering:

• According to the Out of Reach Report, Fair Market Rent for a 3-bedroom home in the Jacksonville Metro area is $1,391 each month. An affordable payment for a renter earning the area’s median income is $1,034. (National Low Income Housing Coalition)
• Beaches Habitat for Humanity homeowners are people who need a little help to stand on their own. Most work full time in occupations that include childcare workers, nursing assistants, and cashiers, with annual mean wage in 2019 of $26,880, $27,240 and $22,740 respectively. To afford Fair Market Rent for a 3-bedroom home in Jacksonville, a family needs a minimum annual income of $55,640. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Low Income Housing Coalition)
• Working at minimum wage ($8.56 per hour), an employee would need to work 125 hours each week to afford a 3-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. (National Low Income Housing Coalition)

When we approve a homeowner for our program, we work with them to ensure that their monthly payment is affordable. That means that the total of their mortgage payment, contribution to a home repair escrow, homeowner's association dues, homeowner's insurance, and property taxes does not exceed 30% of their gross household income. Learn more about our homeownership program.