PUBLIC HOUSING

There are five public housing authorities in Pinellas County : Pinellas County , St. Petersburg , Clearwater , Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. These agencies administer housing complexes for qualified low and moderate income families. Housing is provided by the housing authorities under programs administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Rental rates are determined according to the tenant's income. Applications must be made to the public housing authority, not to the individual apartment complex.

Clearwater Housing Authority
908 Cleveland Street
P.O. Box 960
Clearwater , FL 33755

St. Petersburg Housing Authority
3250 5th Avenue N
St. Petersburg , FL 33713

(727) 323-3171

Tarpon Springs Housing Authority
500 S Walton Avenue
Tarpon Springs , FL 34689
(

727) 937-4411

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM

Under the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program, some low income families, individuals, elderly and disabled persons may qualify for rental assistance. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is administered locally by the Clearwater , St. Petersburg and Pinellas County Housing Authorities. (The Pinellas County Housing Authority serves all unincorporated areas and, through cooperation agreements, all municipalities except St. Petersburg , Clearwater , and Belleair Beach ). Under this program, qualified applicants are issued a certificate or voucher which they can take with them to a unit of their choice, as long as the unit meets housing quality standards.

The public housing authority pays the difference between what a tenant can afford and the fair market rent for the housing unit. Affordability is generally calculated as 30% of the tenant's adjusted household income. Utility allowances are included in the calculations. Local public housing authorities traditionally have had long waiting lists for their housing programs.