New non-profit taps Puchalla to lead The Housing Alliance

The Housing Alliance, a new non-profit organization formed to provide information, education and advocacy for accessing and developing attainable housing solutions in Collier County, has named Michael Puchalla as the executive director and CEO. Puchalla has more than 17 years of mortgage lending, financial counseling education and non-profit, affordable housing management experience.

The Alliance formed in 2024 through a formal affiliation agreement with two existing non-profits, Housing Development Corporation of SW Florida, Inc., HELP and Collier County Community Land Trust, both of which Puchalla has had a leadership role. He joined, HELP, which provides a housing navigator program, HUD-certified financial counseling and homebuyer education, as Assistant Director in 2009, and was promoted to Executive Director in 2013.

Under Puchalla’s leadership, HELP launched the Collier County Community Land Trust, which provides land acquisition and partnership opportunities for affordable housing developments, in 2020. He has served as the Land Trust Executive Director since its inception. In his new role as executive director and CEO of The Housing Alliance, he will remain in his leadership roles for both organizations with the mission to engage the community to amplify and support each non-profits’ services.

Prior to joining HELP, Puchalla worked in mortgage lending with an emphasis on working with first time homebuyers. During that time, he held Florida licenses in real estate, property and casualty insurance, life, health, and variable annuities insurance as well as a mortgage broker’s license. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, with degree in management – entrepreneurship.

Puchalla lends his expertise and time in various capacities throughout the community having previously served as chair of the Affordable Housing Committee for the Collier County Continuum of Care and currently sits on the board of directors for Emmanuel Communities, an affiliated ministry of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.