St. Petersburg Housing Authority Partners with St. Petersburg Police to Empower Youth

Video by: City of St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) partnered with the St. Petersburg Police Department to support local youth who have been exposed to violence.

"Youth Champions is a program that encourages the youth and the officers to build a better relationship," said Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, Community Impact & Safety Liaison for the City of St. Petersburg.

The St. Petersburg Police Department received a $35,000 grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to fund the Youth Champions program to offer youth a safe, supportive environment where they can begin to heal from trauma.

The once-a-month Saturday sessions were held in the Jordan Park community and featured youth yoga, meditation, and discussions with licensed mental health providers.

"Anytime you can consistently show up and commit to a neighborhood or to young children, they see that you're dedicated. And naturally just being able to build relationships is what's going to make a difference in their lives," said Russia Collins, Youth Champions Therapist.

Police officers also interacted with the kids at each session to improve relationships and the perception of law enforcement.

"I hope that they walk away with a sense of seeing an officer as a person, as another human being, that they're just like them," added Wheeler-Bowman.

The sessions began in February 2025, and the graduation celebration was held on June 28, 2025.

SPHA extends its thanks to the St. Petersburg Police Department for their continued dedication to fostering a stronger, safer, and more connected community.

Exterior of the Jordan Park Clubhouse.

ABOUT JORDAN PARK:

Jordan Park is a historic housing community managed by the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA). It is known for being St. Petersburg's first African American housing community and the oldest federal public housing project in the state. It was originally built between 1939 and 1941.

On November 23, 2021, SPHA received approval from HUD for its Jordan Park redevelopment proposal, which would change the funding structure from Public Housing to Project-Based Vouchers and put the long-awaited community revitalization project into motion. The Jordan Park Redevelopment Project consisted of the following elements:

• Transitioning the Jordan Park family apartments (206 units) from Public Housing to a Project-Based Voucher (PBV) funding platform.
• Renovation of the 206 Family Units (i.e. new flooring, countertops, cabinets, washers and dryers in units, safety features, energy-efficiency improvements, etc.)
• Construction of a new three-story, 60-unit senior midrise building (for households 62 years and older) named "The Legacy at Jordan Park."

On December 14, 2021, SPHA closed on Jordan Park in partnership with co-developer Norstar Development USA, LP, and with the investment of Fannie Mae, KeyBank, and RBC Community Investments. Partners also included the bond issuer, the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, and the City of St. Petersburg, which provided Community Redevelopment Area funding.

On October 27, 2023, SPHA held the grand opening of The Legacy at Jordan Park. SPHA also celebrated the completion of the surrounding newly renovated 206 Jordan Park Family Units.

ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY (SPHA):

An independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida, operating under Chapter 421 Florida Statutes, SPHA is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SPHA offers a variety of programs and services that provide affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and the disabled in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.