St. Petersburg Housing Authority to Host Mentorship Fair in South St. Pete
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (JANUARY 15, 2025) - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is excited to announce its upcoming Mentorship Fair, an event dedicated to fostering growth, support, and opportunities for the youth of the South St. Pete community.
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
- Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
- Location: The Legacy at Jordan Park, 2350 9th Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with potential mentors and learn how local mentorship programs and organizations can benefit their children. This initiative aims to strengthen community ties and empower the next generation through guidance and support.
Michael Lundy, President and CEO of SPHA, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, "Our Mentorship Fair is a reflection of our commitment to creating opportunities for stronger communities. By creating opportunities for young people to connect with mentors, we are investing in a brighter future for our residents and strengthening the foundation of our community."
The event is being spearheaded by Kiara Lovett, Director of Social Services at SPHA. "We are thrilled to host this Mentorship Fair and provide a platform for community members to engage with impactful mentorship programs. We're grateful to all our community partners for their participation," said Lovett.
SPHA is the leading affordable housing provider in the city of St. Petersburg, serving more than 4,000 low-income households. SPHA's mission is to provide safe, sanitary, accessible, decent, and affordable housing to eligible citizens of the city of St. Petersburg, while enhancing and promoting resident self-sufficiency.
Exterior of The Legacy at Jordan Park in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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ABOUT JORDAN PARK:
Jordan Park is a historic housing community managed by the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA). It is known for being St. Petersburg's first African American housing community and the oldest federal public housing project in the state. It was originally built between 1939 and 1941.
On November 23, 2021, SPHA received approval from HUD for its Jordan Park redevelopment proposal, which would change the funding structure from Public Housing to Project-Based Vouchers and put the long-awaited community revitalization project into motion. The Jordan Park Redevelopment Project consisted of the following elements:
- Transitioning the Jordan Park family apartments (206 units) from Public Housing to a Project-Based Voucher (PBV) funding platform.
- Renovation of the 206 Family Units (i.e. new flooring, countertops, cabinets, washers and dryers in units, safety features, energy-efficiency improvements, etc.)
- Construction of a new three-story, 60-unit senior midrise building (for households 62 years and older) named "The Legacy at Jordan Park."
On December 14, 2021, SPHA closed on Jordan Park in partnership with co-developer Norstar Development USA, LP, and with the investment of Fannie Mae, KeyBank, and
RBC Community Investments. Partners also included the bond issuer, the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, and the City of St. Petersburg, which provided Community Redevelopment Area funding.
On October 27, 2023, SPHA held the grand opening of The Legacy at Jordan Park. SPHA also celebrated the completion of the surrounding newly renovated 206 Jordan Park Family Units.
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.
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