ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A south St. Petersburg public-private partnership is launching a new affordable housing initiative that aims to address more than the region’s housing shortage.
SERI USA has its first home under contract and plans to transform it into a lease-to-own opportunity that combines affordable housing with workforce development, financial literacy, mental health services and other support designed to help families become successful homeowners.
Founder Bruzenskey Bois said SERI stands for Social Economic Redevelopment Initiative. He said south St. Petersburg was selected because it remains one of the few places in the Tampa Bay area where affordable housing opportunities still exist.
“I’m focusing on south St. Pete because right now it’s the only location with few locations in the Tampa Bay area where you can get housing still affordable, and it’s highly desirable. We’re five minutes out of downtown. You have new development happening,” Bois said…