Seventeen affordable apartments opened Wednesday along North Florida Avenue after a former strip commercial center was redeveloped into permanent housing for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Mercy Oaks II includes 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments. The City of Tampa contributed $1.25 million in State Housing Initiatives Partnership funds to acquire the property, while Catholic Charities financed the remainder with its own funds and a loan from Catholic Charities USA.
Catholic Charities Executive Director Maggie Rogers said Mercy Oaks II will provide housing for people who are homeless, including some residents of the organization’s Tampa Hope shelter, as well as individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless.
The development joins the adjacent Mercy Oaks I, a 20-unit apartment community completed in 2022 through a partnership between Hillsborough County and Catholic Charities. Together, the two developments provide 37 affordable apartments.
Ten apartments are reserved for households earning up to 50% of the area median income, or $45,850 for a two-person household. The remaining seven are reserved for households earning up to 80% of the area median income, or $73,400 for a two-person household. The apartments are intended for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other vulnerable populations.
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“Every new affordable home we create represents an opportunity for someone to build a more stable future,” Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. “Mercy Oaks II is another example of what strong partnerships can accomplish when we work together to expand housing opportunities for Tampa residents who need them most.”
Residents will pay below-market rents, with water, sewer and trash service included. Each apartment is equipped with a refrigerator, range and dishwasher.
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