ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The city just approved next year’s funding for the Community Redevelopment Area, or CRA.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been in my home 40 years and I plan on not moving,” said Mahalia ‘Blue’ Feliu.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“The ‘some point’ has passed. It’s due,” said Feliu.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“It’s great, but who can afford them?” she asked.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The budget saw increases to single family housing programs, down payment assistance and facade improvements.<\/p>\n