Bay area housing service on verge of closing for good

[HARTride 2012]

Bay area housing service on verge of closing for good
Saturday, December 29, 2007

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A St. Petersburg housing service turns dreams into a reality, like owning a home, but now the non-profit needs its own dream to come true to stay open.

St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) is on a downward financial slope and is in dire need for their own donations and the deadline is approaching.

Timothy Adams is proud of his new St. Petersburg condo. But, he couldn't have invested without the support of the non-profit, which gave him a grant worth thousands of dollars to go towards the purchase price.

"Without NHS and what they have to offer I wouldn't be able to afford this unit," Adams said.

The St. Petersburg NHS needs $50,000 by the end of January.

"If we don't get an infusion of cash, a fairly significant amount of donations, we'll have to shut our doors, at least temporarily and make some adjustments," said President and CEO of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. Askia Muhammad Aquil.

Aquil blames their situation on the slowing economy and an avalanche of foreclosures. Because of that, they've helped thousands of people buy or hold onto their houses for 27 years.

"We've helped a lot of people, now we are calling on the community, including some of those families that we have helped to help our organization," Aquil said.

As soon Adams heard NHS needed help he gave them money out of an already tight budget.

"They needed the money more than I needed furniture right now," Adams said.

Next week, the St. Petersburg NHS President plans to meet with Clearwater NHS to see if they can share resources and plan joint fund raisers.

Pinellas County is aware of the funding crisis at St. Petersburg Housing Services, but it doesn't provide emergency funding for organizations.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...osing+for+good