At the May 12, 2026 Development Ad Hoc Committee meeting, staff reported that SHA issued an RFP for a single‑family home project on a vacant lot at North Osprey (and a lot on Pershing) to solicit different build‑out options. Five responses were received; several were minority‑owned firms with Newtown experience, and Homes by Bernard and Renovations LLC was identified as the top‑rated candidate among five conventional home builders. SHA visited one of their active sites and was impressed with the work, and the owner has been invited to attend the next SHFC Board meeting to move the project forward. SHA is also exploring a $7.5 million impact‑investment loan from Gulf Coast Community Foundation to finance construction on these lots, potentially covering 50% of total construction costs alongside SHFC reserves.While the primary builder for the Osprey/Pershing homes is effectively chosen, program design and financing are still being shaped, including whether the homes will be for immediate sale, a homebuyer program, or rent‑to‑own. This creates follow‑on opportunities for subcontractors, design professionals, lenders, and homeownership counseling providers, as well as for firms offering underwriting, down‑payment assistance integration, and rent‑to‑own structuring aligned with Section 8 homeownership constraints.

Committee discussed whether to pursue a traditional homebuyer model or rent‑to‑own, noting concerns about possible losses under Section 8 homeownership; this indicates SHA is open to external expertise on program design and risk mitigation.