KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Jasmine Sierra lives in a tight two-bedroom home with her five girls, but soon, that will no longer be the case.
- Kissimmee aquires duplex, donates to nonprofit
- City wants to provide families with affordable housing
- Officials workin on renting out larger multifamily duplex
"It is very exciting," Sierra said.
The City of Kissimmee acquired a duplex and later donated it to the nonprofit Osceola Council on Aging. They fixed it up and will be renting it out to two different families, including Sierra's.
She broke down when she heard she will only be paying $620 a month for a four bedroom house.
Sierra said it's not easy raising five young girls as a single mother. Especially given that her youngest daughter has a rare liver disease, resulting in hefty medical bills.
"I've been on waiting lists for housing since 2014. I've been applying for Section 8 every time it opens, I get denied,” she explained. “Even with a disabled child. My income is not enough to get a regular four-bedroom house, three bedroom … I don't qualify."
The City of Kissimmee wants to get a hold of more homes so that they can provide more families with affordable housing.
Frances De Jesus, the program coordinator for the City of Kissimmee’s Housing and Community Development said, "Right now, as you know, the rental rates are very high … all throughout Osceola County. So we definitely need so we have a lot of families that are in need.”
The girls will now have a yard they can play in, and Sierra said she can't wait to watch them grow in this more stable environment.
"The City of Kissimmee and the Osceola Council on Aging… I would love for them to open up more and see more families like in my position or in different positions that it actually helps them,” she added. “You know how much this stress has taken off of me now?"
The city is working on renting out a larger multifamily development complex in the next couple of months for other families in need.