ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously Thursday to boost how much money South St. Pete residents can get through a home improvement program meant to help residents particularly hard-hit by lack of affordable housing.
What You Need To Know
- St. Petersburg City Council approved an increase to the maximum award that can be received for home rehabilitation through the Affordable Single-Family Homeownership Program from $45,000 to $60,000
- Members also approved the creation of the Rapid Roof Replacement sub-program
- The programs are available to people who live in the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area
- One resident said she was able to make major changes to her home, including new flooring, a new bathroom and repaired ceiling — that wouldn't have been possible without the program
“This allows them to remain in their home because home ownership is the way for the American dream. That is one way that people are able to build generational wealth. So, as a result of being able to maintain that, it means something for them and for their heirs in the future,” said George Smith, economic development manager for the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Agency.
The resolution approved by the council increases the maximum award for home rehabilitation through the Affordable Single-Family Homeownership Program from $45,000 to $65,000. It also approved the creation of another sub-program, the Rapid Roof Replacement Program.
The programs are specifically for homeowners who live within the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area and come in the form of zero-interest loans. For the rehabilitation assistance program, households with incomes of up to 120% of the area median income (AMI), or $114,600 for a family of four, can receive a 100% forgivable loan after 10 years of occupancy with no monthly payments. Those with incomes between 121% and 140% AMI, or $133,700 for a family of four, will repay 50% of the loan through monthly payments, which will also be forgiven after 10 years. The roofing pilot program will focus on owner-occupied homes with active roof code violations. Household income must be 120%AMI or lower.
Dr. Avery Slyker, the city’s assistant director for housing and community development, said the programs can be combined to provide relief.
“So, we go in, and we find out that yes, the roof is in very serious disarray. We need to do some major repairs. The $20,000’s going to be gone, but then what do we do with the ceilings, the walls? Maybe there’s some damage done to the floors because of the leaks. We’re going to be able to assist that with those rehabilitation funds,” Slyker said.
Slyker and Smith said increasing the maximum award to $60,000 is necessary for the rehab program.
“The rehab assistance is very, very important. The cost to rehab a home has gone up tremendously,” Smith said.
“Unfortunately, when we go into a home today to do rehabilitation, it costs much more than the $60,000,” Slyker said. “What we’re having to do is take a list of things that are needed and bare it down to what is absolutely essential for the health and the safety of the homeowner. This gives us a little bit more freedom to do things.”
One resident who’s experienced the benefits of the home rehabilitation program firsthand is Delores Green. Earlier this year, work began on multiple repairs to her 15th Avenue South home. They included new flooring in several rooms, new windows, and repairs to her bedroom ceiling. Green said the work was badly needed.
“I did take the opportunity out to buy some covers, and I climbed on a ladder on that side of the room and just covered it,” she said of her bedroom ceiling. “That slowed the rain down. It was literally raining in my room.”
Green said she’s lived in the home for 25 years. She said she meant to get to repairs sooner, with help from her brother, James.
“Me and him was going to fix the house together. We was going to do it one room at a time,” Green said.
But she said James had an aneurysm, and she inherited the house when he passed away. Green said she ultimately turned to the city for financial help and received about $70,000 from programs that included the rehab assistance.
“It would never have gotten done — not as fast as they got it done,” she said of the importance of that money.
Green encourages other South St. Pete residents in need to look into the program. She said it helped preserve her brother’s legacy.
“It’s a Godly home — peaceful, enjoyable,” she said. “I can see that my brother’s looking down. He prepared for me a place to live, and I’m so thankful.”
Slyker encourages anyone who may have looked into the program before but didn’t meet income requirements to check again, noting they change every year.
