TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Affordable Housing In Works

ADVERTISEMENT

By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 25, 2007

TAMPA - Metropolitan Ministries and the city of Tampa have formed a partnership to bring 12 low-cost town houses to some of the area's neediest people.

The project, called The Sanctuary at Waters, targets formerly homeless people, said Christine Long, senior program director at Metropolitan Ministries.

Last week, the Tampa City Council approved providing $600,000 to Metropolitan Ministries. The money will go toward the construction of the multifamily development, which will be at 750 E. Waters Ave., west of Nebraska Avenue.

A provision in the agreement between the city and Metropolitan Ministries will guarantee the units remain affordable for 30 years.

The homes will be available to "very low-income" families. A family of four, for example, can make no more than $27,200 to qualify.

Two-bedroom units will rent for $612 a month; three bedrooms for $707; and four bedrooms for $788. Renters who qualify for federal housing subsidies can use vouchers to help pay the rent.

"We like to create these partnerships, especially for the very low-income people, because that's where the need is," said Michelle Boone, an urban planner with the city.

The project's cost is about $2.2 million. The Southeastern Conference of the United Methodist Church donated the land. Several home builders and building trade groups have donated their services.
Metropolitan Ministries hopes to complete the project by the summer.
Councilman Tom Scott, a longtime advocate of affordable housing, lauded the project.

"It gets homeless people into homes and stabilizes them," Scott said.

For information, call Metropolitan Ministries at (813) 209-1000.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT