JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It has been nearly a year and a half since Cheron Corbett Waller took over as CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority.
Since then, JHA says it has renovated aging properties, built new homes and begun major redevelopment projects as part of a five-year plan focused on expanding and preserving affordable housing.
But the demand for that housing has also grown significantly.
When Corbett Waller took over in April 2025, about 47,300 people were on JHA’s public housing and Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists.
Today, that number is roughly 79,400, an increase of more than 32,000 people.
JHA focuses on improving aging public housing
At the Brentwood Faith Building, a senior housing development, residents are already seeing some of the changes.
Michael Muff has lived there since 2021.
“Oh wow, it’s just been awesome,” Muff said.
Michael Muff (Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
He pointed to new paint, updated entry doors and new refrigerators and appliances installed for residents.
The improvements are part of JHA’s broader effort to address aging buildings and improve housing quality.
“Absolutely. This is one of our critical missions,” Corbett Waller said when asked whether JHA plans to continue addressing deteriorating properties.
JHA’s five-year strategic plan calls for maintaining and upgrading public housing to meet federal and local standards. It also calls for redeveloping vacant land and buildings, with a goal of completing redevelopment projects within 10 years.
Corbett Waller said JHA is focused on maximizing federal funding it has already received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“So our goal is to really utilize, I should say, really maximize those existing capital funds that we’ve received from HUD,” she said.
The next major project is expected to be Twin Towers, another senior development. JHA plans to renovate the elevator lobbies and common areas before moving into individual residential units.
New homes and redevelopment
JHA also has started adding new housing.
The agency has built five single-family “Daisy Homes” in the historic Durkeeville neighborhood, with plans to build more.
JHA also is working to redevelop Franklin Arms on Jacksonville’s Eastside into affordable senior housing.
The agency says public-private partnerships and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will be critical to bringing additional affordable units to the market.
Those efforts are part of JHA’s five-year goal of expanding and preserving the city’s affordable housing supply.
The plan also includes expanding resident services such as education, job training, economic security programs and pathways to homeownership.
At Brentwood, resident Bonnie Easthom said those services can make a difference.
“They offer like, the daycare; they have like, the labs, you can go in there and work, so when I’m not at school, I can go into the computer room and take advantage of that,” Easthom said.
But getting into public housing can still take years.
Easthom said she spent about four years on the waiting list before getting into Brentwood.
Affordable housing demand continues to grow
The waiting list remains one of JHA’s biggest challenges.
The number of people waiting for public housing or a Housing Choice Voucher has increased from roughly 47,300 when Corbett Waller became CEO to about 79,400 today, she says the numbers highlight the growing demand.
Corbett Waller said JHA is looking at public-private partnerships to build more affordable housing and help reduce the amount of time people spend waiting.
“What we’re doing as it relates to reducing individual’s time on the wait list is, one, simply we’re do those public-private partnerships,” she said. “The speed of market is critical for us to be able to do tax credit deals, to be able to bring these new affordable housing units back to the market.”
The agency’s plan also includes leveraging flexibility from potential HUD work requirements or time limits to develop programs locally.
“There is a true need for housing that’s affordable,” she said.
For residents, the opportunity matters
Muff said the wait can be difficult, but he believes the opportunity to have stable housing is worth it.
“It’s a blessing Ms. Tiffany to tell you the truth,” he said.
Muff said he had experienced homelessness before moving into Brentwood.
Michael Muff’s apartment (Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
“So for me to have an opportunity to be here and live in this Brentwood community is just amazing,” he said.
JHA says its focus going forward will be on improving existing properties, adding new affordable housing and using partnerships and federal funding to help meet the growing demand.
The agency also has put a policy in place allowing people experiencing homelessness to be placed on the public housing waiting list.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.