On Friday, Jan. 10, the Collective Empowerment Group (CEG) of South Florida hosted its Faith-Based Housing Summit, bringing together leaders, faith-based organizations, and community stakeholders to explore how churches can leverage their land to address the region’s affordable housing crisis.
Founded in 2005, CEG is a consortium of South Florida churches that promotes homeownership, particularly for low- and moderate-income families. Through its affordable housing development arm, Collective Developers, LLC, CEG focuses on building homes that foster financial independence and equity. The summit marked the organization’s 20th-anniversary celebration, underscoring its growth and ongoing impact.
CEG’s leadership
The summit opened with remarks from CEG leaders as CEO Bernard Pharnord praised the organization’s resilience.
"Times are changing – moral times, climate times," he said. "But CEG has stood strong for the past 20 years, sustained by the same vision and spirit of faith."
The Rev. Dr. R. Joaquin Willis, CEG president, emphasized the role of faith-based housing in building generational wealth.
“Building housing for purchase, building Black wealth – it’s not just about power; we’re trying to power us to be,” he said.
Willis noted that faith-based housing development is a growing national movement, citing partnerships with major financial institutions like Wells Fargo and Chase. Antonio Prado, CEG’s executive director, highlighted ongoing projects, including plans for 37 townhomes in North Miami and micro-unit developments on church-owned land.
“We believe the future of affordable homeownership lies in higher densities and smaller units,” Prado said, emphasizing the importance of homeownership for financial independence, particularly for Black families.
Willis also shared outcomes from CEG’s Infill Affordable Housing program, which has already housed six families with more in the pipeline.
"Our hope is that churches will build homes on their sites, using land more efficiently to house more people and give them economic power," he added.
Church’s role in the community
The first panel, “The Church’s Role in the Community,” addressed the challenges facing neighborhoods, especially in affordable housing.
Pastor Carol Nash-Lester from Westview’s Bethel Apostolic Temple said that churches have a divine mandate to help solve the housing crisis, particularly those with real estate holdings.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that we can assist in that enormous endeavor," she said.
Pastor Alphonso Jackson from Second Baptist Church, located in Richmond Heights, emphasized the importance of educating congregants on financial literacy and homeownership, stressing early preparation for housing opportunities.
Nash-Lester also called for collaboration among churches, advocating a data-driven, long-term approach to community development.
“We have to use provincial science methods to assess our community, plan based on the data, and fine-tune our work,” she said.
The panelists further reflected on their own experiences addressing housing issues. Pastor Richard Paul Dunn II of Pinewood’s Faith Community Baptist Church shared his church’s decade-long effort to develop affordable housing. After overcoming the congregation's resistance, the church gave away land for community development.
“It wasn’t until 18 months ago that we struck a deal, and now we’re on the cusp of groundbreaking,” Dunn shared.
The panel concluded by calling on churches to become active agents of change, driven by a faith that compels them to serve and transform their communities.
‘Show me the money’
The second panel, “Funding the Vision: Show Me the Money,” discussed the financial barriers to faith-based housing development.
Timothy Block, a senior director for nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners, discussed alternative funding sources, including grants and interest-free loans.
"Many churches don’t even know what a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institutions Fund) is, so our job is to ensure they’re aware of those resources," Block explained.
He also praised CEG's collaborative efforts and its Faith-Based Development Initiative, which provides churches with the necessary tools to navigate funding and development.
New Urban Development President and CEO Oliver Gross encouraged churches to partner with developers to bridge financial gaps.
"If your balance sheet isn’t as strong, partner with someone whose balance sheet is," he advised.
Panelists further emphasized a critical point about the changing landscape of the neighborhoods in which these churches are often located: Areas like Overtown and Coconut Grove, once overlooked, now show growing demand for affordable housing.
The panel also addressed government financing. Althea A. Harris, deputy district director at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), highlighted available resources for faith-based projects that don't focus on evangelism.
Working with government
The “Working with Government and Community Partners” panel explored how faith-based organizations and government entities can collaborate to address affordable housing.
Florida Rep. Kevin Chambliss stressed the importance of increasing housing inventory to meet the state’s growing demand. He expressed hope that upcoming legislation would create bidding wars for developers willing to partner with faith-based groups.
“The number one thing that I just want people to lead with is that we do need more inventory, and we need to be a part of the conversation of what goes into this housing bill,” he said.
Matthew Tisdol, legislative analyst with the Miami-Dade County Economic Advocacy Trust (MDEAT), emphasized the numerous government programs available to support faith-based housing initiatives, encouraging organizations to leverage these resources.
The panel also highlighted the Seeding Equity and Economic Development (SEED) program, which the CEG of the Tampa Bay Area will launch in February 2025. This 12-month training initiative is designed to equip faith leaders with tools for economic development in their communities.
“We will bring people in who have the expertise,” said Imam Askia Muhammad Aquil, CEO of CEG of the Tampa Bay Area. “People who understand the legal, the development and financial aspect, and incorporate into that financial education training.”
The panel further discussed how faith communities could create their own capital pools, referencing the federal Jobs Act, which allows unaccredited investors to raise funds for small businesses. This approach could be adapted for housing initiatives.
The issue of housing affordability in Miami-Dade County was a central topic, with panelists noting the rising cost of living and workforce housing shortages. The conversation also addressed the Live Local Act, which aims to encourage people to live closer to where they work. However, panelists stressed that local economic growth could stall without a concerted push for more affordable housing. Chambliss pointed out that state-level policies often undermine efforts to incentivize developers to build multifamily housing, particularly those surrounding rent control.
As the Faith-Based Housing Summit concluded, participants reflected on the discussions and potential pathways forward for addressing the affordable housing crisis using church land. President Willis noted how CEG’s efforts to engage faith-based groups in housing development are positioning the organization as a key player in efforts to provide shelter and foster community development:
“We’re looking at all the entities that could help to strengthen the community, would also create jobs, and it would create living-wage jobs.”
