Affordable Housing First Launches Appeal to Address Nassau County’s Workforce Housing Crisis

Nassau County has thrived over the past four decades, but that prosperity has created new challenges for local workers and families. In 1985, the median home price was about three times household income. Today, it’s nearly six times annual salaries—pricing out many of the very people Nassau County depends on every day.

Today, only 44% of Nassau County’s workforce actually lives in the county. Thousands of teachers, first responders, police officers, and hospitality staff endure commute times of 1.5–2 hours each way from Georgia, Jacksonville, and other surrounding areas. This trend threatens the long-term stability and vitality of our community.

To address this urgent need, Affordable Housing First Corp (AHFC) was established in January 2024 by Nassau County residents Carol Weldon and Carlene McDuffie. The nonprofit is dedicated to creating safe, dignified, and affordable rental housing so essential workers can continue to live, work, and raise families in Nassau County.

AHFC has already raised nearly $1.5 million and purchased two local parcels of land, 10 acres and 4 acres, to begin its mission. Plans for the 10-acre site include the development of affordable apartment rentals, designed for families earning less than 80% of the area’s median income. The 4-acre is set aside for a Tiny Home Village.

“Building a tiny home village had always been a dream of mine. When Carlene McDuffie shared the same vision, we knew we had to act. That’s how Affordable Housing First began—creating the first truly affordable rental housing for Nassau County families earning $55,000 or less,” said Carol Weldon, Co-Founder.

“It’s heartbreaking that so many of the people who take care of us every day—our teachers, police officers, first responders, and hospitality staff—can’t afford to live in the community they serve. Affordable Housing First is about changing that by creating real workforce rental housing so Nassau County’s families and workers can thrive here at home,” said Carlene McDuffie, Co-Founder.

This week, Affordable Housing First launched a major Appeal Campaign, sending 31,000 letters to Nassau County households to raise funds for the infrastructure needed to make these rental properties a reality.

For more information—or to make a tax-deductible contribution—please visit AffordableHousing1st.org.