ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Before the new Innovare apartments on the edge of downtown St. Pete could even host its grand opening celebration Friday, every unit was accounted for.

The new mixed-use development that includes 50 affordable housing units is managed by the nonprofit Volunteers of America. Vice President of Development & Outreach for the organization Stephanie Vranich says residents began moving in mid-February and they already have a waitlist.

Vranich says 26 of Innovare’s units have been leased to those who were formerly homeless. Many of those new residents recently moved out of Pinellas Hope, a shelter run by Catholic Charities that provides resources for the homeless.

The other 24 units are exclusively workforce housing for those making 60% or less of the average median income. Those residents applied and completed the process through the St. Pete Housing Authority.

For Innovare, that qualifies as a maximum gross income of up to $36,540 for a single-person household, $41,760 for a two-person household and $46,980 for a three-person household.

Walter Sloan is one of the 26 formerly homeless residents. He says after getting into a work-related accident in 2018 he had to stop working, lost his home and found himself homeless. He contacted Pinellas Hope and began the process of getting back on his feet.

“That was a 30-second event that literally turned my world upside down,” Sloan said, speaking of his accident. “Then I got to the point where I just wanted my life back.”

Sloan worked with case managers at Pinellas Hope who helped get him back on track and into a housing program. Months later, he was told there would be a place for him to have his own apartment at Innovare.

“It’s everything. I’m so grateful and can’t thank everyone enough,” Sloane said while standing in his new one-bedroom apartment. “I don’t take anything for granted.”

Sloan is taking part in the county’s ticket to work program and plans to return to his career as a cook in the next couple of weeks.