SWFL Realtor Breaks Down Barriers to Affordable Housing

The lack of affordable housing is one of Southwest Florida’s most pressing issues as the region’s real estate market continues to sizzle and community leaders struggle to identify solutions.  

Affordable housing is not just a Florida issue. Long-time real estate agent Julie Borden was first introduced to the barriers to homeownership that many families face through a nonprofit organization in north central Indiana. As a board member with Advantage Housing, Borden leveraged her real estate connections and got involved with the director to purchase, fix and flip homes. The proceeds were put back into the organization to help fund charitable programs.  

Now a licensed Realtor in Florida, Borden resides full-time in Estero, where she has once again joined forces with a charitable organization – the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance – dedicated to helping families escape poverty by providing safe, decent housing. The nonprofit’s mission is to eliminate substandard and overcrowded rental housing for farmworkers and low-income residents of Immokalee.  

“In real estate, we see the highest of the highs in Southwest Florida in terms of high net worth and luxury housing, compared to Immokalee where we see the lowest of the lows with people living in unsafe and overcrowded housing,” said Borden. “These communities are extreme opposites, yet within a short drive of each other.” 

After learning about the work of Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance, Borden attended a groundbreaking event commemorating the start of construction on a new rental community that will, upon completion, provide safe, affordable apartment units for 128 families. At that event, she learned more about the underlying issues that led to Immokalee’s housing problem and its solution. 

“Once I heard about their mission, I suggested to my broker, Adam Ruud, at Domain Realty that we encourage the 300+ agents in our office to donate a portion of each home sale to the organization,” said Borden. “He agreed and was already in the process of creating a foundation for projects like this, so it was a perfect fit. We are currently working to roll out the program to agents. While we may not be able to give millions of dollars, collectively, we can make a big difference.” 

Borden’s goal is to bring the idea to the real estate boards in our area in hopes that other real estate companies will join Domain Realty in breaking down barriers to affordable housing in Immokalee. 

“While living in Naples is paradise to most, we live so close to such a sad situation that we can’t just turn the other way,” shared Borden. “It’s about caring for others, and my gift is connecting people not just to their dream home but to a great cause that is relevant and timely for our industry. My hope is that this give-back program becomes a roadmap for area Realtors with the idea that while we can’t fix everything if everyone does their part, we can make a big impact for the families in Immokalee.”  

Immokalee Fair Housing has nearly completed construction on the first of eight apartment buildings in its new residential development. Once complete, the community will include 128 two- and three-bedroom apartments, along with a community center for meetings, after-school programs, health care assistance, and more. Rent will be capped at no more than 30% of a family’s income.