Mrs. Dorothy Woodard, 91, has lived on West Wright Street for more than 50 years.
Thanks to the City of Pensacola’s HOME Investments Partnership Program, she can enjoy a newly rebuilt home for many years to come. The new home lacks the distinctive pink awning and accents that made the old one a neighborhood landmark, but it is a worthy successor, according to her daughter Sarah Burnett.
If it hadn’t been for word-of-mouth, Burnett said her family never would have known about the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which made it possible for her mother stay in her neighborhood in the care of family.
HOME provides grants to fund building, buying, or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or direct rental assistance to low-income people. The Woodard home was a tear down and rebuild project done by Michael Taylor owner of McDelt Construction.
Betsy McDonald, the City’s Housing Director, said the HOME program is an important part of this City’s broader strategy to maintain safe, affordable housing.
“This home is extra special to me as it allows a legacy resident the opportunity to age in place and remain in her neighborhood,” McDonald said.
The Woodard home is one of three HOME rebuild projects by the City in the past two years. The third project, a four-bedroom home on 8th Avenue for a couple and their six grandchildren, will wrap up later this year.
HOME is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is one of several programs City Housing manages to help keep housing safe and affordable in the community. In fiscal year 2024-2025 City Housing:
- Completed 12 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) rehabilitation projects at a total investment of $384,890.
- Completed six rehabilitation projects using American Rescue Plan Act funds at a total investment of $82,535.
- Contributed $531,000 helped 14 households with down payment assistance via funds from ARPA and State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust.
- Helped 51 households with homebuyer and foreclosure education.
To learn more about income guidelines for HOME – or ask questions about any City Housing program – call the Housing Office (420 W. Chase St., or 850-858-0350) for details. e
