To help solve the affordable housing crisis for the elderly population, the Tampa City Council granted $750,000 to help create Madison Highlands II, an 88-unit affordable housing development.
The money was made possible by a State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) Grant, which gives local governments money to keep low-income families’ access to affordable homeownership. Phase II units at Madison Highlands will be located at 5315 N. 37th Street. November 2021 saw the opening of Phase I.
“Ensuring our area’s most vulnerable seniors have access to affordable housing that enables them to live independently is a priority,” Mayor Jane Castor stated. “Housing costs are a long-standing issue for seniors, especially retirees on fixed incomes, and this development will help remove that burden.”
Nine of the 88 units in Phase II will be set aside for very low-income renters, with half of those being designated as “Special Needs” homes.
Ten percent of the apartments are reserved for individuals with an area median income of forty percent, and ninety percent of the units are designated for people with an AMI of sixty percent.
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“The demand for affordable, accessible housing for seniors on limited incomes has soared,” Kayon Henderson, the City’s Director of Housing and Community Development stated. “Affordable housing has been shown to support independence – and reduce the housing cost burden for those on fixed income—ultimately contributing to our senior community’s housing needs. Awarding this SHIP grant money is a major step in the right direction.”
The complex will have an outdoor screened lanai, BBQ grills, a swimming pool, and a picnic pavilion. Summer 2024 is when construction is anticipated to start.
