When the brand-new Uptown Sky apartment complex opened for applications, 3,000 families applied for 61 apartments, a telling sign of the state of affordable housing in this region. Families doubling up in Tampa is becoming a more common occurrence.
Families continue to double up in housing because they cannot afford the soaring rent prices.
Agencies in the Tampa Bay area have taken note, even though no solid numbers are available to show how many families or groups are living together under one roof. Instead, they are making slow but steady progress in addressing the lack of affordable housing in this area.
New affordable housing in the University Area
Just this week, Blue Sky Communities, a developer with a record of providing affordable housing, cut the ribbon on its newest local project, Uptown Sky. This project used $5.5 million of funds from HOPE — Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality. The project is a joint effort between Blue Sky and the University Area Community Development Corporation, a group that strives to improve living conditions in the area surrounding the University of South Florida. HOPE received funding to help construct affordable housing through the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners.
Uptown Sky is a 61-unit apartment complex for which those 3,000 applicants applied, said Sharon Streater, lead organizer for HOPE. HOPE is a nonprofit that represents 25 churches in the area, all working to provide a better life for Hillsborough County’s impoverished residents.
“These affordable apartment homes, to be located at the intersection of 12th Street and Fletcher Avenue, will benefit low- and moderate-income families by improving the quality of their homes, eliminating the cost burden, increasing access to transit and increasing access to services,” according to a press release.
“Households that can benefit from living here will fall into three income categories: 18 units at 50% Area Median Income; 30 units at 60% AMI, 13 units at 70% AMI. The affordability period is 30 years.”
“For four years, Blue Sky has been working to find a way to build more housing in this area. Together with the University Area CDC and other community leaders, we finally made it happen. It should be the first of many,” said Shawn Wilson. He’s president and CEO of Blue Sky Communities.
It is one more step, but the problems still exist.
Doubling up
Many families are still doubling up to be able to afford a roof over their heads.
A study conducted by the National Institute of Health states that within the past 14 years, the number of households with more than one family has tripled.
A recent Zillow analysis stated that there are still 4.3 million “missing” homes in the United States and that more policies and investments are needed to boost affordable housing construction.
The bulk of families or groups doubling up are typically low income. This further highlights the need for smaller, more affordable housing. Of the groups that are doubling up, 68% had an annual income of $35,000 or less.
The City of Tampa is working to rewrite its regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, to help accommodate at least some families.
ADUs are built behind homes and are typically converted garages, mother-in-law suites or similar structures that, for some, become an affordable rental option.
Tampa’s current code only allows ADUs in Seminole Heights and around Lowry Park, but it is looking to expand on that.