SPHA Helping to Make the Holidays Happier for Residents

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The St. Petersburg Housing Authority’s first “Adopt-A-Family” program made the holiday season a little brighter for one family participating in its Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program. Authority staff delivered presents, including educational toys and clothes, to the Clark family on December 23, 2009.

Ciara Clark and her four children, ranging in age from newborn to 7 years, were thrilled to receive the extra gifts. “I’m a single mom, working every day to pay my bills. I appreciate everything that the housing authority has done for me,” said Clark.

In order to qualify for selection for this year’s “Adopt-A-Family” program, families had to be participants in good standing with SPHA’s Section 8 program and care for three or more children. The winning family was selected by a random drawing. All presents were purchased using donations from staff only.

The Section 8 program is SPHA’s largest affordable housing program for providing housing assistance to very low-income families. The Section 8 program allows participants to receive a federal rent subsidy while leasing a unit of their choice, in the community of their choice, from private sector landlords/owners. Through this program, SPHA serves approximately 3,000 families, putting more than $18 million in housing assistance payments into St. Petersburg’s economy annually.

SPHA Resident Ciara Clark, pictured below:

About St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA):

The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is a public body corporate that has a 70‐year history of developing and administering affordable housing programs in the city of St. Petersburg. Consistently scored as a “High Performer” on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assessments, SPHA provides housing assistance to more than 3,400 families residing in St. Petersburg. The authority has received national awards and recognition for its innovative programs, including the Economies of Scale program, the Jordan Park HOPE VI redevelopment program, the
Section 3 program and the Fraud Recovery program. More information about the authority’s programs and services can be found at www.stpeteha.org.