Annie Lord Of Miami Homes for All: How We Are Helping To Make Housing More Affordable

By Community News Release

Annie Lord, executive director of Miami Homes For All, speaks to attendees at 40th anniversary special event.

Miami Homes For All (MHFA), a leading nonprofit working to ensure that all Miami-Dade residents have a safe, affordable place to call home, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special event at the Rubell Museum in Allapattah.

Miami Homes For All’s 2023 Housing Needs Assessment found that more than 60 percnt of Miami-Dade households spend beyond their means on housing, while the county faces a shortage of 90,000 affordable homes for working families. For over four decades, Miami Homes For All has helped house lower-income families and individuals, while advocating for systemic change to address the region’s affordability crisis.

A cocktail-style reception gathered more than 200 community leaders, longtime partners, elected officials, and housing advocates to commemorate forty years of impact and momentum in addressing Miami-Dade County’s housing challenges.

“Forty years ago, we set out to make sure everyone had a place in Miami, and that what gets built isn’t only for those our community wants to attract, but also for those who live here now,” said Annie Lord, executive director of Miami Homes For All. “We’ve made real progress – and today, with bold action and shared purpose, we believe an affordable Miami is still within reach.”

The evening featured a keynote from Lord, remarks from special guests including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, United Way of Miami President and CEO Symeria Hudson, board president Dr. Janisse Schoepp, along with short films highlighting personal impact stories. The program also honored individuals and organizations whose work exemplifies the shared commitment to housing access.

Honorees recognized for their extraordinary leadership: Yvonne Grassie, whose efforts led to the sale that established MHFA’s endowment.

Arthur Rosenberg, for decades of civic leadership to defend the unhoused.
Bobbie Ibarra, for her work focusing Miami’s leaders on an as-yet unacknowledged affordable housing crisis.

Lisa Martinez, for her excellence and dedication on affordable housing initiatives.
Maria Escorcia, representing JPMorgan Chase for catalytic corporate investment and leadership.

Miami Homes For All brings together public and private partners to champion bold, achievable solutions – from zoning reforms to permitting improvements to scalable investment in affordability.

“We’ve done hard things in this community before,” Lord said, referencing pivotal initiatives like the Children’s Trust and Building Better Communities bond. “With the right partners and political will, we can do it again.”

Founded in 1985, Miami Homes For All’s mission has been to ensure that everyone in Miami-Dade has a safe, affordable place to call home.