Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA) continues to forge ahead with its positive direction and commitment to the strategic action goals set forth by its Board of Commissioners. The first six months of 2012 were extremely busy and exciting as the agency experienced tremendous momentum in moving forward with the financing and planning for Pinellas Heights, the new mixed-financed, 153 unit senior community. Pinellas Heights will be constructed adjacent to PCHA’s existing central office on Ulmerton Road in Largo, Florida and will replace a vacant and aging commercial strip center. The demolition of the commercial strip center is scheduled for July. Prior to demolition, PCHA is donating any useful items from the strip center to Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store. The official closing on the financing is scheduled to take place in August with construction groundbreaking shortly thereafter. The financing for the project will be provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, the City of Largo, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, and the Pinellas County Housing Authority. The new one and two bedroom apartment homes designed for occupancy by seniors 62 or older will be ready for occupancy in early 2014. Residents of the new community will pay only 30% of their monthly income toward rent.
Tag: HUD
PCHA Dedicates Norton Apartments to the Community and the Citizens of Pinellas County
On Wednesday May 23, 2012 community leaders, residents and Pinellas County Housing Authority’s Commissioners and staff celebrated the dedication of Norton Apartments, now named “Norton Apartments at Lake Bellevue”, to the community and the citizens of Pinellas County. The property is located at 1450 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Clearwater, FL.
PCHA acquired Norton Apartments in 2011 at a time when the property was in bankruptcy and in a severe state of disrepair. The property had suffered from years of neglect and deferred maintenance. “Norton residents were living in very substandard and dangerous conditions” said Debra Johnson, PCHA’s Executive Director. With the help of many community partners, including residents, PCHA acquired Norton and immediately began improvements and property renovations, tackling the most critical and dangerous living conditions first. With new on-site property management, maintenance and lease enforcement coupled with a commitment from the Clearwater Police Department, the crime rate dropped substantially. In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has executed a new 20-year committment for rent subsidy.
Planning for Pinellas Heights Senior Apartments – Moving Forward
The Pinellas County Housing Authority plans to break ground on a new 153 unit apartment community for seniors this summer. Pinellas Heights will be a mixed-finance redevelopment of PCHA’s Greenhouse Shoppes site located in Largo, FL. Norstar Development USA, LLP is the developer for the project.
Pinellas County Housing Authority To Provide Housing Assistance to 100 Homeless Veterans
Another 100 homeless veterans in Pinellas County will receive housing through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program announced by HUD this week.
“It’s a national disgrace that one out of every six men and women in our shelters once wore a uniform to serve our country,” said HUD Secretary Donovan. “But we know that by providing housing assistance and case management services, we can significantly reduce the number of veterans living on our streets. Working together, HUD, VA and local housing agencies are making real progress toward ending veteran homelessness once and for all.”
Pinellas County Housing Authority’s Partnership to Help Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Making a Positive Impact
Just over a year ago, the Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA) looked at the growing need for housing assistance among youth aging out of foster care. To address the need, PCHA’s Board of Commissioners established an admission preference for this special group of youth in the agency’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The HCV program assists in making housing affordable. Adding to the housing benefit, participating youth can take advantage of PCHA’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. “Case management and the coordination of existing services and resources for FSS participants helps provide participating youth the guidance they need as they go out on their own” said Regina Booker, PCHA’s Director of Resident Services and Programs. FSS participants are provided assistance in establishing goals for education, training and employment, as well as in determining the steps necessary to achieve those goals, and in setting a timeline for their accomplishments. A built in escrow account provision allows participants to save money as their incomes increase due to employment. On-going case management provides support and stability.
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