CLPHA Press Room

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.

From the New Haven Independent:

Shenae Draughn will once again step in as the interim head of the Housing Authority of New Haven and its affiliate organizations, after Karen Dubois-Walton steps down in November.

Starting Nov. 2, Draughn will fill in for current president DuBois-Walton, who is taking on a new role as the head of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven beginning next month.

The Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Draughn to helm, at least for now, the public housing agency and its nonprofit affordable housing development and management arms (known collectively as Elm City Communities) at the board’s October meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Amid applause and congratulations, the board also unanimously voted to create a subcommittee focused on finding a permanent director. ​“We hopefully should be able to do that in a short period of time,” said Board Chair William Kilpatrick.

Draughn has served as the executive vice president of Elm City Communities and the Glendower Group (the agency’s affordable housing development arm). She started at the organization in 2009 and in recent years has filled an interim president role during DuBois-Walton’s mayoral and state treasurer campaigns. 

Draughn has played a key role in the agency’s efforts to renovate existing units and, increasingly, build new mixed-income housing across the city. (According to a press release from Elm City Communities, Draughn has ​“facilitated over $800 million in real estate development in the Greater New Haven area.”) She has also overseen the agency’s Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher administration.

Draughn ​“could not be more qualified,” said DuBois-Walton as she introduced the motion to appoint Draughn.

“I’m most grateful to the board for the opportunity,” Draughn said after Tuesday’s meeting. ​“I’m excited about it and don’t take it lightly.” 

Read the New Haven Independent's article "Draughn To Lead Housing Authority, For Now."

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

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) Board of Commissioners today announced that Lourdes Castro Ramirez will be the Agency’s next President and CEO. In this role, she will lead and deepen HACLA’s commitment to people, place and pathways and bolster the agency’s collaborative efforts to increase access to affordable housing, services and community development.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lourdes back to the HACLA family at this critical time for our agency,” said HACLA Board Chair Cielo Castro. “Her experience at the Federal, State and local level, coupled with her commitment to reducing poverty, expanding housing and building resilient communities, makes her the perfect person to lead our agency. The Board of Commissioners looks forward to partnering with Lourdes to build trust with our residents and communities, innovate and collaborate with our government and nonprofit partners to prevent and end homelessness, and support the talented team at HACLA, as we work together to produce the best results for the people we serve.” 

Having held prominent leadership roles at the federal, state and local levels, Ms. Castro Ramirez is a transformative nationally recognized leader in housing, programs to reduce poverty and disparity, and community building solutions. She brings a wealth of experience to HACLA, where she previously worked early in her career, and has a proven record of developing and increasing access to affordable housing and expanding socio-economic opportunities to residents and communities.

Ms. Castro Ramirez joins HACLA from the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, where she was appointed by the Mayor to serve as the Chief Housing and Homelessness Officer for Los Angeles. During her tenure, she worked closely with local, regional, state, and federal leaders to fast-track affordable housing, advance homelessness initiatives and implement tenant protections. In 2024, Los Angeles saw a 10% decrease in unsheltered homelessness in the city.

“There’s no one better prepared to lead HACLA than Lourdes Castro Ramírez. She has been an invaluable member of my executive team as we brought thousands of Angelenos safely inside, cut through red tape to accelerate more than 20,000 units of affordable housing, secured policy changes to bring more Veterans into housing and locked arms with all levels of government to make change for the people of Los Angeles,” said Mayor Bass. “I look forward to a new approach where the City and HACLA can work much more closely together to advance our shared goals of fully utilizing federal housing vouchers, housing more Veterans, modernizing HACLA’s housing sites and building trust with its residents. I thank her for all that she has done for the Angelenos and all that she will continue to do.”

“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to lead HACLA and eager to work together with the Board, staff, residents and partners. I returned to Los Angeles to deliver on Mayor Bass’ vision for urgent change that breaks with the old ways of doing things and that is the approach that I will continue to lead with as HACLA’s next President and CEO,” said Lourdes Castro Ramirez. “We’ve made progress in keeping people housed, bringing more people inside and fundamentally changing how City Hall approaches the housing and homelessness crisis. That’s the energy and intention that I intend to bring to HACLA – all of us, working together to break through the status quo for Angelenos.”

Before returning to Los Angeles, Ms. Castro Ramirez served as a member of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Cabinet as Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.  As Agency Secretary, she led 12 state departments with 7,500 staff members, oversaw an annual budget of $10 Billion, and implemented statewide policies and programs to preserve and expand affordable housing, protect consumers, guard civil rights and promote homeownership and economic opportunities.

President Barack Obama appointed Ms. Castro Ramirez in 2015 to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Public Housing and Native American Office with oversight of all public housing authorities, responsibility for implementing HUD’s Choice Neighborhood grants, and self-sufficiency programs to advance the HUD Secretary’s opportunity agenda. 

Prior to her Presidential appointment, Ms. Castro Ramirez spent six years working in the San Antonio community as the President & CEO of the Housing Authority in Texas. Early in her career, Castro Ramirez worked for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) in various roles and capacities, including the Director of the Section 8 Department. Ms. Castro Ramirez received her BA in Political Science and Chicana/o Studies, as well as an MA in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“The Board would also like to thank Marlene Garza for serving as Interim CEO. Marlene’s commitment to HACLA’s mission, and steadfast stewardship of the agency have ensured continuity and stability throughout this transition.” Chair Castro shared. Garza will return to her role as Chief Administrative Officer. 

Ms. Castro Ramirez will begin serving as President and CEO effective December 2, 2024.