Description
Faith leaders in St. Petersburg are calling on city leaders to create more affordable housing — and soon.
On Tuesday evening at St. Petersburg's Child's Park Recreation Center, Mayor Ken Welch held his final "City Hall on Tour" of the year. That is where leaders of "Faith and Action for Strength Together" or "FAST" and community members demanded he prioritize low-income families by creating 5,000 units of affordable housing for families making 80% AMI (Area Median Income) or less by the end of his first term.
Avis Lemon has called St. Petersburg home since the 80s but said she now feels as if she and her family are being pushed out.
"Cost of living is too high in St. Petersburg; too high. It's like they're saying 'Get out of here and go look for somewhere else,'" she explained.
Lemon said her kids are struggling to find affordable housing, but don't want to leave the area to stay close to her.
"To start over at my age? To start over somewhere else? I don't see it," Lemon said.
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/st-pete-affordable-housing-mayor-welch/67-1661f78f-bc99-4907-9280-06d1fb82ce3b
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