SPHA’s Section 8 Program Earns Top Score Again

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) notified the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) this week that its Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program once again earned a perfect score on the annual Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) evaluation and qualified for “High Performer” status. SPHA is among a select number of housing authorities, out of approximately 3,200 nationwide, to achieve and maintain this designation, which is the highest rating that HUD gives to a housing authority.

Each year, fourteen key indicators of the Section 8/HCV Department’s performance are measured by HUD. From the determination of reasonable rent and the expansion of housing opportunities to the accuracy of participant files and the timeliness of inspections, SPHA has demonstrated a history of excellence with consistently high evaluation scores. SPHA’s SEMAP score for fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, is 100 percent.

Chief Executive Officer Darrell Irions said, “I’m extremely proud of our staff and their commitment to the families we serve. This great evaluation and our extraordinary service levels are a direct result of the hard work of our counselors, inspectors, and managers, under the leadership of our Board of Commissioners.”

The Section 8/HCV program is the largest assisted affordable housing program administered by SPHA locally and by HUD nationally. Through this voucher program, SPHA serves approximately 3,200 families, putting in excess of $23 million in housing assistance payments each year directly into St. Petersburg’s local economy.

Vouchers enable participants to receive a subsidy, while leasing from their choice of landlords in the private market. The rental assistance is designed so that families are not forced to spend an unreasonable portion of their monthly income on shelter. The program also allows families the flexibility to select the community or neighborhood in which to live. Additional information about the Section 8/HCV program can be found on SPHA’s website at www.stpeteha.org/section8.htm.

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 qualifying low-income families within its service 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 SPHA’s programs and services can be found at www.stpeteha.org.