St. Petersburg Housing Authority Receives AEDs Through Partnership with American Heart Association and Lifework

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (JUNE 30, 2026) - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is pleased to announce a partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA) and Lifework that will bring Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to SPHA communities throughout St. Petersburg.

Through the collaboration, SPHA will receive seven AED units, seven wall-mounted cabinets, seven sets of infant AED pads, in addition to the adult pads included with each unit, training for up to 20 SPHA employees, and two years of maintenance support. The AEDs will be strategically placed throughout several SPHA communities to improve emergency preparedness and help protect residents, visitors, and staff.

The initiative was made possible through the leadership of Courtney Burt, Vice President of Community Impact for the American Heart Association in Tampa Bay. In addition to helping secure the equipment, Burt will assist SPHA with developing a cardiac emergency response policy and coordinating free CPR education opportunities for both staff and residents.

"The American Heart Association has been a valued partner of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority for the past four years, supporting us in a variety of ways, including youth and adult CPR training," said Kiara Lovett, SPHA Director of Social Services. "Courtney was tremendously helpful in moving the AED initiative forward and making it a reality. This partnership will help the St. Petersburg Housing Authority create safer communities while ensuring our staff are better prepared to respond during a cardiac emergency."

Lifework, a national provider of CPR, First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and advanced healthcare certification training, will provide instruction for SPHA employees.

SPHA is the leading affordable housing provider in the city of St. Petersburg, serving more than 4,000 low-income households. SPHA's mission is to provide safe, sanitary, accessible, decent, and affordable housing to eligible citizens of the city of St. Petersburg, while enhancing and promoting resident self-sufficiency.

Courtney Burt, Community Impact Vice President, Tampa Bay, American Heart Association teaches SPHA youth how to perform CPR.

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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 individuals with disabilities in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.

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