Benson elected as Chairman of Florida’s Affordable and Workforce Housing

NAPLES, Fla.– Ryan Benson has been appointed Chairman of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors. He previously served as vice chairman and was originally appointed by Governor DeSantis in 2019 to the board.

Benson is co-owner of A. Vernon Allen Builder, a custom home builder in Naples and Sanibel. He also serves as First Vice President/President Elect for the Florida Home Builders Association.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) was created by the Legislature more than 35 years ago as the state’s housing finance agency (HFA) that administers state and federal resources to help provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for the citizens of Florida. Today, Florida Housing continues its mission by increasing affordable housing opportunities and ensuring that its programs are well matched to the needs of those we serve. Florida Housing works with local governments, non-profits, elected officials and others to help spread the importance of affordable housing in Florida’s communities.

“The priority of attainable housing is our commitment and Florida Housing’s budget has increased to meet the needs of workforce housing, veterans housing and more from several hundred million dollars to nearly a billion dollars,” said Benson. “This has been accomplished by the passing the Live Local Act this summer, which is administered by Florida Housing, as well as incentives for developers and rental market owners to make housing attainable.”

A Vernon Allen Builder is a luxury home builder in Naples, and one of the largest luxury home builders in southwest Florida. Founded in 1951 by Vernon Allen, it is now owned and lead by Ryan Benson and Andy Bringardner. AVA is one of the longest operating home builders in Port Royal, and one of the longest still operating in Naples and has built hundreds of homes in the area through its 70-year history.