CLPHA Advocacy

CLPHA supports the nation’s largest and most innovative housing authorities by advocating for the resources and policies they need to solve local housing challenges and create communities of opportunity. We frequently champion our members' issues, needs, and successes on the Hill, at HUD, and in the media. In these arenas CLPHA also advocates for legislation and policies that help our members, and the public and affordable housing industry as a whole, strengthen neighborhoods and improve lives.

Click below for links to congressional testimonies, statements for the record, action alerts, comments to HUD and other federal agencies, and the latest information about CLPHA's multi-pronged housing advocacy.

Action Alerts

CLPHA Recent Comments

3.13.19

Comments to HUD Re: Draft Revision 4 to the RAD Notice (RAD for PRAC)

Yesterday, CLPHA submitted comments on the Draft Revision 4 to the Rental Assistance Demonstration Notice regarding conversion of Section 202 project rental assistance contracts, which were prepared with our counsel, Reno & Cavanaugh, PLLC. The comments underscore CLPHA members’ depth of experience across all aspects of RAD and CLPHA’s unique qualifications to comment on the RAD 4 notice, and...

3.7.19

Comments to HUD Re: Docket No. FR-7006-N-15: Public Housing Annual Contributions Contract

On February 25, CLPHA submitted comments on the December notice outlining proposed changes to the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC).

11.27.18

Comments to HUD Re: Docket No. FR–5994–N–04: Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving To Work Demonstration Program; Republication and Extension of Comment Period

On October 11, HUD released the latest version of the MTW Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program for public comment. The Operations Notice establishes the requirements for the implementation and continued operation of the expansion of the MTW demonstration, following its authorization in the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations...

10.15.18

Comments to HUD Re: [Docket No. FR–6123-A-01] Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: Streamlining and Enhancements (the “Streamlining Notice”)

On August 16, HUD published a new notice, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: Streamlining and Enhancements (the “Streamlining Notice”), soliciting public comments on amendments to the Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) regulations. HUD had previously published its final AFFH rule in 2015, but implementation of the rule and its various assessment tools has since been suspended. HUD is...

7.6.18

Comments to HUD Re: [Docket No. FR-6099-N-01] Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program – Fiscal Year 2018 Inflation Factors for Public Housing Agency Renewal Funding

On July 6, CLPHA submitted comments on HUD’s Notice for comment on potential changes to their Housing Choice Voucher renewal funding formula. Thank you to members who provided feedback. Please see below for our final comments and send any questions or comments to Emily Warren at [email protected].

2.12.18

Comments to HUD Re: [Docket No. 82-FR-58441] Advanced Notice of EnVision Center Demonstration

In December 2017, HUD released a Notice announcing a new program for public housing authorities: the EnVision Centers Demonstration. The demonstration, which will include approximately 10 communities, is designed to test the effectiveness of collaborative efforts across governments, nonprofits, industries, and the housing sector in four core areas: economic empowerment, educational advancement,...

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Latest News

11.17.25

Housing Is Awarded $600,000 Grant from Pritzker Children’s Initiative

Grant to Support Housing Is Will Be Used to Address Homelessness for Infants, Toddlers, Expectant Parents, and Their Families

(Washington, D.C.) November 6, 2025 – Housing Is, a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging gaps among the housing, health and education sectors to improve life outcomes for low-income individuals and families, announced today that the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI) has awarded the organization $600,000.

“Housing Is is honored to receive this grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative. The support of our operations enables us to continue our partnership with Prevent Child Abuse America, ZERO TO THREE, and SchoolHouse Connection on our shared goal of addressing homelessness for infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, president of the Housing Is board of directors. “Public housing authorities and other affordable housing providers are committed to addressing homelessness in their communities, especially for infants, children, and families, and we know the value of cross-sector partners in these efforts. We at Housing Is are thankful that PCI believes in our work and that they will continue to support us in our critical mission to build a future where all people can thrive from the start of their lives.”

Housing Is will use funds from PCI to help further its work with a network of organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse America, ZERO TO THREE, and long-time partner SchoolHouse Connection, on Thrive from the Start. Thrive from the Start is an initiative dedicated to ensuring all expectant parents, infants, toddlers, and their families have the resources and opportunities to thrive. This coordinated multi-sector effort helps national, state, and local partners and networks to build stronger systems of support for families experiencing homelessness and housing instability during pregnancy and in the first three years of life.

Each year, more than 364,000 infants and toddlers experience homelessness in the U.S., and nearly 70,000 babies are born to parents who experienced homelessness during pregnancy. Homelessness during pregnancy or in the first three years of a child’s life has lifelong consequences on physical health and mental well-being. These years are foundational to development, and trauma—including homelessness—can disrupt this growth, leading to long-lasting effects. Homelessness is preventable, and stakeholders must take action to address it. Homelessness in early childhood—recognized as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)—can lead to developmental delays, physical and mental health issues, and lasting effects on well-being. If partners act early—before families reach a crisis point—they can prevent and solve homelessness and mitigate the resulting impact on the developing child.

“We deeply appreciate PCI’s deep commitment to our work,” said Abra Lyons-Warren, director of Housing Is. “For over a decade, Housing Is has been driven by the premise that systems that serve low-income individuals are stronger and more effective when they work together. We are able to extend this commitment and continued to work with a network of partners across issue areas who are aligned by our mutual devotion to ensuring that infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families have access to safe and stable housing opportunities.”

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About Housing Is

Housing Is helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes. Housing stability is a critical first step to improve life outcomes for low-income children, families, and seniors; Housing Is is based on the premise that sectors can better meet needs when they work together. Housing Is establishes, broadens, and deepens efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results. Learn more at housingis.org and on LinkedIn.

10.6.25

CLPHA Submits Comments on FY26 Fair Market Rents

Recently, CLPHA submitted comments on the FY26 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program published in the Federal Register on August 22. CLPHA is aware that many of our members have seen FMRs that are not aligned with the reality of their local rental markets, which are rapidly growing and outpacing data used by HUD to calculate FMRs. As a result, more PHAs are requesting reevaluations and conducting costly rent studies. Notably, HUD’s FY26 FMRs resulted in an average increase of just 1% from FY25 for CLPHA members.

The key points outlined in our comments are:

The disconnect between published FMRs and actual market rents creates a cascade of negative consequences for PHAs including administrative burden, lower voucher utilization, decreased landlord participation, and limited housing choice;
The FMR methodology still relies on ACS data collected over a five-year period (2019-2023 for FY2026), creating a built-in lag that cannot fully capture recent market shifts;
HUD should continue and expand its use of private data sources for FMR calculations;
HUD should provide additional funding for and streamline the process for reevaluations; and
HUD should eliminate mandated Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs).

HUD is also soliciting comments on a proposed methodology change for FY27, which uses an alternative utility inflation factor based on a weighted average composite of four fuel and utility components: electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and water/sewer/trash. HUD proposes using state-level data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration surveys for residential electricity, natural gas, and fuel oil prices, along with national-level data on changes in residential water, sewer, and trash collection costs from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CLPHA is interested in hearing feedback from members on this proposed methodology change for FY27.

For additional questions about these comments, please contact Madeline Morris, [email protected].

FY26 Fair Market Rents

Federal Register Notice

Read Comment Letter

9.26.25

Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Announces La Shelle Dozier as Chief Executive Officer

Dozier Brings More Than 30 Years of Affordable Housing Leadership to New Role

(Washington, D.C.) September 26, 2025 — The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), a national non-profit that advocates for the resources and policies to preserve and improve public and affordable housing in the United States, announced today the appointment of La Shelle Dozier as Chief Executive Officer. Dozier will be succeeding Executive Director Sunia Zaterman, who is stepping down after more than 30 years of service to CLPHA and the public housing industry. Dozier will be joining the CLPHA team on November 3, 2025, and will begin the transition process throughout the remainder of 2025. This selection was made after a nationwide search led by Sally M. Sterling Executive Search.

“Replacing a leader as well-respected as Sunia was no easy task, however, we were fortunate to have found the perfect candidate in La Shelle,” said CLPHA Board President and Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority CEO Jeffery K. Patterson. “La Shelle offers an unparalleled skill set to her new role, including leading a housing and redevelopment agency, advocating for public policies at the local, state, and federal levels, and driving innovations in public housing preservation and affordable housing development. She is the right person to lead CLPHA into a future filled with opportunities to impact the greater affordable housing community.”

Dozier brings more than 30 years of experience in the public and affordable housing industry. Prior to joining CLPHA, Dozier served as executive director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency for 18 years. She also served as the vice president of CLPHA’s Board of Directors and as co-chair of the 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability, a broad-based coalition of stakeholders that will be producing a rigorous capital needs estimate for recapitalizing public housing and recommending financial tools to preserve the public housing portfolio for the next generation.

“It is an honor to lead the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities at this critical moment,” said Dozier. “Sunia has built one of the most significant advocacy organizations for public housing in Washington, D.C. It is my goal to build on her accomplishments to ensure that public and affordable housing remains at the center of solving the nation’s affordable housing crisis and ensuring CLPHA’s members have the resources and tools to serve our nation’s most vulnerable families.”

“I couldn’t leave CLPHA in better hands than La Shelle’s,” said Zaterman. “Her experience as a senior leader in public housing combined with her wisdom and passion for advancing the mission of CLPHA’s public housing members makes her the best candidate to lead CLPHA into its next chapter.”

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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 85 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org.