SPHA Receives High Performer Designation from HUD

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (August 25, 2022) - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is proud to announce that it has received a "High Performer" rating from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for its federally-subsidized Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, commonly known as "Section 8".

SPHA's Chief Executive Officer and President Michael Lundy said, "Earning the highest rating that HUD has to offer is a great accomplishment, and I am proud of the progress that we have made. The sound guidance of our Board of Commissioners and the hard work of our staff have taken us here, and we are continuing to move forward in our mission of service."

Chairperson James Dates of the SPHA Board of Commissioners, said, "This achievement is a testament to the leadership of Mr. Lundy as CEO, the dedication of SPHA staff, and the technical assistance from the local HUD field office. We are proud of the work this agency has done to get to this point, and we are committed to doing all we can to create more housing opportunities in the future."

The Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) is essentially a report card for public housing agencies, like SPHA, that administer HCV programs. In the annual assessment, HUD measures performance in 14 key areas, among which are selection from waiting list, lease-up, and Housing Quality Standards inspections. SPHA earned the equivalent of an "A" for its Fiscal Year 2021 SEMAP review, receiving a score of 96 percent out of 100.

SPHA is the leading affordable housing provider in St. Petersburg, serving more than 4,000 low-income households. In addition to the redevelopment of the Jordan Park community, SPHA is enhancing its programs and services, offering more opportunities for clients to achieve self-sufficiency, including homeownership; increasing outreach to vulnerable populations, such as the homeless or families at risk of homelessness; and expanding affordable housing options for income-eligible individuals and families throughout St. Petersburg.

ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY (SPHA):

An independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida, operating under Chapter 421 Florida Statutes, SPHA is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SPHA offers a variety of programs and services that provide affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and the disabled in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.