March 31st
A Clearwater area nonprofit that has offered affordable housing programs for close to 40 years will adopt a new name this month that more accurately reflects the where, what and how of their mission.
The group will start doing business as Suncoast Housing Connections on March 31, retiring its former name Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation/Tampa Bay CDC. The organization’s present Clearwater and New Port Richey locations, staff and services will remain the same.
“The name Suncoast Housing Connections more clearly reflects where we are, what we do and how we do it.”, according to CEO, Fran Pheeny. “We have changed our name but not our mission. We will continue to provide education, counseling, housing opportunities and to revitalize neighborhoods for low to moderate income households.” Suncoast Housing Connections reaches up to 1500 people per year via its services such as First Time Home Buyer classes, Pre-Purchase Housing Counseling, Foreclosure Prevention Counseling, Financial Education classes and Real Estate Development
“The decision to change our name was a difficult and lengthy process, and one that our we took very seriously,” says Karl Nurse, Board Chair of Suncoast Housing Connections. “Changing a name that has been in the community for close to 40 years is risky. Our hope is that by rebranding, we will reach and serve more people who may not have known about our services,” he points out.
Suncoast Housing Connections aligns with the nonprofit’s purpose and historic longevity, Pheeny says. “Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation began in 1982 — not many nonprofits or companies can say that,” she says. We have been an affordable housing organization from the beginning serving the Suncoast and helping potential and existing homeowners by providing the connections needed to obtain and maintain homeownership, she says. “We’re here to help you reach your goals.” The nonprofit’s tagline reads “We Teach. We Lend. We Build.” Call 727-442-7075, email housing@suncoasthc.org or go to www.Suncoasthc.org.