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Public Housing Authorities Need $8.5 Billion in Emergency COVID-19 Funds Plus Regulatory Relief
CLPHA members are working tirelessly, compassionately, and pragmatically to support low-income households. We urge Congress and HUD to do the same.
WASHINGTON (March 19, 2020) - The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities sent letters to Congressional leaders and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson today formally requesting $5 billion for the public housing program and $3.5 billion for the housing choice voucher program in emergency supplemental funds and additional regulatory relief for public housing authorities as they work to protect residents and staff during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement after submitting the requests to Congress and HUD:
"Low-income households and the elderly who are served by public and affordable housing have the most to lose during the current COVID-19 public health crisis because they are the most vulnerable to unemployment, lost income, and heartbreakingly, the virus itself.
"To ensure the health and safety of residents, and of staff, public housing authorities are taking unprecedented actions to follow public health protocols, while continuing to provide residents with services ranging from food deliveries to regular property repairs.
"The FY20 operating budget for public housing authorities is wholly inadequate to fund the enormous unforeseen cost of COVID-19 emergency expenses combined with estimated losses in tenant rent payments. CLPHA is requesting $8.5 billion from Congress in emergency supplemental funds and urging HUD to provide public housing authorities with the flexibility to respond to the changing situation as needed.
"Without a commitment from the federal government to support public and affordable housing operations during and after the COVID-19 emergency, millions of households could be left unprotected from the virus and face longer-term housing insecurity.
"CLPHA members are working tirelessly, compassionately, and pragmatically to support low-income households. We urge Congress and HUD to do the same."
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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 70 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 and on Twitter @CLPHA and follow @housing_is for news on CLPHA’s work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
CLPHA Responds to Trump’s Proposed Cuts to Public Housing Budget
In the face of an estimated capital needs backlog of $70 billion, HUD’s budget zeroes out the public housing capital fund, which is used to address the growing physical needs of aging properties.
WASHINGTON (February 10, 2020) - Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s FY 2021 Budget proposal, which would slash funding for the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development by more than 15 percent, including a 43 percent cut to public housing funding.
“It is no surprise that this Administration has again proposed to gut funding for our nation’s public housing authorities, which serve more than 3 million low- and very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities through the public housing and voucher programs.
“In the face of an estimated capital needs backlog of $70 billion, HUD’s budget zeroes out the public housing capital fund, which is used to address the growing physical needs of aging properties.
“In his Budget Brief message, Secretary Carson touts the department’s commitment to resident health and safety with a nominal $90 million increase in funding to address certain hazards including lead, radon, and carbon monoxide. These one-off grants, though welcome, are insufficient and do not comprehensively address the needs of public housing residents or properties.
“We also have serious concerns that HUD’s budget underfunds the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Project-Based Rental Assistance so inadequately that as many as 160,000 households could lose voucher funding.
“The proposal additionally attempts to reintroduce rent increases and work requirements, two controversial polices that lack support from advocates and housing leaders.
“Some bright spots in the budget include increases to the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and Jobs-Plus, and a request of $100 million for the RAD program, which enables public housing authorities to convert public housing units to the Section 8 funding platform.
“But these improvements are meaningless if there are not enough resources to operate the public housing properties or to dramatically improve property conditions for residents living there.”
“Congress has previously rejected draconian budgets that shred our safety net, and we call on them to do so again.”
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 70 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 and on Twitter @CLPHA and follow @housing_is for news on CLPHA’s work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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CLPHA Statement on PHA Radon and Mitigation Practices
WASHINGTON (November 22, 2019) - The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities issued the following statement in response to news coverage about radon testing and mitigation practices in public housing:
Public housing authorities (PHAs) are committed to providing rental housing that is safe, decent, and affordable for millions of low- and very-low income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. PHAs are regulated and funded by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which sets health and safety standards for PHA properties.
HUD does not require or fund PHAs to test for or mitigate radon in public housing units. While HUD does have radon testing and remediation requirements for certain multi-family properties, these do not apply to public housing.
Chronic underfunding of public housing has led to a mounting capital needs backlog of an estimated $70 billion, yet HUD’s most recent budget proposal would have slashed funding for public housing by $4.6 billion and zeroed out the Public Housing Capital Fund, which is designed to address capital needs.
PHAs welcome consistent standards with adequate funding to mitigate hazards through grants or other funding opportunities. As an example, CLPHA strongly supports bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate to mandate the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all public housing units. The Safe Housing for Families Act would provide $300 million over a three-year period to install and maintain the detectors.
CLPHA is supportive of these and other comprehensive efforts to improve conditions in HUD-assisted housing for low and very low-income residents.
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From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:
Construction that begins next week will transform a former extended-stay hotel in Mission Valley into affordable rental apartments owned by the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) to provide rental homes of their own for more than 160 people currently in homelessness shelters or on the streets in the City of San Diego.
The project is one of the ongoing collaborative initiatives among the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, SDHC and Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) to address homelessness, with significant funding from the State of California’s Homekey Program.
“Transforming hotels into supportive housing is a way to get people off the streets and into homes more quickly,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “This Homekey project demonstrates the power of collaboration between the State, City, County, and local partners to address homelessness more effectively. Along with the other five Homekey projects in the City of San Diego, Presidio Palms pushes the total new homes created through this program to 608 – each one an opportunity for San Diegans to rebuild their lives.”
Since Homekey began in 2020, the State has awarded more than $105 million to SDHC, in collaboration with the City and County, to create 608 new affordable rental homes with on-site access to supportive services for people experiencing homelessness.
“Increasing the availability of affordable housing is the key to preventing and addressing homelessness and reducing cost-of-living in San Diego,” said San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents Council District 9, which includes a recently completed, Homekey-funded affordable housing property, PATH Villas El Cerrito, also developed in collaboration with the City, County and SDHC. “That is why it is so important we work creatively and collaboratively to create housing quickly and efficiently. This project is an example of all of that. We deeply appreciate the work of the San Diego Housing Commission and the Regional Task Force on Homelessness for using State Homekey Funds to create the housing we so desperately need.”
The State awarded $35 million toward SDHC’s purchase and rehabilitation of Presidio Palms. The City and County each funded $17.8 million, and the RTFH awarded $1.1 million.
“It’s projects like Presidio Palms and the thousands of additional affordable housing units in the pipeline that will help to end San Diego’s housing crisis,” said City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who represents Council District 3, which includes Presidio Palms and another SDHC-owned, Homekey-funded property, Valley Vista, which consists of 190 affordable housing units. “This has been a tremendous collaboration which will transform this one-time hotel into a warm and welcoming home for people who have experienced homelessness.”
In addition to capital funds for SDHC’s purchase and rehabilitation, the County of San Diego committed to request more than $8.5 million over five years toward the necessary behavioral health supportive services for Presidio Palms residents.
“Today’s groundbreaking for Presidio Palms is a significant step forward in addressing homelessness in San Diego County,” said Chairwoman Nora Vargas of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Together, we’re not just building housing—we’re paving pathways so that everyone has the chance to thrive in a safe and stable environment.”
The affordable apartments at Presidio Palms will provide on-site access to supportive services for residents, such as outreach and engagement; mental health services; healthcare/physical health services; behavioral health services; substance use services; case management; care coordination; life skills training; education and employment services; assistance obtaining benefits; and essential documentation and transportation services.
SDHC committed 161 rental housing vouchers to help Presidio Palms residents pay their rent, and SDHC will manage the property.
“With Presidio Palms, we are continuing the kind of collaborative efforts we have seen create housing more quickly for those who need it most, with supportive services to help them achieve housing stability,” SDHC Vice Chair of the Board Ryan Clumpner said. “These apartments will be life-changing for residents and will benefit the San Diego community by providing homes for our unhoused neighbors.”
From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:
Seniors with low income, including those who experienced homelessness, will have brand-new affordable rental apartments of their own near public transit and additional community amenities in San Ysidro at Ventana al Sur, a development built in collaboration with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC).
“This project itself is tangible proof of the fact that we are making progress on this key issue of housing affordability and homelessness,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said at a ribbon-cutting event today. “Affordable housing projects like this one help us to address the rising cost of rent, which we know is pricing too many people in our community. It’s one of our direct responses to that kind of challenge to make sure that we create a city that is safe, that is stable and is more affordable for all of us.”
Developed by Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County (MAAC) and Kingdom Development, Ventana al Sur features one- and two-bedroom rental apartments in a four-story building for 100 seniors with low income, including 25 units for seniors who experienced homelessness. These units will remain affordable for 55 years. The development also includes one manager’s unit.
“Having your parent or grandparent be able to be near you as you’re raising kids, it’s an amazing, amazing thing,” California State Assemblymember David Alvarez said. “That’s what this community is about. And that’s what this building and this housing is about because the statistics of San Ysidro are that it’s an older community. Our older community stays here and lives here and wants to be close to their families, and this gives them that opportunity.”
Residents are anticipated to begin moving into Ventana al Sur next month.
“What Ventana al Sur is going to do is address not only our population who had been unsheltered, but it’s going to give people an opportunity to see that the members of this community deserve better,” San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas said.
SDHC awarded 25 rental housing vouchers to Ventana al Sur to help pay rent for seniors who previously experienced homelessness. These residents also will receive on-site supportive services, including case management, life skills and access to mental health services.
“We know a growing number of seniors are experiencing homelessness in our community, and many more are struggling to get by with fixed or limited income in a high housing cost area, creating anxiety about potentially losing a home,” SDHC’s Executive Vice President of Rental Assistance and Workforce Development Azucena Valladolid said. “Ventana al Sur will provide rental homes that are affordable as well as peace of mind for 100 senior households.”
SDHC also awarded a $4.4 million loan toward the development of Ventana al Sur, consisting of funds SDHC administers from the City of San Diego Affordable Housing Fund and the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Local Housing Trust Fund.
The rental units at Ventana al Sur will be affordable for seniors with income ranging from 20 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income (AMI), currently $21,200 per year for a one-person household, to 50 percent of AMI, currently $53,050 per year for a one-person household.
“I’m thrilled that you are here today because this development will serve as a MAAC hub where MAAC and Kingdom will continue to work with our community partners, our residents, and families, and our entire San Ysidro community,” said MAAC President and CEO Arnulfo Manriquez, who grew up in San Ysidro.
“When we called up MAAC and said you guys have 30, 40 years of leadership in this community, caring about these people, this is something that if it’s your project, if this is your investment in the community, I know it’ll be amazing for decades.” Kingdom Development President William Leach said. “There was no question we felt the most blessed to be able to work with MAAC and to be able to help everybody bring this asset to the community.”
Financing for Ventana al Sur also included resources from the State of California and City of San Diego. The City’s “Bridge to Home” program provided $5 million toward the development. The State of California awarded a combined total of approximately $50.4 million from the California State Multifamily Housing and California Housing Accelerator programs to support Ventana al Sur.
Ventana al Sur is in the San Ysidro Historic Village District, close to a portion of San Ysidro where Interstate Freeways 5 and 805 intersect near the U.S.-Mexico International Border.
The property is within walking distance of transit options, including being less than 500 feet from the Beyer Boulevard Trolley Station. Also near the development are healthcare providers, a public library and a local park.
Apartments at Ventana al Sur include Energy Star appliances, including refrigerators and stoves as well as balconies and storage space. Site amenities include a community room, a recreational courtyard and plaza, a laundry room and a walking trail.
From ABC 2 Baltimore:
Wednesday marks a significant milestone.
Phase 2 of Perkins Square, formerly known as Perkins Homes opened, providing brand new mixed-income housing and more.
"I'm looking out here, and I'm seeing a lot of residents that [are] ready to get a key right now to go into their apartment or their house," said Denise Street, who will be moving into Phase 2.
"I lived in Perkins Homes for 45 years and I said I want to return home," said Michele McCall, who is also moving to Phase 2.
The new development includes 156 state-of-the-art mixed-income housing, including townhouses. This adds to the 110 units that were recently completed under Phase 1.
"We had over 100 plus meetings just to make sure the residents were on board. They had 10 different things they wanted. Everything they said they wanted, I promised," said Janet Abrahams, President and CEO of Housing Authority of Baltimore City.
Read ABC 2 Baltimore's article "Phase 2 of Perkins Square redevelopment complete."
From the Housing Authority of the City of Snohomish's press release:
The Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of Snohomish County convened a Special meeting on September 30, 2024, during which they approved the appointment of Laurie Olson as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective December 2, 2024.
Laurie Olson brings nearly 30 years of public service experience and a wealth of leadership to the organization. In her role as a public funder, Olson facilitated the development of affordable housing by coordinating project financing and supporting initiatives that expanded access to affordable units. She directed efforts to implement policies that enhanced affordable housing options, working closely with staff and stakeholders to ensure resources were effectively allocated and projects were successfully realized. Olson has direct experience in managing financing the development of affordable housing, securing project financing, acquiring land and units to enhance affordable housing options, and directing policy implementation alongside staff.
“I’m excited to return to the Snohomish County community, known for its strong spirit of collaboration and commitment to solving complex challenges together. It’s an honor to succeed Duane Leonard, whose leadership has left a lasting impact on affordable housing in our community. As HASCO steps into this pivotal moment, we have a responsibility to address the housing needs of today while shaping a more affordable future for tomorrow. I look forward to partnering with our dedicated staff, residents, community leaders, and elected officials to expand access to affordable homes and create lasting opportunities for all in Snohomish County.”
Her appointment as CEO represents her return to the Snohomish County community, where she worked at the Snohomish County Office of Housing and Community Development. While there, she led the Affordable Housing Production Plan, identifying needs and effective strategies for Snohomish County.
Most recently, Laurie has served as the Director of Capital Investments for the City of Seattle, managing a capital investments budget, leveraging $2 billion in assets. In this role, she oversaw the development of over 4,000 housing units, collaborated with the Seattle Housing Authority to strategically allocate and direct hundreds of vouchers throughout the city, and successfully acquired more than 1,000 market-rate units within three years.
“Laurie brings the experience and leadership needed to guide HASCO into its next phase of growth. We look forward to continuing our work with community partners to expand affordable housing opportunities throughout Snohomish County.,” stated Commissioner Chairperson Luke Distelhorst.
Olson has also been an active committee member of the ULI Affordable and Workforce Housing Product Council and has advocated for housing issues on various boards and advisory committees. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Seattle Pacific University.
She will succeed Duane Leonard, who is retiring from HASCO at the end of 2024. Leonard has been instrumental in shaping the agency's direction since 1994, contributing to a significant increase in affordable housing throughout the county.
From the New Haven Independent:
Shenae Draughn will once again step in as the interim head of the Housing Authority of New Haven and its affiliate organizations, after Karen Dubois-Walton steps down in November.
Starting Nov. 2, Draughn will fill in for current president DuBois-Walton, who is taking on a new role as the head of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven beginning next month.
The Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Draughn to helm, at least for now, the public housing agency and its nonprofit affordable housing development and management arms (known collectively as Elm City Communities) at the board’s October meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Amid applause and congratulations, the board also unanimously voted to create a subcommittee focused on finding a permanent director. “We hopefully should be able to do that in a short period of time,” said Board Chair William Kilpatrick.
Draughn has served as the executive vice president of Elm City Communities and the Glendower Group (the agency’s affordable housing development arm). She started at the organization in 2009 and in recent years has filled an interim president role during DuBois-Walton’s mayoral and state treasurer campaigns.
Draughn has played a key role in the agency’s efforts to renovate existing units and, increasingly, build new mixed-income housing across the city. (According to a press release from Elm City Communities, Draughn has “facilitated over $800 million in real estate development in the Greater New Haven area.”) She has also overseen the agency’s Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher administration.
Draughn “could not be more qualified,” said DuBois-Walton as she introduced the motion to appoint Draughn.
“I’m most grateful to the board for the opportunity,” Draughn said after Tuesday’s meeting. “I’m excited about it and don’t take it lightly.”
Read the New Haven Independent's article "Draughn To Lead Housing Authority, For Now."