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01/08/2026

SPHA President and CEO Shares Housing Leadership Journey on Podcast

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Michael Lundy, President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA), recently talked with Adrian Fields, Director of Housing and Community Investments at Knight Development, for an in-depth podcast conversation as part of Knight Development's Crusade for Good Legacy Series.

Knight Development is an award-winning developer that specializes in working with Public Housing Authorities and non-profit organizations to create and rehabilitate affordable housing.

During the podcast chat, Mr. Lundy reflected on a 40-year career dedicated to reimagining public and affordable housing. From growing up in public housing himself to leading housing authorities across the country, Mr. Lundy shared the philosophy that has shaped his life's work: subsidized and public housing should be a stabilizing force-not a permanent destination. He discusses the unintended consequences of well-meaning systems, the importance of self-sufficiency programs, and why meeting people where they are must always be paired with a clear path forward.

The conversation explores real-world outcomes-from SPHA's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program and Homeownership Program to large-scale redevelopment, adaptive reuse, and public-private partnerships that preserve affordability for the long term.

The podcast offers an honest and grounded look at what it takes to help residents in federally assisted housing move "up and out," and why leadership, accountability, and belief in people still matter.

Podcast:

 

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.