The City of Tampa is approaching Mayor Jane Castor’s goal of creating 10,000 affordable housing opportunities during her administration, marking a major milestone aimed at ensuring Tampa’s growth benefits all residents.
According to a city press release, more than 23,000 residential units have been added since 2019, including more than 8,300 affordable housing units that have either been completed or are currently underway throughout the city.
City officials said Tampa has invested more than $100 million in affordable housing initiatives and housing assistance programs.
“Our approach to affordable housing has never been one-dimensional,” Castor said in the release. “It’s about creating new housing opportunities, supporting developments in the pipeline, and helping residents stay safely and affordably in their homes as they age. Tampa’s growth must work for everyone.”
Major redevelopment projects contributing to the city’s affordable housing efforts include Rome Yards, West River, Marquee Square and North Downtown. Officials said the Army/Navy redevelopment site in North Downtown will include more than 1,100 housing units, with more than 700 designated for income-eligible households.
The city’s 10,000-unit goal includes both completed affordable housing units and projects currently in development. Officials said about 4,100 affordable units have already been completed, while another 4,000 are in various development stages.
Efforts to preserve existing homes are also part of the city’s strategy. East Tampa resident Carlton Mallard recently rehabilitated his father’s 1950s-era home through the City of Tampa’s Housing Rehabilitation and Renovation Program (HRRP).
Mallard received more than $147,000 through the program to fund improvements including a new roof, hurricane-impact windows and doors, updated electrical systems and additional repairs.
“Now Carlton Mallard can finally obtain homeowners insurance and continue living safely in the neighborhood his family has called home for generations,” said Abbye Feeley, administrator for Development and Economic Opportunity for the City of Tampa, in the release. “This is what housing affordability looks like in practice.”
City officials said programs like HRRP are critical to ensuring longtime Tampa residents are not displaced as the city continues to grow. The program provides income-qualified homeowners with financial assistance for home repairs and renovations.
The HRRP program is expected to begin accepting new applications in mid-June through the city’s online portal.