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.
For media inquiries, please contact:
David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
*Please let us know if you are working on deadline.
To view all of CLPHA's press releases, click here.
To view all of CLPHA's press statements, click here.
You can subscribe here to our biweekly newsletter, events invite list, and topic specific newsletters. You can also follow us on Twitter at @CLPHA. Or, send us an email with your interests and we would be happy to add you to our press lists.
Thanks again for your interest in CLPHA!
January 6, 2021
(Washington, D.C.) January 6, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement on the results of yesterday’s special election in Georgia:
“CLPHA congratulates Raphael Warnock on his historic victory and Jon Ossoff’s election to the United States Senate, thus securing a Democratic Senate majority. The incoming Biden-Harris administration and HUD Secretary-designate Marcia Fudge now have expanded, once-in-a-generation opportunities to improve the lives of low-income Americans who have been especially harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first course of action is for Congress to pass a new stimulus relief bill with $50 billion in emergency rental assistance that addresses housing insecurity and homelessness. These historic wins also provide momentum to permanently expand the Housing Choice Voucher program and recapitalize the public housing portfolio, both of which are concrete steps to eradicating poverty and dismantling systemic racism. CLPHA looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration and the 117th Congress to make these legislative goals happen.”
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 .
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
The Housing Is Initiative, led by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, 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; CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative 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 Twitter @housing_is.
December 22, 2020
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 .
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
The Housing Is Initiative, led by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, 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; CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative 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 Twitter @housing_is.
|
(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
December 11, 2020 |
|
|
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) December 11, 2020 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) called on the incoming Biden-Harris administration to address poverty, homelessness, and racial injustice by investing in public and affordable housing. These recommendations are among 52 proposals that CLPHA provided in a transition document to the incoming Biden-Harris administration.
“The Biden-Harris ticket’s decisive victory is a moral mandate to address the chronic problems of poverty, racial inequity, and housing insecurity,” said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. “CLPHA’s 52 recommendations are a roadmap to achieve these goals.”
Expanding the Housing Choice Voucher program is one of CLPHA’s top-line recommendations and a key plank in the Biden-Harris plan. Currently only one in four low-income households that are eligible receive housing assistance due to limited funding. We know that housing stability is central to economic mobility for low-income Americans, even more so during the pandemic and economic downturn.
Recapitalizing the public housing portfolio is also a top priority for CLPHA. "A capital backlog of $70 billion is putting the health and wellness of low-income seniors and children at risk," Zaterman said. “We call on the Biden administration to develop and implement a 10-year roadmap to ensure the long-term sustainability of this public asset.”
CLPHA also calls for expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and increasing operational flexibilities to better meet local housing needs. “These recommendations would result in significant investment in eradicating poverty and dismantling systemic racism,” said Zaterman.
CLPHA founded the Housing Is initiative to develop cross-sector resources of education and health five years ago. The Housing Is Initiative is calling for expanded coordination between federal agencies including the departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Housing and Urban Development, and increased funding for research and data sharing.
Over the past four years, the Trump administration has proposed or enacted egregious rules that disenfranchised marginalized people, such as immigrants and transgender Americans. CLPHA urges swift reversals of these dangerous rules.
“The Biden-Harris administration has a real opportunity to improve the lives of low-income Americans. CLPHA looks forward to working with the administration to make it happen," Zaterman concluded.
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
|
The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority has joined with health consulting and programming group Evi-Base to bring diabetes education programs to its residents.
The Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Martin Luther King Branch opened this month in Columbus’s Near East Side neighborhood. The new library is a result of Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT), a partnership between Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Ohio State University, and other local stakeholders created in 2010 to transform and revitalize 800 acres of Near East Side.
The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) broke ground on Oso Apartments, a 48-unit apartment complex in Chicago’s Albany Park. Financed with help from $10 million in CHA RAD funds, 100 percent of Oso Apartments’ units will be affordable rental housing for individuals and families.
The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and partners cut the ribbon on The Lindley, a 200-unit high-rise in Chevy Chase, MD. The opening of The Lindley constitutes a net increase of 22 units of affordable housing in the neighborhood. You can watch a time-lapse video of The Lindley’s construction here.
The long-awaited Opportunity Atlas, published today by the Census Bureau in collaboration with researchers at Harvard and Brown, got top billing on today’s homepage of the New York Times’ data-driven digital property The Upshot. “Detailed New National Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children for Life,” includes the new interactive mapping tool, some of the project’s main findings, and examples of the mobility work that public housing authorities are currently doing, and plan to do, with the data. In addition to quoting Raj Chetty, one of the project’s researchers, authors Emily Badger and Quoctrung Bui feature quotes and examples from CLPHA members Greg Russ, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Andrew Lofton, Executive Director of the Seattle Housing Authority and Andria Lazaga also of SHA who each discussed how PHAs are using the data as part of their Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO) work.
Additional news coverage of the Opportunity Atlas includes an NPR segment during today’s Morning Edition broadcast that features interviews with Chetty and local officials in Charlotte, NC, who intend to use the data to shape future policy decisions.
Read the article and use the interactive maps on the NYT website and listen to the Morning Edition story on NPR’s site.
From the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's press release:
For every $1 spent by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), the state economy gained an impressive $2.24 return on investment, with CMHA issuing more than $800 million in annual subsidies to private landlords while creating or sustaining over 9,000 jobs across Ohio.
Those are among the findings from a new study CMHA released today, conducted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation in collaboration with financial consultant SRC EvalMetrics LLC, that measured CMHA’s impact on Franklin County, the Columbus metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and Ohio.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides nonpartisan research to public policymakers. The research helps Ohio lawmakers understand how policies will impact the state’s economy, competitiveness and job creation.
For this new study commissioned by CMHA, researchers analyzed data beginning in 2018 in terms of job creation, income generation and overall economic output. All numbers were calculated in 2023 dollars.
In Franklin County and beyond, the report finds CMHA’s activities have translated into substantial economic contributions — generating $1.8 billion in earnings, contributing $3.28 billion in value-added output and delivering an $818 million boost to Ohio’s gross state product.
The data shows CMHA’s overall economic contribution produced a gross output of over $6 billion across Ohio during a five-year span starting in 2018. Gross output is the broadest measure of economic activity, representing the market value of all goods and services produced, including both value-added and the cost of intermediate inputs.
“These figures, however, only partially capture CMHA's true value,” said Ohio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Stivers.
“The real measure of success is seen in the improved quality of life for Ohio residents, the rejuvenation of communities and the creation of sustainable, supportive environments that empower individuals and families to thrive,” Stivers said. “By continuing to foster secure, affordable housing, CMHA is laying the groundwork for healthier, more prosperous communities — a mission that goes beyond mere numbers to touch the lives of every individual it serves."
The report highlights the crucial role CMHA plays in supporting Ohio’s most vulnerable residents.
As a key advocate and organizer, CMHA is tasked with allocating resources to ensure that very low and low-income wage-earning families have access to affordable housing options. As noted in the report, CMHA’s support is not just about providing shelter — it also offers a stepping stone toward achieving financial stability for families. By securing affordable housing, CMHA client-families become active participants in the economic cycle of their communities. The heads of these households contribute to job creation and generate economic ripple effects that underscore the broader economic and social value of CMHA’s initiatives, according to the report.
One of the most surprising results came from Ohio Chamber Foundation research that compared CMHA’s economic impact and the economic impact of The Ohio State University’s athletics department.
The data shows CMHA outperforms The Ohio State University’s athletics in terms of economic impact, with CMHA generating $362 million in earnings compared to $134 million for Buckeyes athletics. In addition, direct and indirect employment for CMHA totaled 7,004 jobs versus 1,890 jobs supported by OSU athletics.
“Over the past five years, CMHA’s activities have left an undeniable mark on our community as well as the residents we serve by working together to provide affordable housing to all,” said CMHA Board of Commission Chair James L. Ervin Jr.
“The results from the Chamber’s study are equally undeniable: CMHA is a major driving force that spurs local economies throughout Central Ohio, not just benefiting CMHA residents but also supporting businesses and workers across the Buckeye State,” Ervin said.
From KFOX 14 News El Paso:
More than 100 families and residents are now enjoying "modernized living spaces" after the city hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a revitalized apartment complex in northeast El Paso on Tuesday.
El Paso's housing authority, also known as Housing Opportunity Management Enterprises or HOME, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday for the Sun Pointe Apartments, a newly redeveloped complex in northeast El Paso.
Formerly known as the Roosevelt Apartments, Sun Pointe is a 146-unit affordable housing complex that underwent a $28 million rehabilitation, providing "modernized living spaces" for its families and residents, the city said in a statement.
“This redevelopment represents a significant investment in the well-being of our community and the future of affordable housing in El Paso,” said HOME CEO Gerald Cichon. “We are proud to reopen Sun Pointe as a symbol of progress, resilience, and commitment to providing quality homes for our residents.”
Read KFOX 14 News El Paso's article "Affordable northeast El Paso apartment complex unveiled following $28M rehab."
From the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) press release:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is announcing that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is receiving additional funding –over $37 million in Tenant Protection Vouchers in an effort to maintain a resident-first focus during ongoing repairs. Additionally, NYCHA recently also received $7.5 million to remove lead-based paint from public housing.
HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman announced these funds today during a visit to a Brooklyn affordable housing complex managed by NYCHA. While touring the property, Acting Secretary Todman highlighted all the ways HUD is working to reduce housing costs and expand assistance for lower-income Americans. This includes boosting access to energy efficiency and clean energy, which can help lower utility bills and create more sustainable, affordable homes for the families HUD serves.
“HUD is working to ensure that all Americans have access to homes that are not just affordable, but resilient,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “Today, I am proud not only to release more funding to help New York families, but to announce new actions to boost access to solar energy for these families. We know that solar energy can reduce both emissions and housing costs for owners and residents, and this Administration is working to ensure low-income families receive these critical benefits.”
From KOCO 5 News Oklahoma City:
A $500,000 grant could help residents at one of Oklahoma City's oldest public housing complexes get access to services.
A partnership with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority and the nonprofit Lillyfield provided a private grant to Will Rogers Courts, a low-income housing community. The Oklahoma City Housing Authority will transform one of the property's existing buildings into a community center, where Lillyfield will be housed.
"The one thing that separates the people struggling from those of us who are doing a little better tends to be opportunity, so what we hope to do is extend opportunities to the folks here," Lillyfield Executive Director Holly Towers said.
The money will help bring services to families at Will Rogers Courts.
“We’ll be doing things like bringing OCCC (Oklahoma City Community College) on site to help families connect with them, bringing the Goodwill mobile employment van on site. We’ll be providing, through Community Action Agency, classes about financial stability and how to build your savings," Towers said.
Throughout the next six months, residents, 89% of whom are unemployed, will get a say in what services will be offered and how they want to transform their neighborhood and future.
“Transportation and child care is such a barrier for residents living here in the Will Rogers neighborhood that bringing the opportunity to their home will be a life changer for everyone," Laura Gregory, the director of resident services at the Oklahoma City Housing Authority said. "It’s a time for us to meet with the community and services partners to really come together and revitalize, reimagine what this neighborhood could look like."
Read KOCO 5 News' article "Will Rogers Courts gets $500K grant to bring services to residents."
From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's press release:
Today, Sept. 10, 2024, is Caster Binion Day in the City of Pittsburgh!
Pittsburgh City Council this morning honored HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion for his service to the City of Pittsburgh and to our country, on a recommendation by Councilwoman Theresa Kail Smith.
Mr. Binion has served as the Executive Director of the HACP and Allies and Ross Management & Development Corporation, Inc. (ARMDC) and its subsidiaries since February 2013. As Executive Director, Mr. Binion manages an annual budget of roughly $200 million and is responsible for the operations of roughly 2,300 units of Low-Income Public Housing (LIPH), 5,500 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and 1,000 mixed-finance housing units.
During his tenure, Mr. Binion has led several major affordable housing initiatives, including: the community-wide Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) in Larimer/East Liberty launched in 2014, the implementation of a $500,000 Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Planning Grant for Bedford Dwellings and subsequent $50,000,000 CNI Implementation Grant for Bedford Dwellings, and a $30,000,000 CNI for Larimer that just concluded.
Under Mr. Binion’s leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program.
Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP’s HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program – which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.
Under Mr. Binion’s leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program. Through this program, Mr. Binion has created opportunities for community-based redevelopment organizations to increase their capacity and initiate dozens of affordable housing development projects in neighborhoods throughout the City of Pittsburgh, ranging from Oakland Pride to Cedarwood Homes – one of the first affordable senior housing communities in the City’s West End.
Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP’s HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program – which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.
In addition to spearheading the HACP’s development efforts, Mr. Binion leads the agency’s efforts to provide residents of the LIPH and HCV programs with quality services that provide vocational training, employment assistance, crisis support, quality of life enhancements for senior citizens, education opportunities and recreation activities for youth, as well as an onsite 24-hour daycare center, robust resident employment initiatives and an innovative mobile digital literacy program. In essence, these combined efforts lend credence to the overarching theme of providing HACP residents with a “Place to Live and a Path to Launch.”
Prior to beginning his career in public housing, Mr. Binion served as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army, including during Operation Desert Storm, before retiring from the military in 1992.
During the Sept. 10 meeting, Councilwoman Kail Smith commended Mr. Binion and his “amazing team” for efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing within the City of Pittsburgh.
“When I first got elected, my district (District 2) felt saturated with housing authority properties. I raked the housing authority over the coals every chance I got,” she said, adding though Mr. Binion was not the director at the time, she continued once he assumed the role in 2013.
She said Mr. Binion did an amazing job working with the community, and had his staff investigate the properties in question throughout her district.
“Since then, he has been working with us and the community. I want to thank you and your amazing team. They do a lot of great things in the City of Pittsburgh. I know it’s not always easy, especially when affordable housing is not always so plentiful,” she added.
Mr. Binion thanked the residents of the City of Pittsburgh and the HACP, HACP staff, the Board of Commissioners, and all the community partners who have worked together to bring Choice Neighborhoods visions to fruition.
He also thanked his wife, Della, for “putting up with me” over the years, and thanked the HACP staff for being so dedicated, and doing excellent work.
“Our imagination continues to grow as we continue to try to find affordable housing opportunities for the residents of the City of Pittsburgh,” he said. “We have a lot to do as far as affordable housing.”
Councilman Khari Mosley (District 9), who also serves on the HACP Board of Commissioners, thanked Mr. Binion and his staff for being very responsive to constituent concerns, and for their “willingness to live by your words to be imaginative and creative as we try to figure out a level of affordability at the Bakery Square Development, and in meeting this mandate to create more affordable housing in the City of Pittsburgh.”
Councilman Bob Charland (District 3) also thanked Mr. Binion and the HACP staff for being incredibly responsive when issues arise in the district.
“You do a fantastic job of getting back to us quickly when we have an issue,” he added, citing a fire last week at Caliguiri Plaza in Allentown.
Congratulations on such a well-deserved recognition, Mr. Binion!