MARTIN COUNTY — Martin County is moving forward with plans to sell two county-owned properties for affordable housing, with local nonprofits involved in plans for transitional housing.
The Martin County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution Aug. 11 that updates the county's list of properties appropriate for affordable housing and authorizes the properties to be sold through the county's approved auctioneer services contract to qualified organizations or individuals for affordable housing purposes.
The two properties are 5703 SE 47th Ave. and 10 lots between SE Hawthorne Street and SE Iris Street.
Robert Ranieri, CEO of House of Hope and a board member of the Martin County Community Land Trust, said the effort could provide housing for people and families who are struggling to find an affordable place to live while also connecting them with services.
"We have an opportunity, working jointly with House of Hope, the county staff, and the land trust to potentially develop some affordable transitional housing in the area in challenging times to have an affordable roof over their head, while House of Hope provides wraparound services to those individuals or families to help them move forward," he said.
The Martin County Community Land Trust would take primary responsibility for the properties, Ranieri said, including the development and ongoing operation of any housing built there.
"The Martin County Land Trust would be responsible for the construction, maintenance, property management of any facilities that are built on the parcels," he said.
Under the proposed model, residents would pay a nominal rent while participating in House of Hope programs designed to help them become financially stable.
The goal would be for residents to eventually move into permanent housing, either through homeownership or another rental arrangement.
"They're either financially ready to purchase a home, potentially through the land trust or Habitat or the general market, or they move on to another rental opportunity, and then that transitional home that they had lived in becomes available for the next person or family that may need that support," he said.
Commissioner Edward Ciampi supported the proposal, describing it as an initial step toward addressing the county's housing needs.
"[It's a] great idea for several reasons. One, we constantly speak about how we're trying to address affordable housing and transitional housing for our residents. This will be a concrete step to show that we're actually trying," he said. "It's not massive, but it's a step."
Commissioner Sarah Heard said the county would include safeguards in any agreements associated with the properties.
"We will, of course, have development agreements and contracts that will provide protection to the contribution that the county is making in perpetuity. We've done them with Habitat. We've done them with Miss Butterfly," she said. "The legal department makes sure that our interests are protected."
The resolution rescinds a 2024 resolution that authorized county staff to develop a request for proposals for the sale of two county-owned parcels. The new resolution instead authorizes the properties to be advertised, marketed and sold through the county's approved auctioneer services contract.
The resolution cites Florida law requiring counties to prepare an inventory every three years of county-owned real property that may be appropriate for affordable housing.