TAMPA, Fla. — Residents of East Tampa are expressing their frustration with what they consider a broken promise.

In January 2022, the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) had announced grant funding of $2.5 million to help residents who require home rehabilitation projects.

“It has been the mission of the mayor and city council to make sure our communities are taken care of through the CRA TIF funds,” said Councilman and Former CRA Board Chair Joe Citro during a news conference announcing the initiative last year. “We are laser-focused on our communities and we want to help keep it that way with our CRAs. Our CRAs are the best in this state and we want to keep moving Tampa forward.”

Residents report not receiving any of the funds, including Ernest Braxton whose home was destroyed by a falling tree over two years ago.

After receiving a notice from code enforcement, he was forced to leave the home he had shared with his wife for 50 years since 1988. To avoid being fined, he had to spend a significant portion of his savings to remove the tree and other debris from the property.

“It takes money. I’m on disability,” said Ernst. 

Ernest had hopes of returning to his home once it was repaired. This was especially true since the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Corporation, along with the City of Tampa, announced that TIF dollars, which are public funds provided by taxpayers, would be used to assist homeowners like him.

“They made certain promises that they were going to do things, but I haven’t had anything,” he said.

Homeowners who successfully apply could receive up to $40,000 for home repairs from a pool of $2.5 million. The program was supposed to launch in March 2022, but residents claim it never happened. As of today, they are still waiting to apply.

Executive Director of the Central Economic Development Center Alison Hewitt says the program has been delayed since a restructuring took place within the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Corporation and the City of Tampa has been involved in those changes.  

“They are still going through the process. They hired a new CRA [East Tampa] director,” said Hewitt. “They say they intend to have meetings with the community to explain the restructuring, so we are waiting for that to happen. While we are waiting, our seniors are still not having the support they need to have from the CRA.”

Ernest just turned 75 years old and says he would like to live out his final days in the home he built with his family.

“I love this place,” he said. “It just hurts me that I don’t have all the funding I need to get it all taken care of. I just needed some help.”

Ernest says he now has a lien of up to $20,000 on his home. It will continue to increase as long as his home is not fixed. 

The City of Tampa says they are looking into the matter with the Community Redevelopment Agency of East Tampa.

Additionally, a CRA spokesperson says the East Tampa Owner Occupied Rehab Program was recently approved on Nov. 9 and says it will invest in repairs and rehabilitation for homes in the East Tampa Community.