DUNEDIN AND ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – Mayor Bill Foster of the City of St. Petersburg and Mayor Dave Eggers of the City of Dunedin have declared October as “Housing America” month. The Housing America campaign, spearheaded by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and supported locally by the Dunedin Housing Authority (DHA) and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA), aims to inform the public and decision makers of the critical need to address the nation’s housing and community development concerns.
Darrell Irions, who serves as Chief Executive Officer for both DHA and SPHA, said, “The Boards of Commissioners and staff are grateful to the Mayors and Council members of St. Petersburg and Dunedin for their unwavering support of affordable housing. The council chambers provide a powerful platform for raising awareness of the plight of those in need of decent and sustainable affordable housing.”
Public housing, a $1 billion asset in this country, is home to over two million people, more than 40 percent of whom are children. Local housing authorities, like SPHA and DHA, are the local administrative agencies for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Housing authorities provide rental housing or rental assistance to low-income individuals and families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
More information about the national Housing America campaign can be found at www.housingamericacampaign.org.
About St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA):
Founded in 1937, 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. More information about SPHA’s programs and services can be found at www.stpeteha.org.
About the Dunedin Housing Authority (DHA):
DHA was created in 1966 to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for low-income residents in the City of Dunedin. For more information about DHA, please visit the agency’s web page at www.stpeteha.org/DHA.htm.
About National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO):
NAHRO is the leading housing and community development advocate for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all Americans—particularly those with low- and moderate-incomes. Its members administer HUD programs such as Public Housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, CDBG and HOME. More information about NAHRO can be found at www.nahro.org.
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