Ability Housing Adds Executive to Scale Development Goals
The nonprofit aims to add 2,200 affordable units by 2030, marking a shift toward institutional growth and new partnerships.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People
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Ability Housing has appointed Paula Naugle Bides as chief of strategy and development to lead organizational expansion. The nonprofit developer aims to scale its portfolio as it works toward a target of 2,200 affordable housing units by 2030.
Why it matters
As Florida faces significant demand for affordable residential space, Ability Housing is scaling its leadership to manage a complex development pipeline. This shift signals a heightened focus on institutional partnerships and operational efficiency as the firm pursues aggressive expansion targets.
Ability Housing is targeting 2,200 total affordable units by 2030, a significant increase from the 180 units opened in the past year across St. Augustine and Jacksonville. The firm is currently managing active pipelines in three key Florida markets.
The players
Paula Naugle Bides
The new chief of strategy and development at Ability Housing who brings 20 years of experience in the health care sector.
Ability Housing
A Florida-based nonprofit developer focused on expanding affordable multifamily housing through a multi-city project pipeline.
The details
In her new role, Bides will oversee organizational strategy and fund development while steering communications to support growth. Her background in the health care sector will be leveraged to refine operational efficiency across the nonprofit's project pipeline in Jacksonville, Orlando, and St. Petersburg. These projects are expected to provide housing for nearly 300 individuals and families as the organization seeks to stabilize access to local affordable housing.
Timeline
The past year saw 180 units opened in St. Augustine and Jacksonville.
October 2026 marks the 35th anniversary of Ability Housing.
The target for completing 2,200 total affordable units is 2030.
Market Landscape
Ability Housing is scaling operations in response to the broader Florida housing affordability crisis. This strategy follows a pattern of nonprofit developers aggressively expanding their portfolios to meet growing demand in high-density urban markets.
Operators in the Florida development and construction space should watch the project pipeline in Jacksonville, Orlando, and St. Petersburg as this firm pursues its 2030 unit goals. Competitive firms should monitor potential shifts in partnership strategy and public-private funding models under new management.
The takeaway
Nonprofits in the housing sector are increasingly adopting corporate strategy roles to manage complex growth pipelines. Operators should track the firm's progress toward its 2,200-unit goal by 2030 as a benchmark for local housing development velocity.
Further reading
For more on shifts in state nonprofit leadership, visit People.
More information
View the organizational mission and current project updates on the Ability Housing official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Ponte Vedra Recorder.
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