logo
St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services
March 2007

St. Pete NHS Creates More New Homebuyers than Ever Before!

From October 2006 through January 2007, St. Pete NHS helped 39 families become first-time homeowners. That's more homebuyers in a comparable period than ever in St. Pete NHS history! The St. Petersburg Times wrote about our accomplishment in a recent story you can read here. New homebuyers included low-income and moderate-income families, single parent headed families and single adults. Two of the families we've helped were profiled in local and national media. You can read about them on the n ews page of our website.

We've created nearly 500 first-time homeowners since 1999, generating in excess of $50 million in economic impact on our community. We intend to create another 500 by 2010. But we need your help. The Community Partners Program is our annual campaign to raise funds for the operational needs of our agency. Your financial support is vital to our ability to carry out our mission. Visit our website to sign up or for more information on the Community Partners Program.

Luncheon Sponsorships Now Available
2007 Title Sponsor: Bank of America
NW Week 2005 Partners

Above from left: State Representative Jim Frishe, Ms. Bettye Newsome, and SPNHS Board Member Larry Newsome share a moment at a previous Annual Partners Luncheon.

Sponsorships are now available for the Annual Partners Luncheon. Sponsorship benefits include recognition at the event, recognition on St. Pete NHS marketing materials and website, and tickets to the event. Sponsorships are available at both the individual and corporate levels. Bank of America is the Luncheon Title Sponsor again this year and the City of St. Petersburg is the event Co-Sponsor.

We'd like to extend a special thanks to our 2006 Partners Luncheon Sponsors for making last year's event such a success:
Bank of America - Title Sponsor
AmSouth Bank - Program/Table Sponsor
Bay Pointe Preserve - Program/Table Sponsor
First American Title - Program/Table Sponsor
General Home Development - Program/Table Sponsor
Urban Development Solutions - Program/Table Sponsor
Fifth Third Bank - Community Sponsor
Pinellas Realtor Organization - Community Sponsor
Sun Title Insurance - Community Sponsor
Third Federal Bank - Community Sponsor
United Capital Funding - Community Sponsor
Vision Investment - Community Sponsor
William D. Freund - Community Sponsor

In order to fully credit our sponsors, sponsorship commitments must be received no later than April 20th. For more information about how you can sign up to become a Partner Luncheon Sponsor, call (727) 821-6897 ext. 111.
Free Tax Preparation Through the Prosperity Campaign

Every year the IRS sends out refund checks averaging $2,100 to more than 120 million taxpayers. These tax windfalls often provide families with their best opportunity to save and invest in home improvements or use as a down payment for a house. By coming to St. Pete NHS, families can learn how to turn their refund into buying a home. Our homebuyer education, financial fitness classes, and one-on-one counseling will help them understand the process. If the family is mortgage-ready, we'll be able to provide assistance in their home purchase.

St. Pete NHS is a founding member of the Wealth Building Coalition of Pinellas County. The Coalition is sponsoring sites for free tax preparation in Pinellas County, through the Prosperity Campaign of the United Way of Tampa Bay. Trained counselors provide the preparation of income tax forms and free e-filing. The counselors can also advise filers if they are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Elderly Credit, and Disability Credit.

SPNHS is working with the Prosperity Campaign to promote the program. Services are available at multiple locations throughout the Tampa Bay Area. For a listing of the locations, call 211 or visit the Prosperity Campaign at the United Way website.
SPNHS Develops Modular Home in Bartlett Park
Home Marks Beginning of SPNHS Alliance with Palm Harbor Homes

Above from left: Developer Nick Ferraro, SPNHS Executive Director Askia Muhammad Aquil, City Council Member Jamie Bennett, City Council Member Earnest Williams, and Mayor Rick Baker at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

St. Pete NHS, in partnership with Nick Ferraro Homes, Palm Harbor Homes, and the City of St. Petersburg, is developing modular homes in the Bartlett Park neighborhood of St. Petersburg. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on March 5 in celebration of the achievement.

The new energy efficient home offers the traditional character associated with residential development within St. Petersburg neighborhoods. As well, the homes are built to exceed the state standards for resistance to storms.

"The completion of this home marks the beginning of a new life for its homeowners," said Nick Ferraro. "St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services is dedicated to developing affordable housing and promoting home ownership. Working with them to help accomplish this was an honor."
SPNHS Proposes Townhome Development at Mercy Hospital Site
Modular Home Construction Provides Affordable Housing to Area Workforce

St. Pete NHS is leading a development team that includes Palm Harbor Homes, the PDC Group, Developer Larry Newsome, and several other key partners, to propose the development of 47 modular townhomes to be built at the site of the Mercy Hospital on 22nd Street South in St. Petersburg.

The homes will be manufactured at the Palm Harbor factory in Plant City and employ modular construction. Palm Harbor, a $700 million publicly-traded company, is an industry leader in providing quality, affordable, modular home construction resistant to Florida storm conditions. Today's modular housing is better than ever. On-time and volume purchasing enables Palm Harbor to help provide the consumer with amenity- filled homes at a reduced cost. Design flexibility allows for modular construction to be used for a range of housing types, including both single-family and multi-family uses.

The plan proposes to build two-bedroom and three- bedroom homes, all equipped with garages and energy efficient appliances. Site plans include common greenspace with a playground, sidewalks, and a re-integration of the three acre site into the existing street grid of the surrounding neighborhood.

The plan was developed in response to the need for workforce housing in St. Petersburg.and will be affordable to families at a range of income levels.
Fifth Third Bank Brings Homeownership Opportunities to SPNHS
The Bank's Homeowner Connection Bus Visits St. Petersburg
Alice Williams, Isay Gulley, and Curtis Stokes

Above from left: SPNHS Board Member Alice Williams, Clearwater NHS Executive Director Isay Gulley, and Curtis Stokes of Fifth Third Bank.

On Thursday, March 22nd, SPNHS will host Fifth Third Bank's Homeowner Connection, a specially designed bus electronically retrofitted to serve as a mobile classroom. Together with Freddie Mac, the Community College Foundation, and selected non- profit agencies, they've put together the the tools potential homebuyers need to learn about owning a home and bringing them directly to the community free of charge.

Homebuyers can meet one-on-one with a mortgage expert, browse online programs on homeownership and credit, and take home free giveaways. Potential homebuyers will learn about homeownership education, credit reports, money management, foreclosure prevention, and several other topics.

Don't miss out! The Fifth Third Homeowner Connection will be at SPNHS only one day:
Thursday, March 22
10 AM to 4 PM

Transforming neighborhoods and creating lifelong homeowners...one family at a time. If you'd like to create lifelong homeowners, please call us or visit our website at www.stpetenhs.org. All monetary, real estate, and in-kind contributions are tax- deductible to the extent allowed by law.


St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services