JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A local nonprofit recently received a grant to help Jacksonville families preserve inherited homes or generational land.
A $450,000 grant was awarded to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which aims to help families at risk of losing their inherited homes or land, clear up property rights issues and preserve their legacy.
Recommended Videos
The problem first emerged when families with storm-damaged homes were denied access to federally funded recovery programs because they could not prove legal ownership.
Many of these properties were passed down informally through generations, creating what is known as “heirs’ property.”
“This work really allows us to lean into the here and now and help people who otherwise don’t think they have a legacy to create one,” Dr. Irvin Cohen, executive director of LISC Jacksonville, said.
The funding will enable LISC to guide families through the complex and often time-consuming process of establishing legal ownership. That includes identifying and locating all individuals who have a legal right to the property.
“A lot of this is tracking down all the people that have a legal right to the property, and that can sometimes be a very arduous process,” Cohen said.
Cohen emphasized the importance of stabilizing families’ housing situations, particularly as the region faces a growing housing crisis.
He said ensuring legal ownership not only helps families keep their homes but also unlocks home equity that can be used for education, business investments, or generational wealth-building.
“This is a way to pass wealth down from one generation to the next, but we have to, as a community, do a better job of finding value in those homes,” Cohen said.
Estate planning attorney Adam Dugan, of Wave Crest Law Firm, echoed that sentiment and praised LISC’s efforts.
“Sometimes we hear the term ‘legacy’ and think it has to be immense wealth,” Dugan said. “It’s not. It can be anything we pass along to our heirs—especially for families of modest means, it’s vital that we ensure their assets can be passed down properly.”
LISC is working in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Ameris Bank, Three Rivers Legal Services and other community organizations to implement the initiative.
Families needing assistance are encouraged to reach out to LISC Jacksonville or its partnering organizations for help navigating the legal process.