Collier housing nonprofit gets $50,000 to educate homebuyers, renters

An affiliate of The Housing Alliance, a Collier County-based organization focused on affordable housing, received a $50,000 grant for a program aimed at educating and counseling homebuyers.

The money for the Housing Education Loan Program came for the Collier Community Foundation, the 40-year-old local philanthropic organization.

The funds will be used to expand a HELP program that provides education for those looking to purchase a home or find an affordable rental.

According to a statement, the Housing Navigator program “simplifies the homebuying process by providing accessible, practical resources” to people and increasing “their knowledge and skills in money management.”

The program uses HUD-certified, bilingual financial counselors that offer individual support, connecting participants to resources to secure affordable rental housing, tools to save for home ownership, and steps to qualify for a mortgage according to the statement.

The program is administered by HELP and The Housing Alliance and helps with everything from credit rehabilitation to down payment assistance.

In August, the organization announced that in fiscal year 2025, HELP assisted 82 households — 184 people — an increase of 40% from the previous year.

The Housing Alliance works with local lenders, non-profits and the county to offer specialized programs for low-to-moderate income households.

For its part, the Collier Community Foundation works with hundreds of nonprofits and has awarded more than $400 million in grants and scholarships since its founding in 1985.