Affordable Housing Projects To Provide Shelter For 41 Homeless Famlies

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Thanks to Pinellas County commissioners and developers Boley Centers Inc. and Pinellas Affordable Living Inc., 41 homeless families and individuals will have a roof over their heads.

On Friday, commissioners celebrated the opening of Evergreen Village, 6641 62nd Ave. N, Pinellas Park, and on Friday, Oct. 28, commissoners will celebrate the opening of Butterfly Grove, 506 Grove St., St. Petersburg.

The county supported the two affordable apartment projects with more than $1 million in State Apartment Incentive Loan funds and federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds, combined with more than $9 million from the Florida Housing Finance Corp.

The two apartment developments are the latest projects completed in a countywide effort to bring more affordable homes to communities across Pinellas County. In 2022 alone, five affordable developments have been completed, providing 223 new homes to residents, with another five projects with 755 units currently approved or under construction.

To address the ongoing challenge of housing costs, the county and cities have also joined forces with Forward Pinellas in the Advantage Pinellas Countywide Housing Compact, an agreement to develop and implement long-term solutions to housing affordability.

Through the compact, Pinellas County and cities are supporting the preservation, rehabilitation and new construction of affordable homes using a mix of federal, state and local funding sources, including more than $80 million set aside from the county's portion of the Penny for Pinellas Housing Program, a 1-cent sales tax adopted by voters in 2017.

See related stories:

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• Long-Term Housing Solutions Addressed In New Pinellas County Plan
• Summit Aims To Bring More Affordable Housing To Pinellas County
• Pinellas Aims To Provide More Affordable Homes For Residents
• Affordable Housing Projects Get Nod From Pinellas Commissioners

The county has committed 4.15 percent toward the Penny for Pinellas Housing Program over the next decade for affordable development and rehabilitation projects.

At least 30 percent of the project's units must be affordable to household earning no more than 120 percent of the Area Median Income.

Evergreen Village offers 21 apartment homes, with one-, two- and three-bedroom units for people who are homeless and disabilities. The property includes a mural on the wall bordering the north side of the apartments, funded by the Boley Angels and Susan Proctor.

Butterfly Grove Apartments offer 20 one-bedroom apartments for people who have experienced prolonged homelessness and have mental health disabilities.

Both apartment communities will offer on-site assistance and services for residents through Boley Centers.

Developers and builders interested in participating, can click here for an application.