Johnson Joins DHA Board of Commissioners

Ms. Stephanie Johnson was sworn in as the newest member of the Dunedin Housing Authority’s (DHA) Board of Commissioners at its November 15 regular board meeting. Filling the vacant Tenant Commissioner seat, Commissioner Johnson was appointed to the board by Dunedin Mayor Dave Eggers and was confirmed by the City Commission in October 2011.

DHA Board Chairman David Kelly said, “We are very pleased to have Commissioner Johnson on board. Her voice as a resident will give us greater insight into the housing authority’s operations, and her fresh perspective will be an asset as we work to develop more affordable housing options within DHA’s jurisdiction.”

Commissioner Johnson said, “I am honored and proud to be selected to serve as a member of the DHA Board of Commissioners. I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners to create more accessible and low-cost rental opportunities for those in need.”

Commissioner Johnson is 28 year-old student at St. Petersburg College, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in banking. An area native, she graduated from Largo High School in 2002 and holds an associate’s degree in business management from St. Petersburg College. She also has worked at several local retail establishments, including a home improvement store. Commissioner Johnson has been a participant in DHA’s public housing program since June 2011.

The DHA Board of Commissioners develops the policies and goals of the housing authority. One commissioner must be a resident of a DHA property. Commissioners serve unpaid, four-year terms.

DHA operates under Chapter 421 of the Florida Statutes as an independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida. While the Mayor of Dunedin appoints the five member board, the housing authority is not a department of the City of Dunedin and receives no city, county, or state funding. DHA’s income is derived from tenant rents, federal subsidies, grants, and investments.

DHA contracted in 2009 with the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) for executive management services, including property management and operations. This partnership allows the housing authorities to share resources and save costs through Economies of Scale, as part of an interlocal agreement.

All DHA meetings are open to the public and will be held at the Dunedin City Hall, 542 Main Street, Dunedin, FL. More information, including meeting dates, agendas and minutes, can be found on the Internet at www.stpeteha.org/DHA.htm.

About the Dunedin Housing Authority:

The Dunedin Housing Authority (DHA) was created in 1966 to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for low-income residents within its jurisdiction of the City of Dunedin and a ten-mile radius of the city. DHA is an Equal Opportunity Housing Provider. For more information about DHA, please visit the agency’s website at www.stpeteha.org/DHA.htm.