Pinellas County Housing Authority 2014 Year in Review

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Pinellas County Housing Authority

2014 - Year in Review

Board of Commissioners

Joseph Triolo, Chair

Angela Rouson, Vice Chair

Michael Guju

Alan Swartz

Cynthia Wilson

Debra Johnson, Executive Director

Our Mission

. . . to provide safe, quality housing for persons in need and to cultivate healthy, vibrant neighborhoods . . .

Increasing Housing Opportunities for Individuals and Families in Need

Increase in Units/Families Housed

4350

4400

4450

4500

4550

4600

4650

4700

4750

4800

4850

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Change in Units by Program/Year

Total

Unit

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Increase

Public Housing 495 495 495 495 495 310

Pinellas Heights Public Housing 21

HUD Multifamily Project-Based (Norton) 48 48 48 48

Affordable Housing/Other 1051 1051 1061 1061 1061 1061

RAD - Project-Based Voucher Units 184

Housing Choice Voucher - Tenant Based 2865 2865 2865 2865 2865 2733

Pinellas Heights- Project Based Voucher Units 132

HUD-VASH Tenant Based Vouchers 105 105 180 280 315 368

HUD-VASH Project Based Voucher Units 16

Total Units 4516 4516 4649 4749 4784 4873 357

Unit Count Increase 0 0 133 100 35 89 357

Families: Landings at Cross Bayou

Seniors: Pinellas Heights

Veterans: HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive HousingProject Based Vouchers for HEP-WestProject Based Vouchers @ Duval Park

Homeless: Housing Choice Voucher Admissions Preference Special Needs Set-Aside @ Landings at Cross Bayou

PCHA Increased and Preserved Housing Opportunities in 2014

Preservation through Renovation

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• 1973 Construction

• Minimal Capital Improvements Made Through the Years

• Failing Sewer System Throughout Property

• Environmental Issues as a Result of Failed Sewer Systems and Plumbing Leaks

• Electrical and Plumbing in Need of Replacement

• HVAC’s in Need of Replacement

• Original Flooring

• Original Cabinetry

• Faulty Firewalls in Need of Correction

{After:

Landings at Cross Bayou

• All units now Project Based Vouchers w/Long-Term Contract

• Families and individuals with incomes below 60% AMI

• 19 units set-aside for Extremely Low Income special needs families below 30% AMI

• MOU with Directions for Living – Special Needs Referrals (homeless, veterans, elderly &those suffering from mental illness)

• MOU w/Pinellas Sheriffs Police Athletic League for on-site youth center activities

• All New Sewer systems• All New Electrical systems• All New Plumbing• All New Roofs and Firewalls• All New HVAC’s• All New Ductwork• All New Cabinetry and Fixtures• All New Flooring• All New Framing/Drywall• All New Tub/Shower Surrounds• All New Lighting• All New Energy Star Appliances• New Unit Layout/Design• New ADA Compliant Sidewalks• All Common Areas Remodeled

• New Community Center w/ Computer Lab and Fitness Center

• New Youth Center w/Computer Lab, Playground and Basketball Court

• New Laundry facility

• New Maintenance Shop

• Remodeled Management Office

February 2014 – HUD RAD Approval

March 2014 – Offsite Relocation of All Residents Complete

Demolition and Reconstruction Continued Throughout 2014

May 2014 – Pinellas Heights Ribbon Cutting

New construction of 153 one and two bedroom apartment homes

for low and very-low income seniors 62 and older

July 2014 – ‘Home of Hope’ Partnership Recognized with NAHRO Award

Home of Hope

Transitional Housing with Supportive Housing Coach for individuals with untreated mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders who have participated in the first phase of the Pinellas Public Defenders Office’s Jail Diversion Program.

A short-term program designed to help stabilize and link clients to more traditional treatment methods in order to reduce their incidence of incarceration and ready them for independent living.

August 2014 - PCHA Awarded

Housing Authority of the Year by the

Florida Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials

. . . 2nd time in three years!

PCHA Continued its Commitment to Veterans . . .

PCHA Increased Special Housing Programs for Veterans by 36% Overall in 2014

August 2014 – PCHA Was One of 24 Nationwide to Receive Project Based Funding to Provide Housing to Homeless Veterans at HEP-WEST

“We are tremendously honored to have been selected by HUD to provide these project-based vouchers to homeless veterans in Pinellas County. Our partnerships with the C.W. Bill Young Veterans Medical Center and Homeless Emergency Project will assure that we continue to work toward providing affordable housing to homeless veterans in a caring, supportive environment as they receive the services and care that they need moving forward”

- Joseph Triolo, Chairman of the Board

PCHA also received 53 newHUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

Vouchers during 2014

PCHA Continued to Promote Resident Self-Sufficiency

• Received HUD award for two FSS Coordinators - $138,000

• 101 families participated in 2014

• Over two-thirds of participating families were employed and earning escrow savings

• Average escrow savings account was $4,196.00

• Scholarships were awarded through PCHA’s partnerships with UNCF and St. Petersburg College

• PCHA entered into contracts to provide job readiness training, job placement and follow-up to residents of Rainbow Village andNorton Apartments at Lake Bellevue

• PCHA’s Section 3 Program continued to provide referrals and Scholarships for employment-related costs

October 2014 - The First Buildings are Complete at Landings at Cross Bayou

{“The relocation process was great . . . I did not have any problems. I was able to come back to a new place, and I just love it!”

-Pamela Quince

October 2014 – First Relocated Residents Return to Landings at Cross Bayou

PCHA Continued to Promote Homeownership Opportunities

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Home Purchased by HCV Homeownership Participant

in 2014

PCHA assisted five (5) additional residents to become first time homeowners during 2014, bringing the total to 25 homeownership families assisted

PCHA continued to partner with Community Service Foundation for First Time Homebuyer and Financial Education throughout 2014

PCHA Partnered to Provide Affordable Housing to Disabled Veterans and their Families

November 2014 –Duval Park

Groundbreaking

December 2014 - Master Planning for the Revitalization of Rainbow Village Began

Analysis of Existing Conditions and Neighborhood Assets

PCHA and partners held a three-day charette to discuss the Rainbow Village Master Plan.

Attendance included Rainbow Village residents, residents from adjacent communities and community stakeholders

All who came provided valuable feedback, working together to recognize priorities and develop solutions.

Resident and Community Input

Thank you.

For more information about PCHA housing and programs visit us at

www.pinellashousing.com