CLPHA Press Room

From the Bremerton Housing Authority's website:

On February 21, 2025, Bremerton Housing Authority (BHA) acquired Wheaton Landing, a new 24-unit apartment complex aimed at providing stable housing for families with children in the Bremerton School District who are facing homelessness or housing instability. Enterprise, a national organization dedicated to community development, has accepted the project into its program and will co-lead efforts with Kitsap Strong to bring together key partners and design a tailored program to best serve future residents. With this important purchase, BHA continues to address the unique needs of Bremerton by ensuring that affordable housing is paired with the support necessary for residents to thrive.

“I believe this is an incredible opportunity for our city and county,” said BHA Executive Director Jill Stanton. “We take seriously our mandate to address local needs with our federal resources and believe this local solution to ending homelessness for children is our most viable path forward. We know housing is only a portion of what is needed for success and are grateful for the dedicated stakeholders involved in making this new project possible.”

Wheaton Landing is another significant public-private partnership in which BHA has responded to a recognized need by community partners to reach Bremerton’s most vulnerable residents through housing. In addition to Kitsap Mental Health Services’ Pendleton Place, Kitsap’s first permanent supportive housing complex for 72 chronically homeless individuals, and BHA’s Evergreen Bright Start, Kitsap’s first dedicated housing complex for young adults ages 18-24 exiting foster care or facing homelessness, this new property will also offer access to supportive services tailored specifically to its residents. This project is designed to be a model that can be replicated to help achieve functional zero homelessness for the student body in the Bremerton School District.

In support of its national community development initiatives, Enterprise will lead efforts to bring together key organizations to identify best practices in tenant selection, operations, and services. Wheaton Landing participating stakeholders include:

• Bremerton Housing Authority
• Enterprise
• Kitsap Strong
• Bremerton School District
• Kitsap County Affordable Housing Consortium
• Kitsap County
• City of Bremerton

The goal is to implement a holistic program that addresses the diverse needs of resident families, ensuring the best possible outcomes. Enterprise will also establish key data metrics for tracking and measuring success. Kitsap Strong is co-leading the development of the partnership structure with BHA and serves as the backbone entity.

Successful projects like this require not only good intent, seamless collaboration, specific expertise, and an understanding developer, but also the necessary funding. BHA received crucial support to acquire the newly constructed 24-unit complex located at 3256 Wheaton Way in East Bremerton, which includes:

• An assumable loan from Global Credit Union, marking the first time Global has worked with any public housing authority across the nation.
• Community Investments in Affordable Housing and HOME funds in addition to local funding support from Kitsap County and the City of Bremerton.
• Restricted funds available from the redevelopment of West Park, BHA’s successful effort to improve affordable housing across Bremerton completed in 2015.
• Ongoing rental assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs including Housing Choice Vouchers.

Wheaton Landing represents a major step forward in tackling homelessness and housing instability for families in Bremerton and Kitsap County. By bringing together resources from both the public and private sectors, BHA, Enterprise, Kitsap Strong, the Bremerton School District, and our community partners are reinforcing a continued commitment to building a stronger, more resilient community by focusing on long-term housing solutions.

From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:

The transformation of the former site of the County of San Diego’s Family Court into an affordable, intergenerational community of seniors and families with low income is underway, with a groundbreaking ceremony today celebrating the start of construction for Kindred Apartments, a collaboration with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC).

“Today is proof of what can happen when the City and the County work together with our nonprofit partners to get big and bold things done, and I look forward to more collaboration to make sure that we’re continuing to serve our shared constituents to the best of our respective abilities,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said.

Kindred Apartments will consist of 125 rental apartments that will remain affordable for 99 years for households earning no more than 60 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income, currently $99,240 per year for a family of four. The development also includes one unrestricted manager’s unit.

“We are here celebrating this site that was once a family courthouse and temporary migrant shelter—it will now become a space of hope, healing and opportunity,” County of San Diego Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe said. “Today’s groundbreaking is more than just the start of construction. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for this community and so many people who will benefit from this space. By investing in permanent supportive housing for our seniors and affordable homes for families, we are expanding a future of possibilities for all San Diegans to thrive regardless of income.”

BRIDGE Housing is developing Kindred Apartments in collaboration with SDHC and multiple partners. SDHC awarded 84 housing vouchers to the development, of which 63 are for seniors who previously experienced homelessness. The remaining 21 vouchers will assist eligible families with low income.

“The Kindred Apartments development will transform this site into a vibrant community that brings seniors and families together and provides housing stability in a shared place to call home,” SDHC Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development Colin Miller said. “The rental homes here will be life-changing for seniors who have experienced homelessness and families struggling financially in San Diego’s high-cost rental market.”

SDHC also awarded a loan of up to $7,955,000 toward the development. SDHC’s loan consists of federal, state and local funds SDHC administers, including:

• $2.25 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awards to the City of San Diego;
• $2.85 million from the State of California’s Local Housing Trust Fund; and
• $2.85 million from the City of San Diego’s Affordable Housing Fund.

“Affordable housing provides so much more than shelter,” BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard said. “It’s a foundation for healthier families, stronger communities. It helps children succeed in school, empowers adults to contribute more to their neighborhoods and enables seniors to age with dignity.”

San Ysidro Health will provide supportive services, such as medical and social services, through the San Diego Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for the seniors who experienced homelessness. San Ysidro Health will also provide enhanced case management and social services to all residents of Kindred Apartments.

“Health is not accomplished within an exam room or a building. It really does take the social determinants of health to come together in fabric and weave a healthier San Diego,” San Ysidro Health’s Interim CEO Veronica De La Rosa said.

The development is anticipated to be completed in early 2027 in the Cortez Hill neighborhood of downtown San Diego, a transit-oriented area that facilitates access to regional public transit services that connect residents to jobs, schools, parks and recreational opportunities throughout San Diego.

The County of San Diego invested $4 million from its Innovative Housing Trust Fund toward the development, in addition to providing the development site, one of 11 excess land properties the County identified for the creation of affordable housing.

Funding for Kindred Apartments also includes more than $17.7 million in recycled tax-exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds from the State. This funding is part of an innovative bond recycling agreement between the SDHC, the City of San Diego and the California Housing Finance Agency.

Additional funding partners include US Bank, Greystone Housing Impact Investors, and Western Alliance Bank.

From the City of Boston's press release:

The City of Boston today announced that Boston Saves, the City’s children’s savings account program, is offering an incentive to eligible Boston Housing Authority (BHA) families. Currently, all Boston Public Schools (BPS) students in K2-5th grade have been given Boston Saves accounts. This special incentive was created to encourage students who are living in BHA properties and are also eligible for Boston Saves to further engage in the program. BHA eligible families who complete an application by May 1, 2025, will be entered into a lottery to earn an extra $500 for their child’s Boston Saves account. This money, in addition to the $50 provided into every Boston Saves account, can be used to pay for their child’s future college or career training upon graduation.

“Boston Saves has given students and families a chance to get a head start in planning their economic futures,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am grateful for our partnership with BHA for giving eligible families this special incentive to engage in all of the program benefits. I encourage all BHA families with BPS students to log in and take advantage of these economic tools.”

Managed by the Worker Empowerment Cabinet and Boston Public Schools, Boston Saves provides every BPS K2 student with a college savings account (CSA) seeded with $50 to give families a boost for their child’s future. Since its launch, Boston Saves has allocated over $1.7 million, including over $320,000 in family-earned incentives, to over 27,000 student accounts. The program also allows families to earn additional Boston Saves Dollars for their child’s account through ongoing incentives and access to financial education resources that make saving easier. 

In 2024, Boston Saves and the Boston Housing Authority piloted this special incentive to support students in BHA housing with Boston Saves accounts. Through this partnership, 268 students earned $500 each last fall, a total of $134,000 for their accounts. Incentives like these are especially valuable as they encourage families to take the necessary first step of logging into their accounts, thereby unlocking the program's benefits. 

When a family logs in to the Savings Center, they can:

• See the money in their child’s Boston Saves account
• Link their own financial account to the Savings Center to track all their savings for their child in one place, and earn an additional incentive
• Earn more money for their child’s Boston Saves account by taking simple steps like reading with their child or saving regularly 

“Having worked at BHA, this partnership gives me great pleasure and, more importantly, will result in 500 young people beginning to take control of their academic or occupational future,” said Chief of Worker Empowerment, Trinh Nguyen. “I encourage all eligible families to take advantage of Boston Saves and give their child(ren) the financial boost they need to succeed.”

“We are proud to partner with Boston Saves on this exciting investment in the dreams and ambitions of BHA’s children,” said BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok. “We know that our young residents have a great deal of talent and passion to bring to our communities here in Boston, and this tangible investment in their future will support them and their families on their journeys to unlock all that potential.”

From The Columbian:

Vancouver Housing Authority apartments are hosting farmers markets where the produce is free for residents, thanks to a multi-agency partnership.

The housing agency is working with Washington State University Clark County Extension and Vancouver Farmers Market to bring free, fresh produce to its apartment complexes until June. Staff from the Vancouver Farmers Market recruit local farmers to offer fruits and vegetables at the housing complexes. The WSU Clark County SNAP-Ed program provides education on preparing healthy meals with the produce, among other necessary skills.

“This is a really powerful example of how food access initiatives can at the same time support food insecure families while also strengthening our local agricultural economy. Every dollar that goes into this program is going back to our local farms,” said Stephanie Clark, director of partnerships and programs for the Vancouver Farmers Market.

Read The Columbian's article "VHA apartments host farmers markets for residents with free, fresh produce."

From The Columbian:

Vancouver Housing Authority apartments are hosting farmers markets where the produce is free for residents, thanks to a multi-agency partnership.

The housing agency is working with Washington State University Clark County Extension and Vancouver Farmers Market to bring free, fresh produce to its apartment complexes until June. Staff from the Vancouver Farmers Market recruit local farmers to offer fruits and vegetables at the housing complexes. The WSU Clark County SNAP-Ed program provides education on preparing healthy meals with the produce, among other necessary skills.

“This is a really powerful example of how food access initiatives can at the same time support food insecure families while also strengthening our local agricultural economy. Every dollar that goes into this program is going back to our local farms,” said Stephanie Clark, director of partnerships and programs for the Vancouver Farmers Market.

Read The Columbian's article "VHA apartments host farmers markets for residents with free, fresh produce."