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David Greer
Director of Communications
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“In the coming weeks, the House will consider bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize the disaster relief funding platform for housing programs. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 is rational, comprehensive, badly needed, and Congress should pass it. Its proposed standardization and codification would make it easier for public housing authorities (PHAs) to apply for, and receive, relief funds after being impacted by disasters the way our colleagues and their residents were in Houston during Hurricane Harvey, in Wilmington during Hurricane Florence, in San Buenaventura during the Camp Fire, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“Perhaps if the bill were law today, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development would have a harder time intentionally stalling the disaster relief funding process for Puerto Rico, which two senior HUD officials admitted to doing during a hearing last month, and Secretary Carson has not denied.
“This is unconscionable and a blatant disregard of a statutory deadline. Though Congress has allocated $20 billion in CDBG-DR funds to Puerto Rico, HUD has only disbursed $1.5 billion, while thousands of American citizens struggle to recover.
“To remedy this, Senate appropriators included strong language in the THUD spending bill to prevent HUD from implementing its financial transformation initiative until the Department takes the appropriate steps to make all disaster recovery funds available along with necessary administrative requirements, which would include remaining allocations to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Congress must take action to compel HUD to follow the law. We urge support for the House and Senate efforts to ensure that all Americans, regardless of income and geography, whose housing is impacted by natural disaster receive the support they need quickly and efficiently.”
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 Housing Is Initiative to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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WASHINGTON (September 20, 2019) – Sunia Zaterman, the Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carson’s recent comments on the crisis of homelessness in America:
“It is astounding that this administration is calling for an end to homelessness while refusing to reinvest in public and affordable housing. People without a place to live need stable housing, not just campaign rally rhetoric or politically driven economic reporting based on cherry-picked research to manufacture a root cause of homelessness.
“The reasons for homelessness vary and no single solution will end the crisis, but there is no question that the lack of affordable housing opportunities exacerbates the problem for families, people with disabilities, and veterans.
“The Housing First model, recognized by HUD as recently as December as the most effective way to end homelessness, treats stable housing as a platform for supportive services that meet immediate and long-term needs for individuals and families.
“Meanwhile, this Administration has tried to gut funding for HUD and for public housing authorities, which are essential partners in local efforts to provide safe, stable housing to low and very-low income families, and those most vulnerable to homelessness.
“PHAs work with their Continuums of Care to provide transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and vouchers to households exiting homelessness. They also coordinate with a variety of local service providers to offer supportive services to ensure housing stability, and work with health and education partners to promote access to services that are essential for family well-being and self-sufficiency.
“The hundreds of thousands of unsheltered people living on the streets in our country need real solutions, not campaign speeches.”
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 Housing Is Initiative to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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CLPHA Applauds Appointment of Greg Russ to Lead New York City Housing Authority
Greg Russ is the right leader at the right time to oversee NYCHA and tackle the unique challenges facing the nation's largest and oldest public housing authority.
WASHINGTON (June 19, 2019) - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of New York yesterday announced the appointment of Gregory Russ to serve as the next Chair of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) issued the following statement in support of the city's selection of Russ, who is the current CEO/Executive Director of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and a member of CLPHA's Board of Directors:
"Greg Russ is the right leader at the right time to oversee NYCHA and tackle the challenges facing the nation's largest and oldest public housing authority. Greg is a distinguished public housing executive and proven change maker who has led with innovation to positively transform affordable housing for residents and communities. He is uniquely qualified for this position because of his experience as the Director of Troubled Agency Recovery and his work at the Chicago and Philadelphia housing authorities.
"Throughout his career, Greg has shown a commitment to preserving and improving the public housing stock while promoting self sufficiency and economic opportunities for HUD-assisted families in PHAs across the nation. In addition to his leadership in the field, Greg is considered a national expert on public housing policy.
"CLPHA applauds Mayor Bill de Blasio's selection of Greg Russ to serve as NYCHA's next chair and we look forward to supporting Greg in his new role."
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 Housing Is Initiative to better insect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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From the District of Columbia Housing Authority's press release:
he District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is launching an intensive renovation and modernization program for 19 public housing communities that will include both unit renovations and upgrades to building systems. This investment will improve the living conditions in approximately 3,500 units for current and future DCHA residents.
DCHA’s revitalization plan will be funded by $700 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs), issued by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) to DC Housing Solutions Inc., an affiliate of DCHA, and $70 million of DCHA’s own funds.
“Our revitalization plan is a promise to our public housing families and the city. With this investment, DCHA will provide safe, quality, affordable homes for thousands of District families for generations to come,” said DCHA Executive Director Keith Pettigrew. “By designing this innovative financing model, DCHA has created a path to better the lives of our current residents and house more families. We are grateful to Mayor Bowser, DMPED and City Council for their support as we work towards our shared goal of preserving affordable housing in our city.”
The 19 public housing communities that are part of the revitalization plan were selected based on a comprehensive assessment of DCHA’s portfolio. The IRB funds will catalyze the work that DCHA already has underway and in turn, accelerate DCHA’s ability to improve the living environments for thousands of public housing residents.
The revitalization plan, which is aligned with Sustainable DC, will also have a significant effect on DCHA operations as the enhanced building infrastructure will create long-term cost savings. It will also help reduce maintenance requests, allowing staff to focus on routine and preventative maintenance work.
“This strategic investment will provide our public housing families with the modern, high-quality homes that they deserve, while supporting DCHA’s long-term financial health,” said Raymond Skinner, chair of the DCHA STAR Board of Commissioners.
The first phase of renovation and modernization work is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and will include nine properties: Claridge Towers and James Apartments in Ward 2; Fort Lincoln in Ward 5; Hopkins Apartments, James Creek, Sibley Plaza and Syphax Gardens in Ward 6; Lincoln Heights in Ward 7; and Knox Hill in Ward 8.
The nine communities identified for phase one were selected, in part, because work can begin in vacant units, which minimizes the risk of off-site relocation. The planned work for the phase one communities will involve modernizing and rehabilitating approximately 1,900 units, including accessible units, and upgrading building systems and infrastructure. The specific scope of work for each property will be finalized following resident engagement sessions at the nine communities, which are scheduled to begin this month.
“The revitalization plan is about more than improving the physical structure of our portfolio,” said Executive Director Pettigrew. “By creating healthier homes for our residents, DCHA is ensuring our public housing communities are a foundation that fosters their success and well-being.”
Subsequent phases of the revitalization plan will include 10 other public housing communities: Harvard Towers and LeDroit Senior in Ward 1; Horizon House and Judiciary House in Ward 2; Regency House in Ward 3; Carroll Apartments and Kentucky Courts in Ward 6; Stoddert Terrace in Ward 7; and Highland Addition and Woodland Terrace in Ward 8.
From the New Haven Independent:
Sixty-five more apartments are on the rise in Beaver Hills — at a new complex where most rentals will be set aside for seniors and for residents making under half of the area median income.
That complex, called the West Ridge Apartments, is currently being built at 7 – 17 Stone St., in the shadow of West Rock.
The complex’s lead developers are Giordano, a Branford-based construction company, and the New Haven housing authority’s Glendower Group.
On Monday morning, Mayor Justin Elicker, Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of New Haven President Shenae Draughn, Beaver Hills Alder Brian Wingate, and develepors Sarah and Vincent Giordano III gathered under a tent on the grassy lawn across the street from the construction site to celebrate the new housing project. After a speaking lineup, they moved across the street for a celebratory groundbreaking.
Vincent Giordano III said the apartments — a new seven-story, 64-unit apartment building and an existing, empty single-family house that has been relocated down the block — should be finished and should welcome their new residents by the fall of 2026. The total development cost for the publicly and privately funded 65-unit project is $34.3 million.
Fifty-two of the new apartments will be reserved for renters making no more than 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), which currently translates to $45,500 for a family of two. Thirty-six of those units will be subsidized with project-based Section 8 vouchers from the housing authority, and 16 of the affordable units will be set aside as “supportive housing” with the help of the state Department of Developmental Services. The remaining 13 units will be rented out at market rates.
Read the New Haven Independent's article "Ground Broken On 65 Senior Apartments."
From the Boston Housing Authority's press release:
Mayor Michelle Wu yesterday joined federal and state colleagues and residents of the Mary Ellen McCormack public housing community to celebrate the start of a long-awaited effort to redevelop Boston’s oldest public housing community, breaking ground on the first phase of construction for a new 3,300-unit mixed-income community in South Boston.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, and Congressman Stephen Lynch joined residents and partners near the newly poured footings and foundations for the first apartment building of the project, known as Building A. The 112,000-square-foot structure will provide 94 modern apartments for low-income families currently living at the Mary Ellen McCormack community when it is ready for occupancy in the fall of 2026.
“Mary Ellen McCormack has long been a cornerstone of the South Boston community, anchoring generations of families and helping define what public housing means in our City and country,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Not only are we celebrating the start of this project, but a historic and sustainable transformation led by and for the residents themselves. This project ensures that the residents who have built this incredible community will continue to shape its future for decades to come.”
The groundbreaking marks a milestone for residents as it triggered provisions for the Mary Ellen McCormack Task Force to gain an ownership stake in all 1,016 affordable housing apartments planned for the 30-acre site. The project also features the first-ever underground geothermal heating and cooling system installed in partnership by WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority.
“This is a proud moment for our partnership with Winn, the Boston Housing Authority and our elected representatives. The Task Force and the residents of this community have been preparing for this day for a long, long time. We have shaped every aspect of this first project from the playground equipment in Veterans Park to the layout of the apartments and the interior finishes. We cannot wait to see the smiles on residents’ faces when they move into their new, affordable homes,” said Carol Sullivan, executive director of the Mary Ellen McCormack Task Force.
The redevelopment will replace all 1016 public housing units on site, and all current residents in good standing have a right to return to new apartments. Existing buildings will be demolished in phases as part of a complex relocation strategy operationalized to maximize existing households moving directly into new apartments. The tenant-paid portion of the rent will not change. WinnCompanies will pay for basic utilities for affordable households. The BHA will retain ownership of the land to preserve permanent affordability for low-income families while management, ownership and maintenance of the buildings will be provided by WinnCompanies.
"The Mary Ellen McCormack Complex redevelopment is a great example of the impact our Affordable Homes Act is having to jumpstart construction of housing, rehabilitate public housing, and lower costs across the state,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. "Thanks to the leadership of WinnCompanies, thousands of Boston residents will soon have reasonably priced, modern homes in a vibrant community."
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“For 90 years, the Boston Housing Authority has worked to create and provide quality affordable housing to Boston families. That work began right here at Mary-Ellen McCormack,” BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok said. “It is impossible to overstate how the legacy of this community, once called the Old Harbor Housing Project, has shaped the BHA, the South Boston neighborhood, the City of Boston and the thousands of families who have called this community home across generations. I’m excited to not only see that legacy secured through mixed-income redevelopment, but to know that Boston’s oldest public housing community will now be one of its greenest, safest, and most modern. Our residents deserve no less.”
From ABC 13 News Norfolk:
A sweeping transformation is underway in the heart of Norfolk. The former Tidewater Gardens public housing community, a product of 1950s-era planning, is being reimagined as Kindred, a resilient, mixed-income neighborhood focused just as much on people as it is on place.
At the center of this effort is the St. Paul’s Transformation Project, a collaboration between the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Officials say this is not simply a housing redevelopment, it’s a reinvestment in lives.
“This project is about parallel efforts of both people and place,” said Susan Perry, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Norfolk. “We’re not just redesigning a neighborhood—we’re investing in the people who call it home.”
That investment comes through the city’s People First program, a hallmark of the project designed to provide wraparound support to residents. From career and education coaching to housing stability, dental care and wellness services, the goal is long-term empowerment.
The city allocates $3 million annually to fund the program. As needs evolve, the services adapt. When residents expressed a need for dental care, the city introduced a mobile dental van to provide on-site treatment. “Anytime we’ve needed to invest in residents, we’ve done that,” Perry said. “And the outcomes have been really great—income among participating families has nearly doubled.”
Read ABC 13 News' article "Norfolk’s Kindred community rises from the legacy of Tidewater Gardens."
From The Journal News:
A decade-long redevelopment for a blighted public housing complex has entered its final stages.
On June 25, city officials broke ground on the final phase of transforming the former Cottage Place Gardens public housing complex.
Willow at the Ridgeway, an eight-story senior housing development at 23 Bishop W.J. Walls Place, will include 92 units designated for seniors on the city’s section 8 waitlist.
Amenities are to include free internet, air-conditioning, energy-efficient appliances, laundry rooms on each floor, a community room, fitness center, raised garden beds, a bocce court and a resident terrace with seating and a solar canopy.
Construction is expected to be completed in October 2026.
The development marks the final step in a six-phase revitalization of a public housing complex originally built in 1945. The master plan, first outlined 15 years ago, aims to replace the old structures with modern housing located close to the downtown Yonkers waterfront district.
Read The Journal News' article "Yonkers' 92-unit senior housing development will conclude long rebuild of public housing."