Below are descriptions of the housing affordability and support projects identified for funding:

• $6.5 million for Deuces Housing and Community Development Project, including 24 units for households with incomes at 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
• $3.5 million for the Affordable Housing Gap Financing Project focusing on producing new rental units affordable for households with incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which will be combined with the $20.3 million described below.
• $20.3 million added to $3.5 million of general revenue funds for a total of $23.8 million for gap financing for the construction of multi-family affordable housing. The Request for Proposals was released on June 1, 2022. The first round of awards is anticipated for September/October 2022. If approved by City Council, this $23.8 million is expected to combine with other local housing resources to produce close to 483 units for households with incomes at or below 80% AMI, with 408 of those reserved for households with income at or below 60% AMI.
• $2.5 million for scattered site family shelter to meet the needs of homeless families with minor children experiencing a housing emergency through December 2024.  Funding will allow for safe shelter, housing focused intensive case management, and assistance in locating permanent housing.
• $1 million for permanent support services. Boley Centers, Inc. was selected from a Request for Proposals process and awarded a contract in May 2022. Boley Centers will provide case management and wrap around services for permanent supportive housing for residents at or below 65% AMI through December 2024.
• $500,000 for the City’s administrative costs, including a full-time employee, through December 2026, to perform duties related to the ARPA Housing Affordability and Support initiatives and the City’s other housing programs.

On Thursday, October 20, 2022, a series of housing projects were approved by the St. Petersburg City Council. The projects will utilize President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and add a total of 483 new affordable units to St. Pete. The units will be spread throughout the entire city and are 100% affordable under 80% AMI. Two of these projects will target special populations such as people with disabilities and homeless individuals - and two projects will be for seniors.

Below are descriptions of the health and social equity projects identified for funding:

• As a sub-recipient of $8.58 million in ARPA funds, Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF) will create a competitive solicitation process to establish a network of coordinated, neighborhood-based, trauma-informed social service Hubs in neighborhoods that have suffered disproportionate impacts from the pandemic. "Pinellas Community Foundation is excited to work with the city and the community to advance neighborhood resilience through a focus on mental health," said PCF's CEO Duggan Cooley. Hubs will have direct access to emergency funding to address crisis needs and stabilize the household. Once stabilized, the Hubs will provide trauma-informed therapy, case management, and assertive outreach. PCF will also establish a shared services organization that will provide administrative support to Hubs and other nonprofits across the city.
  
  
• $1.179 million for Food Security. There are three projects being funded.
  • The first project is implementation of a Healthy Neighborhood Store Program in census tracts designated as “food deserts.” In November 2022, St. Pete Free Clinic (SPFC) was named as a contractor of approximately $535,000 that has been allocated for this program and will provide technical assistance, capital improvements, and incentives to participating stores. SPFC will design, implement, and monitor the program for a two-year period.
  • The second project allocates $100,000 to support the Summer Food Program over a two-year period. These dollars will be used to increase capacity within the USDA Summer Food Service Program and increase the quality and quantity of food delivered to youth at recreation centers. This project provided support for the 2022 summer program and will support the 2023 summer program.
  • The third project allocates $544,000 to develop and implement a Healthy Food Action Plan. The City seeks to chart the strategic vision and path forward for a sustained inclusive and equitable food system in the City and eliminate “food deserts.” Funds will be used to pay stipends to neighborhood food equity advocates living in the “food desert” neighborhoods to provide their expertise to the plan; contract with a planning consultant; and support a new City position to support the planning process and implementation of the plan. This project is anticipated to begin in the Fall of 2022.
    
    
• $946,435 for Youth Development. There are two projects being funding with these dollars.
  • The first project allocates $246,435 to the City’s existing Youth Development Grants Program, which provides grants to local nonprofits to provide literacy and other programming to address achievement gaps. These additional dollars will focus on literacy with the next grant cycle expected to launch in the Fall of 2022.
  • The second project allocates $700,000 for a Youth Opportunity Grants program focusing on youth aging out of foster care who do not continue to engage with the child welfare system. This project is currently being designed with an expected launch at the end of 2022.
    
    
• $405,000 for Impact Monitoring. This funding is for a City position over the next four years to establish metrics and measure community impacts and systemic changes intended by these funding uses. This position will work with the subrecipient and grantees to track progress toward closing equity gaps and ensure these various projects and initiatives meet Mayor Welch’s vision of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods. This position is expected to be filled in the Fall of 2022.