A New Era Of Affordable Workforce Housing

Cape Coral has officially opened its first workforcebased housing community, Civitas of Cape Coral, markin a significant step in addressing the city’s growing need for affordable housing. The 96-unit development, located off Pine Island Road, provides essential housing options for individuals and families earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI).

A Much-Needed Solution To Rising Housing Costs With skyrocketing rental prices across Southwest Florida, many residents have struggled to find affordable places to live. Civitas offers a solution, with rental rates as low as $634 per month for certain units, and prices ranging up to $1,800 for three-bedroom apartments. Each unit is equipped with a washer and dryer, ensuring modern conveniences for residents. To qualify for Civitas, applicants must meet specific income and household size requirements. For example, a three-person household earning no more than $25,000 annually could secure a one bedroom unit for as low as $634 per month. Meanwhile, a similar unit for someone earning $41,000 might cost closer to $1,400 per month. “Good. Because we need it. The housing prices are way too high for anybody to survive,” said Cape Coral resident Christine Heerlyn. “You can’t live off of less than $100,000 here.”

The Collaborative Effort Behind Civitas
Civitas is the result of a public-private partnership between the Lee County Housing Authority, ReVital Development Group, and Birdsong Housing Partners. The development received financial support from various entities, including $5.6 million in state hurricane relief funds, $1.1 million from the City of Cape Coral, and $2 million from Lee County. “It’s exciting. It’s overwhelming,” said Michael Allen, President of ReVital Development Group. “We’re happy to finally see the vision come to reality and provide housing for hard-working families in Cape Coral.” Meeting

The Demand For Affordable Housing

The need for affordable housing in Cape Coral has never been greater. At the Civitas pre-leasing event, hundreds of hopeful applicants camped out overnight, eager to secure a unit. Mark Brady, a local resident who currently sleeps in his car, expressed his urgency for housing options like Civitas.

“I’m disabled. I collect Social Security, about $23,000 to$24,000 a year, and that is it,” he said. While he was unable to qualify in time for Civitas, he remains hopeful as the city plans more developments. Cape Coral City Councilor Jennifer Nelson-Lastra emphasized the importance of these projects: “When they’re starting teachers, law enforcement officers, or first responders … their salary is not of that median range. It’s a huge issue.” District 5 Councilmember Joseph Kilraine echoed similar sentiments: “People think of low-income housing as something that’s not very prestigious. But if you look at this  facility and what they offer – it’s unbelievable. It’s a great asset to have in the city.”

Looking Ahead: More Affordable Housing On TheHorizon

The completion of Civitas is just the beginning. Developers are already planning an additional 160 affordable housing units in North Fort Myers, with future projects also being considered in Cape Coral.

“That’s definitely the goal – to show that it can be done, how it can be done, and that it’s well received by the community and local government,” Allen said. “We have our next development in Cape Coral planned as well, about a mile down the road for seniors. We’ll continue to focus here in Cape Coral and Lee County, and grow.” As Cape Coral continues to expand, developments like Civitas provide much needed stability for residents, ensuring they can live where they work and contribute to a thriving, diverse community.

For more information on eligibility and applications, visit civitas.pmiflorida.com. Civitas of Cape Coral is located at 123 Civitas Court, off Pine Island Road.

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