SPHA Helps Formerly Homeless Veteran, Family Celebrate the Holidays

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The St. Petersburg Housing Authority’s (SPHA) Adopt-A-Family program is making the holidays a little brighter for resident Gerald White and his family. SPHA provided wrapped Christmas gifts on December 23 to Mr. White and his five children, who range in age from eight to seventeen years. The presents, which included several toys and an outfit for each child, were purchased solely with personal donations from SPHA staff.

“Being a single dad with five kids and doing it on my own isn’t easy. This has come in handy this year and will make it a great Christmas for us,” Mr. White said. “I believe we’re a blessed family.”

In order to qualify for selection for this year’s Adopt-A-Family program, families had to be participants in good standing in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) voucher program, administered locally by SPHA, and have children. The White family was selected by SPHA staff from a pool of qualifying residents.

Derek Bell, the SPHA caseworker assigned to the White family, said, “I can’t think of a more deserving family. As a veteran, Mr. White worked hard to overcome the obstacles facing him, assuming responsibility as a father and doing his best to provide for his children in a caring, supportive, and loving way.”

SPHA works in coordination with the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) to operate its HUD-VASH program. SPHA has a total of 195 housing vouchers available to eligible veterans, contingent on their motivation to continue treatment with VAMC case managers and to improve their individual circumstances. The HUD-VASH vouchers allow the participating veterans and their families to rent private sector housing of their choice in St. Petersburg at a subsidized rate, helping them get off of the streets and into affordable apartments. These vouchers are worth just under one million dollars of federal funding per year.

SPHA Chief Executive Officer Darrell Irions said, “As a former Marine, it is unconscionable that those who have sacrificed in order for us to maintain our standard of living and to sustain the freedoms we enjoy, should be homeless. We are proud of our role in helping Mr. White and his family find safe, sustainable housing and regain their lives. We hope that this Christmas will be one that the family remembers with joy.”

For more information on the HUD-VASH program, please visit our website at www.stpeteha.org/section8.htm or call the Bay Pines VAMC's VASH Coordinators at 727-398-6661.

Front row (front left to right): Gabriel, Austin, Ashley and Andrew White
Back row (from left to right): Gerald White and SPHA caseworker Derek Bell
Dakota White is not pictured.

Presents for the White Family from SPHA staff

About St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA):

Founded in 1937, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is one of the oldest housing authorities in the nation and is continually rated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a “High Performing” agency. Currently, SPHA provides housing assistance to more than 3,400 families within its jurisdiction area, which includes the City of St. Petersburg and extends in a 10-mile radius outside of city limits. SPHA 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 SPHA's programs and services can be found at www.stpeteha.org.