CLPHA Press Room

Watch KVUE Austin's feature on the redevelopment of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin's Santa Rita Courts.

From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:

 The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is deepening its commitment to ensuring that residents have a safe place to call home. CHA recently announced the creation of the Healthy Homes Division, a new team dedicated to proactively addressing environmental health issues by eliminating hazards and promoting healthier living conditions for the 32,000 people living in CHA public housing. From removing environmental hazards such as lead-based paint, mold, and pests to promoting energy-efficiency and indoor air quality, the Healthy Homes Division is focused on ensuring homes are safe, preserved, and sustainable for future generations.

Elizabeth Poole, a nationally recognized expert in children’s environmental health and former coordinator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leads the Healthy Homes Division. She’s joined by her former Chicago-based EPA colleagues Shannon Wolf and Megan Dwyer Baumann, Environmental Health & Safety Managers.

“We’re excited to welcome an exceptionally qualified, talented, and passionate team with a depth of experience in environmental health,” said Angela Hurlock, Chicago Housing Authority Interim Chief Executive Officer. “Their ability to go a mile deep into creating healthy home solutions for our residents will ensure we’re not only providing safe homes for our residents now but preserving them well into the future.”

The division takes a comprehensive approach to addressing lead-based paint hazards identified during inspections and supports families throughout the abatement process, including arranging for temporary relocation or other necessary services. In addition, the Healthy Homes team will connect residents with free or low-cost resources that promote holistic health and well-being, such as nutritional counseling and environmental education.

“This effort is about equipping families with the tools they need to make healthy decisions,” said Elizabeth Poole, Healthy Homes Division Director. “We have an ongoing commitment to provide resources for families to keep their homes safe and their families healthy. I live by this concept that if it’s not good enough for my child, it’s not good enough for any child.”

The creation of the Healthy Homes division is part of CHA’s “Year of Renewal,” a dedicated effort to rebuild trust, transparency, and accountability in 2025 and beyond. CHA is taking steps to reduce barriers, enhance responsiveness, undergo long-term strategic planning, and ensure the needs of the 135,000 people it serves across all 77 Chicago community areas are effectively and equitably met.

For more information on the Healthy Homes Division and CHA’s Year of Renewal, visit CHA’s new Data and Impact Hub at https://www.thecha.org/transparency-action-cha-data-impact-hub.

From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's press release:

The HACP was honored to open the Cheryl Gainey Wellness Center at Allegheny Dwellings Thursday morning, June 5.

Ms. Gainey, who served as Allegheny Dwellings Tenant Council president and a term as HACP commissioner, was a champion for the health and wellbeing of her community at Allegheny Dwellings. Her sons, Bruce and Nate, along with other family members, traveled from New York to commemorate the occasion.

“When my mother got sick, my brother and I fought to get her back to Buffalo. She fought us tooth and nail. It was a like championship fight! Now I see why she fought so hard. Thank you for putting her name on something so beautiful and for the love that everyone here has shown! I appreciate you all from the bottom of my heart.”

HACP Chief Community Affairs Officer Michelle Sandidge said Ms. Gainey was the ultimate Tenant Council president who showed empathy and sympathy.

“She was about family, about people, and about the community,” she said, adding the center held a soft opening right before the pandemic hit, and the HACP executive team promised to name the center after Ms. Gainey.

HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion said Ms. Gainey was always there, and always looking out for the residents and the community.

“Her leadership was outstanding,” he said. “She had the personality to work with everyone. She was a leader that made a difference.”

The center will be led by longtime Coach and Program Director Leroy Dillard, Manager Thomas Chatman, and Coaches Kaleeq Anderson and Ariya Jetter.

The Cheryl Gainey Wellness Center will be open to all Allegheny Dwellings residents two days a week and one day on weekends to start. It will feature a full complement of programs and services designed to meet residents’ needs.

Programs will include mentoring, instructional boxing, Fitness 4 Life, women’s self-defense classes, soul line dancing, hip-hop aerobics, nutrition education, leadership development, support for single mothers, and behavioral health and crisis counseling workshops.

HACP staff will also use the space to promote its in-house resident services, such as the Family Self-Sufficiency and Resident Employment programs and Digital Literacy Initiatives.

The HACP would like to thank Highmark Wholecare, the Buhl Foundation, and the Three Rivers Adoption Council for their generous support with this project. The Cheryl Gainey Wellness Center is also supported by HACP’s nonprofit, Clean Slate E3.

During Thursday’s ceremony, George Ifill, Senior Community Engagement & Growth Specialist with Highmark Wholecare, said Highmark Wholecare is a community-based mission-driven healthcare organization that believes in helping all patients physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“That’s why we are proud to support the reopening of the Cheryl Gainey Wellness Center,” he added. “Highmark Wholecare enjoys working with the Housing Authority. We have supported Virtual Parenting Classes, Senior Movie Nights, and wellness events, and we appreciate the HACP’s work to address all key aspects of a person’s health. Thank you for your work to reopen this important community site.”

Coach Dillard said he is excited to start a whole new physical fitness program for families at Allegheny Dwellings, and he and his team are striving to not just make the program about physical fitness, but also incorporate education.

He expressed his wish to take the youth on trips, such as to Washington, D.C., to which Mr. Binion promised the HACP would fund.

“Mr. B and his staff here are first class,” he said, expressing gratitude for the tireless efforts of the HACP executive, Resident Self-Sufficiency, Facility Services, and Community Affairs teams.

He and Chatman presented several plaques to HACP staff to recognize their contributions to the wellness center.

“We appreciate the vision and leadership of the Housing Authority,” Chatman said.

From the New York City Housing Authority's website:

In March, the inaugural cohort of NYCHA’s YouthBuild program in Brownsville, Brooklyn, began their six-month journey into an alternative education pathway aimed at providing them with the skills and support they need to succeed. 

YouthBuild is an international program that supports young people ages 16 to 24 who left high school early and may have faced challenges in their personal lives, including being justice-involved, aging out of foster care, experiencing housing instability, and other risk factors. The program offers a community-based model where young people can gain valuable life skills and work experience through a blend of education, construction training, leadership development, and job placement support. NYCHA received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for its YouthBuild program, which will serve young people ages 17 to 24. 

This cohort is the first of two six-month cohorts that will be conducted through NYCHA’s YouthBuild, managed by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES). “We are extremely excited to bring YouthBuild back to Brownsville,” said Lenese McPhie, Deputy Director of REES. “At the core of this program, we aspire to empower and build up our NYCHA youth into confident community leaders as they pursue their educational and career goals. Every young person in the program is unique, and we hope to create an environment where their voices are heard and dreams realized.” 

In addition to a stipend and support services, the cohort is receiving classroom instruction on construction skills and safety training, including OSHA site safety training and National Center for Construction Education and Research construction technology credentials; hands-on construction training as they work to renovate affordable housing units in Brownsville and Ocean Hill, Brooklyn; and high school equivalency (HSE) instruction to help them pass the HSE exam (participants who already have their HSE will work towards another educational goal). They will also build their leadership skills and organize and participate in community service opportunities. Following their successful completion of the program, YouthBuild members receive 12 months of job placement and post-program support to help them obtain apprenticeships and entry-level construction positions. 

NYCHA’s YouthBuild partners are Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, Brooklyn Public Library, and Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation. 

As part of a weeklong orientation held at the Langston Houses Community Center, Carver Houses Resident Association President Nina Saxon, an alumnus of YouthBuild, spoke to the cohort members about how her YouthBuild experience changed her life. 

Ms. Saxon’s journey began as a teenager in her Spanish Harlem neighborhood in the late 1990s. She had dropped out of high school and was hanging with friends who were involved in risky behavior. Her father asked her, “What are you going to do with yourself?” and she didn’t yet know. However, a pivotal moment came when her close friends were arrested, which prompted Ms. Saxon to make a change. She walked into the location of the first YouthBuild program in East Harlem (Youth Action YouthBuild) and never looked back. 

She shared how she “learned how to do blueprints, carpentry, math skills, and I also had an internship at a hospital. There’s a building on 117th and 2nd Avenue that I helped build brick by brick.” Ms. Saxon spoke of the personal challenges she faced during that experience, including losing both of her parents, but she was determined to earn her GED and build a better future for herself.  

After receiving her GED thanks to support from YouthBuild, she pursued an undergraduate degree at Morgan State University, along with several other YouthBuild graduates. After graduating from college, she moved back home because she wanted to work and be a force for good in her community – she credits YouthBuild with helping instill love and care for her community. Ms. Saxon became an advocate for YouthBuild’s mission, working as Vice President of the YouthBuild National Alumni Council and traveling the country to talk about the benefits and results of the program. In addition to being the Resident Association President of Carver Houses, she also currently works for City Comptroller Brad Lander. 

“This is a movement, and the work we do is never over,” Ms. Saxon said. “The reason I came here today is to tell you my story to give you some inspiration to see that you can do this. I started at YouthBuild when I was 17 and I’ve been on the board of directors for 30 years. You all will make history as the inaugural NYCHA group, and the next cohorts will look to what you did. Once a YouthBuild, always a YouthBuild.” 

Ms. Saxon’s experience and advice resonated deeply with the participants, many of whom expressed aspirations to earn their GED, gain meaningful employment, and ultimately build better futures for themselves. YouthBuild member Aniyah said, “One goal I’m hoping to achieve from this program is to gain valuable skills that I would be able to use in my day-to-day life.” Fellow cohort member Kaliyah said she likes the program because of the support: “I like the feeling of warmth when I get here. It’s a struggle sometimes getting here, but I’m always glad when I make it. I would encourage others because it’s helping me.” 

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) unveiled a new community arts mural series at Nickerson Gardens, funded by the state’s Clean California program. This dynamic public art project brings together residents, local leaders, and acclaimed artist Brian Peterson to transform shared spaces with vibrant murals that highlight themes of creativity, resilience, and neighborhood pride.

“The new murals at Nickerson Gardens are a great example of how art can bring people together, foster pride, and build a lasting sense of belonging,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, HACLA President & CEO. “This community arts project is part of a larger effort to activate public spaces, celebrate resident identity, and invest in the well-being of our communities.”  

Renowned for his bold, minimalist style, Peterson created eight original murals throughout Nickerson Gardens, incorporating input from residents. During a recent Community Day celebration, local youth and families joined the creative process by helping paint a section of the mural themselves, creating lasting memories and a shared sense of ownership.    

“Coming back to Nickerson Gardens to paint eight new murals is deeply meaningful to me. After creating murals honoring Kobe and Gigi Bryant and the LA Rams, I wanted to continue building on the vibrant culture already thriving in this community,” said artist Brian Peterson. “My goal is to bring color and inspiration through my signature style, and to create spaces that uplift everyone who walks by.”  
 
The mural unveiling was part of a broader revitalization effort that includes enhanced public spaces, newly designed trash enclosures that improve accessibility and aesthetics, and resident-led initiatives like the Green Ambassador program—promoting health, connection, and creativity to the community. These efforts build on strong partnerships with sports teams like the Los Angeles Rams, who brought the community a Rams-branded turf field and new sports-themed mural, inspiring youth through art and athletics—watch the video. 
 
Other recent additions include the Lakers and Mamba & Mambacita Foundations’ gym mural and refurbished basketball courts. A central community park and Dodgers Dreamfield are also on the way, slated for completion later this year.

“I am so happy we now have beautiful murals in our community,” said Maria Alcantar, Resident Advisory Council President at Nickerson Gardens. “These murals represent how beautiful the residents’ hearts and souls are.”

Nickerson Gardens continues to evolve into a hub that celebrates resilience through art, athletics, and opportunity. These efforts reinforce HACLA’s mission to reimagine public housing as a platform for community pride and progress.