Welcome to CLPHA's Press Room
CLPHA experts welcome interview requests from print, radio, television, and online reporters and are happy to provide their insights on issues of public housing and related legislation and policy.
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David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or [email protected].
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For Immediate Release
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“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is pleased House Democrats addressed concerns of large public housing authorities in the HEROES Act with increased funding for rental assistance for those who are at the greatest risk for homelessness and housing insecurity. The bill authorizes $4 billion in additional funding for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance with $1 billion of that designated for new temporary assistance for households who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or who are fleeing domestic violence. The bill also includes $750 million additional funding for Project-Based Rental Assistance, $2 billion in additional funds for the Public Housing Operating Fund, and $100 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance. CLPHA is also pleased with the proposal to protect funding that was shortly due to expire under the Choice Neighborhood Initiative by extending funding through September 30, 2021.
CLPHA will continue to forcefully advocate to policymakers that we as a nation must emerge from this unprecedented pandemic with an unequivocal commitment to address the growing need for rental assistance. “
(202) 550-1381
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities |
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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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From the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority's press release:
Wesley Housing, The Lamb Center, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), Fairfax County, and City of Fairfax officials, and other development project partners gathered on November 3rd to break ground on Beacon Landing in Fairfax, VA. The innovative rental apartment community will provide 54 new Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units with wraparound supportive services to people experiencing or at-risk of chronic homelessness.
Beacon Landing is the result of a thoughtful partnership between Wesley Housing and The Lamb Center, leveraging both organizations’ complementary missions, expertise, and long histories of community service to deliver Northern Virginia’s largest permanent supportive housing community. Located in the northeast portion of Fairfax City, on the same street as The Lamb Center’s existing daytime drop-in shelter for people experiencing homelessness, the community will replace the former Hy-Way Motel site (9640 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA), which was demolished in 2024.
Once complete, Beacon Landing will offer primarily studio-style apartments tailored for single individuals with very low incomes. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) awarded 48 project-based vouchers for the development. The community will feature 42 studio, 10 one-bedroom, and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The building is designed as 100% universal design and nine units will meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Type A requirements to address resident accessibility needs. The new apartment building will feature an innovative, trauma-informed, energy-efficient design and will meet National Green Building Standards (NGBS) and Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) requirements.
Once complete, Beacon Landing will offer primarily studio-style apartments tailored for single individuals with very low incomes. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) awarded 48 project-based vouchers for the development. The community will feature 42 studio, 10 one-bedroom, and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The building is designed as 100% universal design and nine units will meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Type A requirements to address resident accessibility needs. The new apartment building will feature an innovative, trauma-informed, energy-efficient design and will meet National Green Building Standards (NGBS) and Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) requirements.
“This is not just a building; it’s a bold response to a growing need,” said Wesley Housing President and CEO Kamilah McAfee. “Beacon Landing shows what’s possible when communities like Fairfax County and City of Fairfax come together cross-jurisdictionally to invest substantial resources in housing solutions that are compassionate, coordinated, and lasting.”
The five-story, mixed-use development will include structured parking, a community space, an outdoor terrace, and office space on the ground floor, enabling an expansion of The Lamb Center’s job readiness programs to help individuals find and sustain employment. Residents will also benefit from case management and wrap-around services to support their health, stability, and independence, ranging from income and benefit navigation to life skills training and mental health support.
“Nine years ago, grounded in faith, The Lamb Center asked a simple question: ‘What is the greatest unmet need of our homeless neighbors?’ That question brought us to this moment. Beacon Landing shows what’s possible when boundaries fade and communities unite around a shared conviction — that housing is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right,” said The Lamb Center Executive Director Tara Ruszkowski.
“At the FCRHA, we are committed to removing barriers and creating access for everyone in their quest to find opportunities. Beacon Landing does just that, by providing people experiencing homelessness with homes and supportive services to help them thrive,” said Lenore Stanton, Chair, FCRHA.
From the Los Angeles Sentinel:
In honor of Veterans Day, Mayor Karen Bass welcomed servicemembers from across Los Angeles to Getty House for a luncheon recognizing their service and celebrating the early success of her “House Our Vets” initiative, a program launched in January to end Veteran homelessness in the city. The event brought together Veterans who recently secured permanent housing, property owners contributing units to the effort, and civic leaders partnering with the city to accelerate placements.
Since the program’s launch, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) reports that nearly 400 Veterans have been housed through the HUD-VASH program, with a retention rate of 99 percent. The progress reflects major policy changes Mayor Bass championed in Washington, D.C. last year, where she led a delegation of more than 50 bipartisan mayors in pushing for the removal of federal barriers preventing Veterans from receiving both disability benefits and housing vouchers simultaneously.
“For years, federal policies forced Veterans to choose between healthcare and housing,” Bass said, addressing the crowd gathered inside the Getty House courtyard.
“No one who served our country should ever have had to make that choice. When I learned these policies left thousands of vouchers unused, I knew we had to act.”
The mayor reflected on her experience chairing the U.S. Conference of Mayors Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness, where her advocacy helped secure HUD waivers and regulatory changes that now allow Veterans to retain their earned benefits while accessing permanent housing assistance.
Read the Loa Angeles Sentinel's article "Mayor Bass Celebrates Veterans, Highlights Progress Toward Ending Veteran Homelessness."
From the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino's website:
On November 4, HACSB and its partners celebrated another milestone in the transformation of the Arrowhead Grove community: the groundbreaking of Alder Square, the fourth phase of redevelopment at the site. Previous phases of redevelopment added 322 new homes to the community, replacing 252 original 1940’s Public Housing units beginning in 2016. Alder Square will add 92 new apartment homes, including 14 mobility-accessible and 10 hearing-accessible units, and an on-site manager’s unit, for individuals and families earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Like previous phases, Alder Square is developed in partnership with its development partner, National CORE. HACSB’s Executive Director, Maria Razo, is proud of the enduring partnership between the Housing Authority and National CORE. “Our partnership has grown into a truly collaborative relationship, and we are united by our shared commitment to create high-quality affordable housing and thriving communities for the residents we serve. Together, we’re proving that affordable housing can be transformative,” Razo said.
HACSB would like to thank the many partners who have supported this project, including National CORE, San Bernardino County, the City of San Bernardino, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Congressman Pete Aguilar, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Strategic Growth Council, the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, Hudson Housing Capital, California Climate Investments, and Capital One.
Construction of Alder Square is expected to finish in late 2027.
From the King County Housing Authority:
Meet Emily.
When Emily and her kids got an Emergency Housing Voucher, it wasn’t just about having a roof overhead. It was about finally being able to breathe. After bouncing between motels and uncertainty, she could tell her children, “This is your room. This is our home.” For her, it was a lifeline, a chance to rebuild, to give her kids stability, and to show that safe housing is where families start to thrive.
Emergency Housing Vouchers are administered by local Public Housing Authorities like KCHA, and were funded by the federal government through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In March 2025, HUD informed housing authorities across the U.S. that funding will run out in 2026 instead of in 2030, as originally planned. This means that the federal government will stop providing rental assistance to families like Emily's, a major federal budget cut that puts people at a higher risk of homelessness.
No matter our race, our income, or where we come from, we all need a safe place to live.
HUD announced a major reversal of previous HUD policy and will now allow expanded use of criminal records in housing decisions. In addition to the policy announcement, HUD Secretary Scott Turner released a letter last week to spotlight the policy reversal and encourage PHAs to adopt stricter screening and enforcement policies, though the letter stops short of mandating these policies.
Specifically, HUD is rescinding previous HUD policy on criminal record use that was established in 2015, as well as Fair Housing Act memos on criminal record use issued in 2016 and 2022.
The previous policy guidance to PHAs and owners stated that “arrest records may not be the basis for denying admission, terminating assistance or evicting tenants . . .” and “. . . that HUD does not require [the] adoption of “One Strike” policies . . .” Additionally, the previous policy provided guidance that while the record of arrest may not be used to deny housing opportunities, the underlying conduct could be used in denying housing opportunities.
The Secretary’s letter reminds PHAs of the mandatory denials of admission and states that PHAs may broadly screen for criminal history affecting health, safety, or peaceful enjoyment of the property. The letter implies that previous restrictions on using arrest records and discouraging “One Strike” policies are no longer in effect, though does not formally adopt such “One Strike” policy. The Secretary’s letter also states that PHAs and owners “should publicly display” the HUD OIG Hotline.
While the Secretary’s letter states that admission must be denied if an individual “has a history of alcohol abuse that a responsible entity reasonably believes threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of the property” and that “PHAs and owners must also establish standards that allow for the termination of assistance for households if individuals within the households … are abusing alcohol,” the regulation states that PHAs “must establish standards that prohibit admission [or allow termination] … if the PHA determines that it has reasonable cause to believe that a household member’s abuse or pattern of abuse of alcohol may threaten the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents.” This means that while the Secretary’s letter emphasizes mandatory denial and termination in these cases, the underlying regulation gives PHAs discretion based on reasonable cause rather than imposing an absolute requirement.