TAMPA, Fla. — Keeping families safe and communities whole, a new city of Tampa housing program is giving qualified homeowners up to $100,000 to make critical home repairs.
"It's been a tough road,” East Tampa resident Monie Davis said. Davis and her daughter have been together through it all, even when storms in the area meant a night sleeping in the car.
"There was the thought of, I may have had an electrical fire in the walls because my alarms went off at one in the morning because the rain had gotten through to the wiring,” Davis said, describing the condition her roof was in.
On Wednesday, the final touches of construction at their home were music to their ears and a significant load off their shoulders.
"I can continue to work and live life and enjoy life with my daughter and the dog, family and just not worry about what's going to happen [with my home],” Davis explained.
Davis is a recipient of $98,000 in critical home repairs, including new roofing, wiring, insulation and drywall. This was all made possible by the city of Tampa’s Healthy Homes Program.
“As we navigate our country’s affordable housing crisis, our priority, again, is not only on creating new affordable homes but also preventing our local residents from being pushed out of their homes,” Mayor Jane Castor said.
Utilizing millions in federal HUD grant funding, Tampans who’ve owned their homes for more than two years and make under 80% of the area’s AMI (~$53,000 annually) can qualify for the assistance.
Families with kids and/or at risk of homelessness are prioritized.
“We want to make sure that every family who apply for these funds really has somewhere safe, decent and sanitary to call home,” Kayon Henderson, the director of Housing and Community Development in Tampa, said.
The impact stretches far into the community, outside the walls of the homeowners who directly benefit.
“To be able to keep someone in a home that they grew up in, where they raised their family and where they built relationships throughout the neighborhood is very, very important,” Castor said.
“That sense of community is really what defines Tampa,” the mayor added.
“This program is God-sent,” Davis said.
The city is encouraging more homeowners to apply. So far, there have been just three funding recipients, and they hope to help close to 90 homes. The city has until August of next year to utilize the funding.