Jeff Dade Joins Homestead Community Land Trust to Lead Pierce County Partnerships

King and Pierce Counties, WA – Jeff Dade, MACP, AFC®, veteran community economic developer and planner, has joined Homestead Community Land Trust as Director of Community Partnerships for Pierce County.

Founded in 1992, Homestead is a nonprofit, membership organization that develops land and housing in trust to give income-qualified households the opportunity to own a home that is affordable to them and remains affordable to future owners. It has 245 such homes in King County. Homestead prioritizes housing developments that arise from partnerships with community coalitions. Dade will advance these partnerships in Pierce County.

He joins Homestead to support the development of Aya Community Land Trust, which will build upon the community organizing and vision of leaders in the Hilltop neighborhood for affordable homeownership and community place-making. Aya is a Ghanaian Adinkra word that represents the endurance, tolerance and will power required to create growth under harsh conditions.

“The Hilltop has endured for over 150 years against intense, persistent injustice and homeownership has been historically denied to locals. The current economic environment adds yet another layer of difficulty. Serving rather than leading is my goal. It is my honor to partner for real change that fundamentally helps everyone,” Dade said. “Community land trusts are the future of equitable housing. Together we’re forging a new alternative with an old model for generational wealth.”  

“Jeff is the ideal community champion to represent Homestead in Pierce County because of his prior work in coalition with Hilltop residents and community leaders. We look forward to bringing that coalition’s vision and goals to reality together,” said Kathleen Hosfeld, Homestead CEO.

Raised in a military family, Jeff "J.D." Dade is a family man with decades of experience in Tacoma business and community economic development. His work in the banking sector spans commercial lending, resident engagement, wealth management, mortgage underwriting, and Accredited Financial Counseling®. His most recent roles include community real estate project oversight, workforce development, and nonprofit leadership. He is a proud Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. member known for his unapologetic dedication to Black and brown cultural conservation in Pierce and King County communities

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Home prices and rents in Pierce County have skyrocketed over the last decade, according to State of Washington research (see source below). With home prices $300,000 or more above what workforce households can afford, the crisis of supply of affordable starter homes shuts all but a few out of the benefits of ownership. This widening gap between what homes cost and what people can afford has disproportionate impacts on people of color.

Dade brings an extensive track record in economic and community development to a focus on creating affordable homeownership opportunities in Pierce County.

“Jeff is one of the greatest leaders I know. He has the ability to mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision and bring it to life,” said Brendan Nelson, Director of Peace Lutheran Church.

 “Our region continues to grow despite the high cost and low supply of housing. Homeownership is no longer accessible in this era, and that goes quadruple for Black households. We need strategies that support modest income housing. That’s why I’m so happy to have Jeff’s proven skills and dedication in Tacoma. He’s been using financial systems as tools to better our lives for years!” said Kiara Daniels, Tacoma Councilmember.

Homestead is a classic community land trust, following the model created by Civil Rights era leaders in the 1960s and 1970s to prevent displacement and allow people to build wealth through ownership. Homestead builds new homes, fundraises to reduce the price of homes to what is affordable to a lower-income household, and keeps homes affordable permanently through agreements with homeowners and post-purchase support. Homestead lowers barriers to homeownership for those excluded by discrimination, and has nearly 60% ownership by people of color. Homestead has 245 homes in trust and has created over 300 first-time home-buying opportunities for income-qualified buyers. 

Homestead’s work in Pierce County will include the homebuyer support services and housing development expertise and resources to support Aya Community Land Trust in the near term. Aya will have its own board and community members. The relationship with Homestead long-term will be determined by the local community.

The community land trust model of leasehold ownership – known as permanently affordable homeownership -- has become a regional policy priority because of Homestead’s leadership. Deep investments in the environmental standards of Homestead homes achieve climate equity and justice for lower-income households, who otherwise bear disproportionate impacts of climate change. Building on the power and strength of community, Homestead prioritizes community-led housing projects and equitable development partnerships.

Those interested in supporting community land trust homeownership in Pierce County can express interest HERE.

Media Inquiries:

Kathleen Hosfeld, CEO Homestead Community Land Trust

kathleen@homesteadclt.org

Source: Improving Homeownership Rates for Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Washington.” Homeownership Disparities Work Group, Washington State Department of Commerce, September 2022