Public Housing Program Earns High Performer Designation Again

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has rated the St. Petersburg Housing Authority’s (SPHA) Public Housing program as a “High Performer” for fiscal year 2010. SPHA is among a select number of housing authorities, out of approximately 3,200 nationwide, to achieve and maintain this prominent designation.

SPHA Chief Executive Officer Darrell Irions said, “It is our agency’s goal to achieve High Performer status every year, and it is the vision of our Board of Commissioners and the hard work of our staff that allows us to do so. This HUD designation represents our commitment to fulfilling our mission and to the residents we serve.”

Both SPHA’s Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)/Section 8 programs consistently have earned High Performer ratings from HUD over the past decade. The High Performer designation is the highest honor that HUD gives to a housing authority.

HUD requires that all housing authorities meet strict requirements and full compliance with regulations in the operations of their Public Housing programs. Annually, housing authorities undergo the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) review. Four key areas are evaluated in this review, including the physical condition of public housing units, the housing authority’s finances, its management of the Public Housing program, and resident satisfaction. Housing authorities scoring 90 percent or higher receive the High Performer designation.

Earlier this year, SPHA learned from HUD that it had received a perfect score on the annual review of its HCV/Section 8 program.

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 within its jurisdictional area, which includes St. Petersburg and a 10-mile radius outside of the city. 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. The housing 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.