ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The demand for affordable housing is growing in South St. Petersburg, but people already living there, in older homes that need repairs, are concerned about being left behind.

The city just approved next year’s funding for the Community Redevelopment Area, or CRA.

“I’ve been in my home 40 years and I plan on not moving,” said Mahalia ‘Blue’ Feliu.

She lives in South St. Pete, within the CRA, where reinvesting in housing and neighborhoods is intended to be a priority for the city. Like any older home, there’s comes a point when repairs are necessary.

“The ‘some point’ has passed. It’s due,” said Feliu.

She showed 8 On Your Side the windows and doors that need fixing. You don’t have to drive far in her neighborhood to see the new homes being built.

“It’s great, but who can afford them?” she asked.

St. Pete City Council passed the Fiscal Year 2027 CRA Budget. There’s $15.1 million for Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization; $11.6 million for the Affordable Housing Redevelopment Loan Program; and $180,000 for the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program.

“There are currently more than $35 million in pending requests under review representing affordable units. And we expect more applications this coming fiscal year,” said George Smith, the city’s Chief Community Impact Officer.

There are more than 250 rehab applications in progress. City council members said CRA funds could be doing more for people like Feliu who need repairs.

“Where is this money coming from? The people who already live there, right? Yeah. Let’s give some of it back in the form of assistance,” said Council member Gina Driscoll.

Feliu said she hopes that the council passing this budget means more people will become aware of the funding and that the process to apply is senior friendly.

“I’m not the only one in the community that can utilize a service like that,” said Feliu. “An outreach that can help them to get to the point where they need to go, because there are a lot of homes in our city that need repair.”

The budget saw increases to single family housing programs, down payment assistance and facade improvements.

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