The second phase of the affordable housing project Twin Lakes Estates has officially started welcoming its first residents.
The 132 available units at 501 Hartsell Ave. are being rented out to applicants based on income guidelines to ensure individuals and families making lower incomes secure the units. The project is the second of three phases for a larger project, spurred by the affordable housing crisis in Lakeland. We have a huge housing shortage in Lakeland, Polk County, the state of Florida and the whole nation, Ben Stevenson, executive director of the Lakeland Housing Authority, said. For every 10 families that need an affordable housing unit, there s only three units available.