FORT MYERS, Fla. - A trip to Washington may have paid off for a local man trying to make a difference. He wanted state and national leaders to know about the hurdles when it comes to affordable housing in Southwest Florida.

The Executive Director of the Fort Myers Housing Authority, Marcus Goodson, went to Washington D.C. the second week of February. He was pushing for more money to help low income housing. They need it to help complete a low income housing project. Even if they don't get the money, one part of the project is opening soon.

Lewis Delgado is talking about his future home. He's lived in low income housing for 10 years now, but thanks to the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, he'll be moving into new apartments around September. His neighbor Priscilla is also excited about the change.

Priscilla Lies said, "Oh, 6 or 7 months, that's kind-of close ... yeah, I'm going to enjoy it."

This is just one of five parts of the project called "The Hope Six Project." Goodson said he wants all five phases of the project to wrap-up by September 2011, but with a slowing economy - he's worried it may not happen. He's expecting fewer grants and less tax money.

Goodson said, "Our project is not immune to what's going on in the economy."

That's why he went to Washington D.C. last week - to convey the importance of getting stimulus money for the largest affordable housing project in the history of Southwest Florida. He thinks he's going to get some money for the project.

"We're excited about the financial assistance that we should get as a result of the stimulus bill for this "Hope Six" project," Goodson said.

The project doesn't only open up jobs, but serves hundreds of residents - like Lewis.

Delgado said, "They're going to be nice and clean. Here, it's really old - the buildings in the 60's. They built all these houses you know."

That elderly housing is just phase one - which opens first. The rest of the project includes the construction of single family homes and a single family sub-division.