SPHA Working to Find Jobs for Low-Income Residents

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is revitalizing its Section 3 program to increase the hiring of low-income individuals and public housing residents by its vendors. The federally mandated Section 3 program requires that housing authorities provide job training, employment and contract opportunities for low or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.

“The purpose of SPHA’s Section 3 program is to provide employment opportunities for our residents as they work towards self-sufficiency, as well as to encourage and support Section 3 businesses,” said SPHA Chief Administrative Officer Robin Adams, who is in charge of the program.

In addition to working with its contractors to identify employment and sub-contracting opportunities, SPHA has contracted with Catholic Charities to provide skill assessments and job training opportunities. The assessments will be used to identify impediments to career and job goals and to assist residents in becoming job-ready. SPHA also is partnering with the City of St. Petersburg’s Business Development Center to better support Section 3 eligible businesses and local small business enterprises.

To comply with SPHA’s Section 3 program, contractors must choose from the following options:

• Subcontracting with a Section 3 Business: For this option, a contractor’s business either must be 51 percent or more owned by Section 3 residents, employ Section 3 residents for at least 30 percent of its full-time, permanent staff, or provide evidence of a commitment to subcontract 25 percent or more of the dollar amount of the awarded contract to qualified Section 3 business concerns.

• Hiring Section 3 residents: Contractors are encouraged to hire qualified Section 3 residents on SPHA projects. First priority residents for the Section 3 program must reside in one of SPHA’s public housing developments. The next priority is for residents who reside in the city of St. Petersburg and earn 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) or who are participants in the local YouthBuild program, designed to provide education, counseling and job skills to unemployed young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 (call 727-528-8400 or visit www.YouthBuild.org for more information).

• Contractor-provided training/SPHA’s training-educational fund: Contractors that have existing apprenticeship or training programs are encouraged to train Section 3 residents, or they can contribute a specified amount (10% of labor cost for the contract) to SPHA’s resident training/educational fund, which is used to assist residents in becoming job ready.

The housing authority advertises all job openings in the newspaper, on its Web site at www.stpeteha.org/rfps.htm, and at all public housing developments. More information about the Section 3 program can be found online at www.stpeteha.org/section3.htm.

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.