Hillsborough County has added more to the local affordable housing inventory with North Tampa’s Mercy Oaks. The county unveiled the brand-new affordable housing complex in the Tampa Overlook neighborhood on Thursday, Sept. 15. Mercy Oaks is a 20-unit apartment complex built specifically to house working, low-income families and built with help from Catholic Charities. The complex’s one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments will be available for rent at below-market rates by October.
More about Mercy Oaks
The apartments at 10017 N. Florida Ave. stand under the cool shade of old oak trees. Unlike most other affordable housing projects, the Mercy Oaks apartments are brand new. Instead of refurbishing existing structures to create move-in ready homes, Mercy Oaks was constructed from the ground up for the sole purpose of housing working families affordably.
In addition to fresh flooring, shiny granite counter tops, and sleek appliances, the apartments provide a convenient location for residents. A HART bus stop (Route 1) is only a few steps from residents’ front doors, giving tenants easy access to public transportation. For residents without cars, hopping on the bus to get to and from work and shop at the surrounding grocery markets will help make life easier.
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New resident Carrieann Edwards, who attended the ceremony, was excited about the opportunities. “I’m happy because I’ve got my own stuff. And I can do whatever I want,” she said of her new home.
Mercy Oaks was made possible through funding from Hillsborough County and the Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg. The County provided a $2.4 million grant and Catholic Charities supplied the remaining necessary $1.5 million.
With housing prices still on the rise and an influx of residents moving to the area, affordable housing options are scarcer than ever. The County has invested more than $54 million into the community in 202. Directly affecting over 24,300 households. The County also funds training for residents to further their careers in order to afford home ownership.
This month, the Hillsborough County BOCC approved up to $16.2 million American Rescue Plan funding for affordable housing