TAMPA, Fla. — Housing affordability is a major concern for Tampa’s current and prospective residents.

The city is taking significant steps to address this issue by investing historic funding, totaling over $82 million, in long-term housing development and preservation, with the support of the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency.

What You Need To Know

  • The city of Tampa is taking significant steps to address housing affordability by investing historic funding, totaling over $82 million, in long-term housing development and preservation, with the support of the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency

  • Nearly 40% of Tampa residents spend more than 30% of their monthly gross income on housing expenses, causing housing cost burdens for them, according to the city of Tampa

  • The Tampa City Council has established five housing goals to achieve this, which include expanding temporary housing options, prioritizing seniors and individuals with disabilities, ensuring safe housing for low-income residents, leveraging city resources to fill funding gaps and stabilizing neighborhoods that are at risk of displacement

  • Donald Delorey is battling stage 3 colon cancer. He was homeless and has since secured rental assistance and housing through the Tampa Housing and Community Development Program

Donald Delorey is now enjoying the view from home after two years of being homeless. He received rental assistance and housing through the Tampa Housing and Community Development Program.

“I don’t feel like I’m gonna find anywhere better,” said Delorey.

He says that it was the break he needed to improve his health.

“It was a big tumor, when they found it.”

He is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for stage 3 colon cancer. He explained that his previous living conditions have impacted his immune system.

Donald Delorey is battling stage 3 colon cancer. He was homeless and has since secured rental assistance and housing through the Tampa Housing and Community Development Program. He says that it was the break he needed to improve his health. (Spectrum News)

“I was healthy all my life till then,” he said.

With its new housing implementation plan, the city of Tampa aims to address the issue of insufficient housing options.

The Tampa City Council has established five housing goals to achieve this, which include expanding temporary housing options, prioritizing seniors and individuals with disabilities, ensuring safe housing for low-income residents, leveraging city resources to fill funding gaps and stabilizing neighborhoods that are at risk of displacement. Delorey’s case is just one of many that the plan hopes to address.

“I think it’s been noted we have less than 4% vacant land here in Tampa," said Tampa Housing and Community Development Program Manager Kayon Henderson. "And so we’re currently looking at every option. And so part of that is we have different RFP in which a request for proposals which allows us to look at preserving what we have to exist in right now in our inventory." 

Nearly 40% of Tampa residents spend more than 30% of their monthly gross income on housing expenses, causing housing cost burdens for them, according to the city of Tampa.

Henderson says the city is proactive in its efforts to make housing more affordable for both renters and homeowners in Tampa.

“We do have a housing crisis, but we can’t wait until we become a different city, and we’re fighting to maintain what we have," she said. "So we have to look at where we are now and the projection that we see for the growth in Tampa ahead and make sure that we’re really establishing some safe housing for everybody who’s here or who’s coming here."

She says allowing seniors like Delorey to age in place and avoid being priced out is important.

Delorey says stable housing has been crucial in his fight against cancer. He views it as another challenge that he plans to overcome in order to live life to the fullest.

“I look at it realistically," Delorey said. "I’m 69. I don’t know how many years I have left, but I’d like to enjoy them."