In this slideshow, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority explains what it is and what it does to offer affordable rental housing in the Tampa Bay, FL, region. Darrell Irions is the agency's CEO.

1. Getting to Know the St. Petersburg Housing Authority
August 20, 2014

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What is a Housing Authority?
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Created by the federal government in 1937 to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for the working poor
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3,300 agencies nationwide authorized under federal, state and local legislation
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In Florida, governed by Chapter 421 State Statutes
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SPHA was created in 1937 as a quasi- municipal corporation or a political subdivision of the State of Florida
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Also known as a “Special District”

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Board of Commissioners
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St. Petersburg Mayor appoints Board of Commissioners and City Council confirms the appointments
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However, SPHA is not a city department, but an independent agency
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The Board is made up of seven volunteer members, one of whom must be a resident of an SPHA property
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Commissioners serve unpaid, four-year terms
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Responsibilities
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Sets policy and direction, which is carried out by the CEO
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Agency oversight

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Funding Sources
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SPHA receives funding from these sources:
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Federal government / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
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Tenant rents
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Grants
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Investments
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Inter-agency contracts
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SPHA receives no city, county or state funding
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HUD generally funds programs at 75 to 80 percent of need

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SPHA’s Ratings and Awards
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Consistently ranks among the best in the country as a HUD “High Performer”
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Ratings are based on annual evaluations
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Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS)
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Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP)
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Has received zero findings and an unqualified audit opinion for several years running
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Honored with several state and national awards of merit for “best practices”

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SPHA’s Goals
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SPHA is working toward three goals for its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs:
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Set a five year limit on receiving housing assistance from SPHA, with the exception of the elderly or disabled, to make assistance available to more families. Programs would be in place to successfully transition “graduating” families. This goal requires congressional approval for implementation.
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Stop “pay to stay.” Under existing federal regulations, SPHA spends $500K per year in utility payments to residents with little or no income, effectively paying them to live in assisted units. This goal requires congressional approval for implementation.

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Who Is Eligible for Assistance?
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SPHA provides housing assistance to qualifying low- income families and individuals, the elderly, and persons with special needs
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SPHA’s jurisdiction includes the City of St. Petersburg and extends in a 10-mile radius around city limits
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Eligibility is determined by income and criminal history
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SPHA’s housing programs are not Entitlement programs
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Examples: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment compensation, and food stamps

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Are All Low-Income and Affordable Properties in St. Petersburg Overseen by SPHA?
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No, SPHA owns or administers seven apartment communities:
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Clearview Park
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Disston Place
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Gateway Place
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Jordan Park
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Romayne
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Saratoga
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Sunset Oaks
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NOT owned by SPHA
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Citrus Groves
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Jamestown – owned by City of St. Petersburg
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Section 8 properties – owned by private owners

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Housing Choice Voucher Program
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Largest federally-funded housing program
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Both locally and nationally
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Serves families, the elderly and persons with special needs with incomes up to 50% of the AMI ($28,700 for a family of 4)
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Participants receive rental subsidy while leasing from their choice of landlords in the private market
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Wait list currently is closed
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Approximately 600 families on the list

10. Section 8 Roles and Responsibilities
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SPHA issues housing vouchers to qualifying low-income families.
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SPHA ensures through inspections that the apartment or house is decent and safe per HUD regulations.
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The voucher holder signs a lease with a private market landlord for a rental property.
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The landlord enters into a contract with SPHA and receives monthly Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to subsidize the tenant’s rent.
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The landlord is responsible for enforcing the lease and monitoring the tenant’s behavior, just as it is in the private market.
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11. Section 8 Inspections
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All dwelling units must pass an INSPECTION prior to occupancy and annually thereafter, conducted by SPHA staff inspectors. All properties inspected must comply with the established Minimum Housing Standards set for the City of St. Petersburg and specific HUD Section 8 requirements.
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SPHA also will inspect the property if a complaint is made.
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SPHA has a Zero Tolerance Drug policy.
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12. Fraud Prevention
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SPHA encourages the reporting of suspected fraud by residents, clients, and vendors.
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You may report suspected fraud by calling
(727) 323-3171, ext. 211.
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SPHA’s Compliance Department will investigate all complaints.
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13. Summary of Other SPHA Housing Programs
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Public Housing
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Properties owned by SPHA
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Tenants receive federally funded rental subsidy
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Approximately 30 percent of tenant income paid in rent to SPHA
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Affordable Housing
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Properties owned by SPHA with no federal funding or subsidy attached
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Offers rent at below-market rates to income-qualified applicants
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Gateway Place
Clearview Park
Disston Place
Romayne
Sunset Oaks
SPHA-Owned Public Housing

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Jordan Park Apartments
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Hope VI development
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Managed by Winn Companies and owned by Landex Management Company
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Land owned by SPHA

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SPHA-Owned Affordable Housing
Saratoga Apartments

17. Foster Care Demonstration Program
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Beginning in 2012, SPHA has been working with partners Camelot Community Care, Inc., Ready for Life, and Bay Area Legal Services to provide affordable housing to young adults aging out of foster care.
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SPHA rents double-occupancy units for $300 per month per person at Saratoga Apartments (with no government subsidy).
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Program participants are referred to SPHA by Ready for Life and receive on-going case management.
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SPHA received a national “Excellence in Housing Award” for this program in 2012.
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The Dunedin Housing Authority recently joined the program to provide housing at Fairway Gardens Apartments.
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18. Self-Sufficiency Programs
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SPHA provides residents with access to job- training and education through the following programs:
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Section 3 Resident Training Fund – provides financial assistance to qualified Public Housing residents for training programs or classes that will help them become job-ready
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College Scholarships – connects eligible Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher residents with scholarship opportunities offered nationally by the assisted housing industry
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19. Community Partnerships
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SPHA works with not-for-profit partners to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth:
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CareerSource Pinellas / Tampa Bay YouthBuild
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Provides young adults ages 17 to 24 a balance of “in- school” learning with “hands on” occupational skills training in the construction trades
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Boley Centers / Summer Intern Program
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Provides economically disadvantaged youth, ages 16 to 21, with summer employment through temporary internships
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20. Community Policing & Crime Prevention
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SPHA was named the Best Runner Up in the Housing Authority Insurance Group’s 2014 Best Practices and Housing Authority Risk Retention Innovation Awards Competition for its efforts to curb crime.
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This marks the fourth annual award presented to SPHA by this national organization.
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SPHA’s success in identifying and deterring criminal activity is based in community partnerships
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The St. Petersburg Police Department has assigned a Community Police Officer, Karen Demick, to SPHA’s properties and Section 8 clients.
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21. Housing for Wounded Warriors
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SPHA currently is working to develop affordable and accessible housing for wounded veterans and their families
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Proposed mixed-income rental community in a “campus-like” setting, featuring spacious, open floor plan apartments with ample storage
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Created Wounded Warrior Community Advisory Group in 2012 to involve stakeholders and community members in the planning process
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SPHA recently applied to HUD for additional Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, which provide housing for homeless military veterans
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Contact Us
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Phone: 727-323-3171
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Web: www.stpeteha.org
Listen to SPHA on the Radio -WRXB 1590 AM Radio, 10:00 a.m. on the Second Wednesday of Each Month