Rising housing costs and inflation are making homeownership more difficult, but Community Partners of South Florida is helping families achieve their dream through financial assistance and comprehensive support programs. Ana Lopez, director of housing programs at Community Partners of South Florida, described the organization’s approach as a “one-stop shop” for prospective homeowners. “We have different services for our clients that are either ready to purchase or are getting started to purchase a home. And what we do is we have workshops, we have financial coaching, we have HUD-certified counselors that assist us, and we also have a lending department that is part of this nonprofit organization,” Lopez said. Lopez noted that single-family homes in Palm Beach County are selling for a median of $680,000. Recently, the organization helped a client purchase a home for $380,000 with the assistance of financial aid programs. “We look around to see who has done payment assistance. It could be the county, or it could be the city from West Palm Beach, or else we also go to other different cities that have their own down payment assistance. And also, we have our partner lenders that have assistance and they can provide either for down payment assistance or closing cost assistance,” Lopez said. She explained that qualifications vary between clients, as some may need help with credit or down payment assistance. Regardless of the challenges, the organization focuses on finding affordable options for each client. “We’re able to tell them, okay, you are not able to get a single-family home, but you are able to get a townhome, half of a duplex, a condominium, let’s start there. I can tell you is that we don’t give up on them and they don’t give up on us,” Lopez said. For India and O’Brien Edwards, the journey to homeownership took seven years. Edwards became a homeowner in Palm Beach County in August 2025 and said the process began in 2018 as inflation and the cost of living surged. “It’s a blessing for us because of this is what we always wanted to do. The journey started in 2018 when things were going up tremendously due to inflation and the cost of living and just exploring our options of ‘OK, what can we do? How can we get our money’s worth,'” Edwards said. The Edwards family went through classes with the organization, such as fixing your credit and budgeting with their income. India says throughout the years, they had to pause on certain classes after a death in the family or medical situations. But even through the difficult times, they stayed in touch with Community Partners.Edwards said, “They would check in with us to see how we’re doing. Whenever we were ready to resume, they were on it. They got that information, upload it in the portal, and they also direct you to where you can receive financial support.”The couple, both educators for the local school district, initially struggled to qualify for assistance due to their middle-class status. However, they eventually connected with Community Partners, which helped them secure a $50,000 down payment through the Renaissance program in Riviera Beach. “Community Partners bridged the gap with letting us know which financial support, which was the Renaissance program in Riviera Beach, they truly support families that want to stay and live in Riviera Beach, and they supported us with a $50,000 down payment for closing costs,” Edwards said. Edwards emphasized that the organization’s support extended beyond financial assistance, creating a sense of community and belonging. “I think about it now, they’re like family, believe it or not. When we had our housewarming, we had everyone there, believe it or not, because they’re family. When you become a homeowner, your home and everything that is embedded in ensuring that you receive it; blessings to everyone that poured their hands into assisting you and supporting you. Without community partners, without the renaissance program we wouldn’t have known how we would’ve become homeowners,” Edwards said.Community Partners of South Florida is one of only 12 chartered members of NeighborWorks America, a congressionally chartered and funded nonpartisan nonprofit. NeighborWorks America supports organizations whose mission revolves around providing communities with affordable housing, financial counseling and coaching, training, and resident engagement and collaboration in the areas of health, employment and education. The CPSFL Housing Fair is a free community event held on Saturday, June 6, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Hatch 1121, 1121 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth Beach.Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. —
Rising housing costs and inflation are making homeownership more difficult, but Community Partners of South Florida is helping families achieve their dream through financial assistance and comprehensive support programs.
Ana Lopez, director of housing programs at Community Partners of South Florida, described the organization’s approach as a “one-stop shop” for prospective homeowners.
“We have different services for our clients that are either ready to purchase or are getting started to purchase a home. And what we do is we have workshops, we have financial coaching, we have HUD-certified counselors that assist us, and we also have a lending department that is part of this nonprofit organization,” Lopez said.
Lopez noted that single-family homes in Palm Beach County are selling for a median of $680,000. Recently, the organization helped a client purchase a home for $380,000 with the assistance of financial aid programs.
“We look around to see who has done payment assistance. It could be the county, or it could be the city from West Palm Beach, or else we also go to other different cities that have their own down payment assistance. And also, we have our partner lenders that have assistance and they can provide either for down payment assistance or closing cost assistance,” Lopez said.
She explained that qualifications vary between clients, as some may need help with credit or down payment assistance. Regardless of the challenges, the organization focuses on finding affordable options for each client.
“We’re able to tell them, okay, you are not able to get a single-family home, but you are able to get a townhome, half of a duplex, a condominium, let’s start there. I can tell you is that we don’t give up on them and they don’t give up on us,” Lopez said.
For India and O’Brien Edwards, the journey to homeownership took seven years. Edwards became a homeowner in Palm Beach County in August 2025 and said the process began in 2018 as inflation and the cost of living surged.
“It’s a blessing for us because of this is what we always wanted to do. The journey started in 2018 when things were going up tremendously due to inflation and the cost of living and just exploring our options of ‘OK, what can we do? How can we get our money’s worth,'” Edwards said.
The Edwards family went through classes with the organization, such as fixing your credit and budgeting with their income. India says throughout the years, they had to pause on certain classes after a death in the family or medical situations. But even through the difficult times, they stayed in touch with Community Partners.
Edwards said, “They would check in with us to see how we’re doing. Whenever we were ready to resume, they were on it. They got that information, upload it in the portal, and they also direct you to where you can receive financial support.”
The couple, both educators for the local school district, initially struggled to qualify for assistance due to their middle-class status. However, they eventually connected with Community Partners, which helped them secure a $50,000 down payment through the Renaissance program in Riviera Beach.
“Community Partners bridged the gap with letting us know which financial support, which was the Renaissance program in Riviera Beach, they truly support families that want to stay and live in Riviera Beach, and they supported us with a $50,000 down payment for closing costs,” Edwards said.
Edwards emphasized that the organization’s support extended beyond financial assistance, creating a sense of community and belonging.
“I think about it now, they’re like family, believe it or not. When we had our housewarming, we had everyone there, believe it or not, because they’re family. When you become a homeowner, your home and everything that is embedded in ensuring that you receive it; blessings to everyone that poured their hands into assisting you and supporting you. Without community partners, without the renaissance program we wouldn’t have known how we would’ve become homeowners,” Edwards said.
Community Partners of South Florida is one of only 12 chartered members of NeighborWorks America, a congressionally chartered and funded nonpartisan nonprofit.
NeighborWorks America supports organizations whose mission revolves around providing communities with affordable housing, financial counseling and coaching, training, and resident engagement and collaboration in the areas of health, employment and education.
The CPSFL Housing Fair is a free community event held on Saturday, June 6, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Hatch 1121, 1121 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth Beach.
Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News