CLPHA Press Room

From the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's newsletter:

Since January 2023, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) has been partnering with The Good Knights of Lorain County in an ongoing initiative to construct and donate beds, including frames, mattresses, and linens, to families living in Outhwaite, King Kennedy, Cedar, and Carver Park estates. Recognizing the pivotal role of a good night's sleep in a child's health and development, this endeavor seeks to provide crucial support to families. Additionally, it serves as a platform for volunteers to engage with the community, while also offering carpentry students an opportunity to refine their skills.

Thus far, volunteers from various sectors, including CMHA’s Resident Services, Property Maintenance, Maintenance staff from CMHA's 50 properties, and students from East Tech High School's carpentry program, have dedicated their time and effort to constructing 145 beds from scratch.Their duties encompass a variety of tasks, from drilling and sawing to sanding. Additionally, they are instrumental in delivering essential materials like lumber, hardware, and tools to homes on community build days.

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.