Miami-Dade Faces Shortage of Affordable Housing: County Turns to 'Backyard Homes' and a Coalition of 40 Institutions

Miami-Dade County is grappling with a significant shortage of affordable housing, with more than 100,000 units needed to close the gap. A coalition of financial institutions, foundations, and public entities is stepping up with faster financing and innovative solutions, such as 'backyard homes,' according to Telemundo 51.

“We have a serious issue: we need over 100,000 affordable housing units for people living normal lives, working hard, yet struggling to afford the cost of living here,” stated Annie Lord, Executive Director of Miami Homes for All.

A recent study by the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida places the deficit at 118,000 units for households earning up to 80% of the area's median income, and over 143,000 for those with even lower incomes.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava acknowledged the scale of the crisis but highlighted her administration's progress: “Under my leadership, we've already added 34,000 affordable units, and we're on track to reach nearly 50,000.”

To expedite solutions, over 40 institutions—including banks, foundations, and public agencies—have formed an alliance aimed at streamlining loans and other financial mechanisms.

“It's a much faster and more efficient way to invest in affordable housing through loans and other financing,” explained Lord regarding the coalition.

The county is also advocating for accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, which present a viable option for property owners in unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade—outside cities like Hialeah, Miami Beach, or Coral Gables, which have their own regulations.

These secondary structures can be built above a garage, as a standalone unit on the property, or by converting part of the main house.

“For example, a unit above a garage or a small house in the backyard, or even a part of the existing home—these are the most efficient options for rental,” detailed Lord.

To utilize this option, a lot must be at least 7,500 square feet, and the unit should be between 400 and 800 square feet in applicable residential districts. Only the property owner can apply for the use certificate, which needs annual renewal.

The county offers the ADU Blueprint for Homeowners program, providing pre-approved designs to simplify the permitting process.

“For those with the land, we have a new rule and provide examples of how to build, along with loans to help complete them,” noted Levine Cava.

The urgency is evident in places like Homestead, where the nonprofit Touching Miami with Love—serving families with food and services for three decades—plans a historic leap by constructing 100 affordable apartments in a five-story building, with a $53 million investment and a projected start in 2027.

“We've seen residents forced to leave the community, even employees unable to afford rent where they grew up,” lamented Trina Harris of the organization.

The project targets families currently spending an unsustainable portion of their income on rent in a county where the median rent is around $2,900 per month, compared to an average individual income of just $39,000 annually.

“These are truly affordable homes, where families won’t have to spend more than 60% of their income on rent, as they can't survive otherwise,” emphasized Harris.

For Cuban families concentrated in Hialeah, Kendall, Westchester, and Homestead—many of whom arrived during the 2021-2024 migration wave and are accustomed to shared housing or living in 'efficiencies'—both ADUs and projects like the one in Homestead offer one of the few viable solutions to a crisis that pushes tens of thousands of residents out of the county each year.