It’s moving day for Emma Harrison.
More than 20 years of her things are now being wheeled into a brand new, never-lived-in-before apartment off 15th Street in Tampa.
For weeks, she was filled with fear, wondering where she’d end up as her public housing complex on North Boulevard is slated to come down.
“I’m just praying, asking God that nothing happen to me,” she said.
A public-private partnership with Hillsborough County has created Haley Park Apartments, stocked with 80 one- and two-bedroom units. The price? About $600 per month.
It features a pool and garden.
“We can’t be a great state if our elders, particularly our elder veterans, can’t afford to live in dignity,” said John Wolf of Wendover Housing Partners.
"We hope to show through the power of example how a smart public-private partnership can lead this region out of this affordable housing crunch,” Wolf added.
You have to be 55 and older and be considered very low to moderate income to be eligible for an apartment.
Seniors and military veterans get first consideration.
There’s a huge waiting list to get into the apartments, showing there’s still more work to be done.
