Welcome to CLPHA's Press Room
CLPHA experts welcome interview requests from print, radio, television, and online reporters and are happy to provide their insights on issues of public housing and related legislation and policy.
For media inquiries, please contact:
David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
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November 20, 2020
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 .
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
The Housing Is Initiative, led by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes. Housing stability is a critical first step to improve life outcomes for low-income children, families, and seniors; CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative is based on the premise that sectors can better meet needs when they work together. Housing Is establishes, broadens, and deepens efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results. Learn more at housingis.org and on Twitter @housing_is.
About The Center for Disaster Philanthropy
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s mission is to leverage the power of philanthropy to mobilize a full range of resources that strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. CDP manages domestic and international Disaster Funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. For more information, visit: disasterphilanthropy.org, call (202) 464-2018 or tweet us @funds4disaster.
New Funds Will Develop and Sustain Public Housing Authority Initiatives to Improve Postsecondary Achievement for Low-Income Households
WASHINGTON (November 25, 2019) – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, a housing advocacy organization and leader in efforts to improve life outcomes for low-income individuals and families, announced today that it has been awarded $300,000 from The Kresge Foundation to deepen connections between public housing authorities and their postsecondary education partners.
The three-year grant enables CLPHA to build on work that began last year, in partnership with The Kresge Foundation, to convene cross-sector housing and education partners who are collaborating to improve postsecondary achievement for students served by public housing authorities, including residents and housing insecure college students.
“Last year we showcased how these two sectors are working together to improve educational outcomes for low-income households. With generous funding from The Kresge Foundation, we will help more cross-sector partners develop and sustain their work,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “As a national organization representing 70 of the largest public housing authorities in the country, CLPHA is well-positioned to identify promising innovations and facilitate peer-learning among those doing the work with the goal to scale successful initiatives that can be replicated nationally. We are very grateful to The Kresge Foundation for its multi-year support of our work.”
With the funds, CLPHA, through its Housing Is Initiative, will establish a leadership institute for a cohort of public housing authority staff and their partners who demonstrate the experience and capacity for postsecondary collaboration. In addition to virtual meetings aimed at institutionalizing their cross-sector work, members of the cohort will travel for in-person site visits to learn about the different projects in the field.
“By supporting stronger partnerships between housing authorities and postsecondary stakeholders, CLPHA’s leadership institute will help increase college access and success for both public housing residents who have postsecondary aspirations but need support to realize their dreams, and current college students, whose housing insecurity threatens to derail their educational progress," said Bethany Miller, program officer with the Kresge Education Program.
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.
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
The Housing Is Initiative, led by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes. Housing stability is a critical first step to improve life outcomes for low-income children, families, and seniors; CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative is based on the premise that sectors can better meet needs when they work together. Housing Is establishes, broadens, and deepens efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results. Learn more at housingis.org and on Twitter @housing_is.
About The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation was founded in 1924 to promote human progress. Today, Kresge fulfills that mission by building and strengthening pathways to opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Using a full array of grant, loan, and other investment tools, Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. For more information visit kresge.org.
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For Immediate Release: July 2, 2019
CLPHA, Housing Experts Discuss Potential Dangers of HUD’s Proposed Housing Assistance Family Rule
A recording of the call is available HERE.
Washington, DC - Earlier today, immigration and housing experts gathered to address concerns regarding a recently proposed rule by the Trump administration that cruelly targets immigrant families to prevent them from receiving federal housing assistance. Experts discussed how the rule, which would affect about 25,000 households, would cruelly impact families of mixed-status.
The rule, the experts noted, would force families apart as they struggled to keep their current housing threatening many with homelessness, including the 55,000 children who are either U.S. citizens or otherwise eligible for housing benefits and who would be separated from their families
Below are quotes from today’s speakers.
Doug Guthrie, President and CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, said, “If this proposed rule change were to go through it would be devastating for Los Angeles families with mixed immigration status. It would impact as many as 11,600 individuals in assisted housing the majority of whom are young children who are American citizens and it would cost the housing authority millions of dollars. This would likely result in thousands of people becoming homeless at a time when homelessness is already a crisis in Los Angeles.”
Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, noted, “HUD’s proposal would force mixed status families to decide between a roof for some, or homelessness for all. This is antithetical to the mission of public housing, which is to provide safe, affordable housing to very low-income families. Instead, this proposal would exacerbate crisis levels of homelessness, divert scarce resources from already underfunded public housing authorities, and instill fear and distrust while doing nothing to make our communities safer or better off.”
Diane Yentel, President and CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition, added, “The cruelty of Secretary Carson’s proposal is breathtaking, and the harm it would inflict on children, families and communities is severe,” said National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Diane Yentel. “Tens of thousands of deeply poor kids, mostly US citizens, could be evicted and made homeless by this proposal, and – by HUD’s own admission – there would be zero benefit to families on waiting lists. This proposal is another in a long line of attempts by the administration to instill fear in immigrants throughout the country. We will not stand for it.”
Arianna Cook-Thajudeen, Bank of America Legal Fellow, National Housing Law Project, said, “The National Housing Law Project opposes this proposed rule because it would have a detrimental impact on the housing stability of millions of families. The federal housing programs in particular serve as a lifeline for many families who are one step away from homelessness. What the Administration is doing is through this proposal is ruthless and reckless. We urge everyone to submit comments to HUD to oppose this rule by July 9th.”
Tory Gunsolley, President and CEO, Houston Housing Authority, remarked, “The current system works. Undocumented occupants are not receiving federal subsidies. The proposed regulations, on the other hand, would cause a needless increase in homelessness and cost the federal government more money. The proposed regulation would force HHA to be an extension of immigration enforcement, a role that does align with our mission to provide safe, affordable housing. It simply doesn't make sense to implement.”
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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.
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 work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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(Washington, D.C.) March 9, 2022 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement about the HUD budget in fiscal year 2022 spending omnibus package:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the $4 billion increase in funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over last year in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill released last night. The increase amounts to $53.7 billion for HUD in this omnibus bill. "Subcommittee Chairman David Price and the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee recognized the critical role that public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers play with several funding increases. First, an expansion of up to 25,000 new incremental vouchers for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence and veterans as part of the $200 million increase in the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program. Second, the Project-Based Rental Assistance budget increase of $475 million over the FY 2021 budget will continue to safely house 1.2 million very low- and low-income households.
“For public housing a $645.5 million increase over FY 2021, including $3.2 billion to meet the full annual capital accrual need in order to improve the quality and safety of public housing for more than 2 million residents. Finally, the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative received an increase of $150 million above FY 2021, which represents a 75 percent increase. While America’s housing crisis continues, these funding increases recognize that public and affordable housing programs are the most effective way to keep low-income families housed.”
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(Washington, D.C.) November 19, 2021 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement after the House passage of the Build Back Better Act today:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the $1.9 trillion Build Back Better Act. The $150 billion targeted to affordable housing is the single largest investment in public housing ever.
“Today represents a fundamental change in America’s approach to public and affordable housing. The Build Back Better Act is historic legislation that seeks to remedy two generations of chronic disinvestment that has left millions of public housing residents suffering and exacerbated health, safety, climate risks, and racial inequities. These long-term investments to public housing, along with significant expansion of rental and homeownership assistance, will increase housing stability, reduce poverty, provide substantial climate benefits, and spur economic activity that strengthens local communities.
“CLPHA is thankful the House continued to listen to housing advocates by re-inserting provisions that will strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit’s ability to better leverage the capital required to develop and redevelop aging public housing infrastructure.
“As the Act moves to the Senate, CLPHA will continue its work with Senators to ensure that the public and affordable housing funding levels remain intact in the Senate version.”
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(Washington, D.C.) October 28, 2021 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement applauding President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better announcement this morning: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds President Biden’s announcement of a $1.85 trillion reconciliation framework with $150 billion targeted to affordable housing, the single largest investment in public housing ever. “For decades, millions of public housing residents have suffered from chronic disinvestment in their neighborhoods, exacerbating health, safety, climate risks, and racial inequities. The Build Back Better Act is historic and transformational in its comprehensive long-term approach by making public housing safe and sustainable for generations to come and significantly expanding rental and homeownership assistance. Stable, affordable housing is foundational to the health and economic well-being of all Americans and to our nation as a whole. This unprecedented and long overdue investment in the preservation and expansion of affordable housing, coupled with the Build Back Better Act’s other investments such as universal prekindergarten, the child tax credit, and climate change remediation, will have an historic impact on reducing poverty and improving the climate. “The Biden administration is delivering on a promise that has been decades in the making. CLPHA strongly supports the Building Back Better Act as a history-making investment in public housing and expanding housing opportunities.”
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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman in an article about the government shutdown's impacts on Section 8 Voucher holders if the shutdown continues beyond March 1.
Zaterman said, “Without a guarantee from HUD that funding will be available in March, many [public housing authorities] will need to notify landlords and residents next month that delayed payments are a possibility. Anxious residents and landlords fearful of missed payments, combined with other cascading impacts due to lack of staffing at HUD, including program grants not being renewed and affordable housing development deals not being approved, amount to an unmitigated disaster for millions of low-income families.”
Today, Gray News Bureau published a comprehensive article "SNAP, WIC, Section 8: Separating fact from fiction in the government shutdown" featuring a quote about the shutdown’s effects on HUD programs from CLPHA Executive Sunia Zaterman. Gray News pulled the quote from CLPHA’s January 16 joint press release with the Campaign for Housing & Community Development Funding (CHCDF), of which CLPHA is a member of the Steering Committee.
On the shutdown's effect on housing authorities' future rental assistance payments, Zaterman said, "Without a guarantee from HUD that funding will be available in March, many Public Housing Authorities will need to notify landlords and residents next month that delayed payments are a possibility. Anxious residents and landlords fearful of missed payments, combined with other cascading impacts due to lack of staffing at HUD, including program grants not being renewed and affordable housing development deals not being approved, amount to an unmitigated disaster for millions of low-income families.”
You can read the article via Gray News Bureau TV affiliates:
CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman spoke to the Pew Charitable Trust's Stateline blog about the looming crisis facing public housing authorities (PHAs) if the shutdown continues. In today's article "Cities Scramble as Shutdown Leaves Families in Federal Housing Vulnerable," Zaterman warned that if the shutdown is still in effect by the end of February, many PHAs will not have enough funds to continue rental assistance payments for March and beyond.
“It’s definitely an all-hands-on-deck, high-urgency red alert for agencies that don’t have sufficient reserves for a sufficient amount of time,” Zaterman said. “And most don’t.”
Pacific Standard quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman in today's article "The Government Shutdown Could Decimate America's Subsidized Housing Programs." Of the partial government shutdown's impact on the housing market, Zaterman said, "Owners in many cities will be faced with financial disruption, foreclosure, or bankruptcy if they're not able to pay their mortgage or meet the other costs of the property... This really is going to ripple through the whole housing market system."
Zaterman added that the shutdown is likely to negatively impact landlords' perceptions of the HCV program and other federally funded rental assistance programs, observing that in light of the shutdown landlords may be discouraged from participating in the HCV program because now "[funding] is something an owner would have to calculate as a risk now that was previously not seen as a risk."
CLPHA’ Executive Director Sunia Zaterman spoke to Multi-Housing News about the disastrous effect the shutdown will have on not only on Housing Choice Voucher funding and other rental assistance programs, but also affordable housing projects, if it continues beyond February. Zaterman added that if the shutdown continues into March, for smaller landlords and property owners especially “there is a huge concern about the ripple effect and concerns about bankruptcy and foreclosure.”
However, as Zaterman noted in a January 16, 2019, joint press release accompanying a national conference call about the effects of the partial government shutdown on low-income people and communities and the affordable housing programs that serve them, the shutdown is already a catastrophe for millions who rely on HUD funding. “Anxious residents and landlords fearful of missed payments, combined with other cascading impacts due to lack of staffing at HUD, including program grants not being renewed and affordable housing development deals not being approved, amount to an unmitigated disaster for millions of low-income families,” said Zaterman.
From the Spokane Housing Authority's press release:
The Spokane Housing Authority (SHA) has received two awards totaling $7.48 million from the Washington State Department of Commerce to develop Chalice Place, an 85-unit affordable housing project located at the intersection of North Wall and Country Homes Boulevard, adjacent to the Country Homes Christian Church. The development will serve seniors and individuals with disabilities, offering housing affordable to households earning less than 50% of the area median income.
$6.5 million, awarded from the Housing Trust Fund, will subsidize construction costs. $980,550, awarded through the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP), will be used to expand water supply, enabling high-density residential development on the urban infill site. SHA thanks Spokane County for partnering on the joint application for this CHIP funding.
In addition, SHA recently learned that the Washington State Housing Finance Commission ranked the project second in the Metro Pool for federal 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for 2026. SHA expects these tax credits to drive significant private investment and establish a strong public-private partnership.
SHA secured an option to purchase the land in early 2025 from the Country Homes Christian Church. The development was named Chalice Place to reflect the prominence of the chalice in the Church’s theology. This initiative aligns with SHA’s mission to create and sustain high quality affordable housing options that encourage individual prosperity and support healthy communities.
Construction on the project is intended to commence in fall 2026, with completion anticipated by spring 2028. The waiting list is not yet available. SHA is committed to a development process that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to our community’s needs.
To follow the development of Chalice Place and for more information about Spokane Housing Authority, follow the organization on Facebook or visit www.spokanehousing.org.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:
On this International Day of Clean Energy, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is proud to showcase its wide-ranging portfolio of clean energy projects that are redefining the role of public housing in environmental stewardship.
“At HACLA, we believe that the transition to a carbon-free future must be inclusive. We are moving beyond simple energy upgrades to create holistic, sustainable communities where every resident breathes cleaner air and lives in a more resilient home,” said HACLA President & CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez. “By integrating 100% building electrification, solar power, and smart climate solutions, we are not just reducing the environmental footprint of our city—we are directly lowering utility costs for families and improving the indoor health and comfort of our children and seniors.”
HACLA Clean Energy Projects:
- San Fernando Gardens "Smart Climate Solutions”: HACLA recently celebrated the completion of a Resiliency Center at San Fernando Gardens featuring a dedicated backup solar energy system. The Center provides a cooled safe haven for residents during extreme heat events and grid. Additionally, HACLA installed 448 energy-efficient air conditioning units, ceiling fans, and “cool roofs” to improve indoor air quality and temperature control. See this great work here.
- The Watts Rising Transformation: Through a $33 million investment from the California Strategic Growth Council, the Watts Rising Collaborative is establishing Watts as a a global model for urban sustainability. Key highlights includes the Solar Watts project, which has equipped over 50 homes with solar power, and the successful electrification of the Watts DASH bus fleet.
- Electric Mobility: HACLA has expanded affordable, zero-emission transportation through EV car-sharing programs at Rancho San Pedro, Pico Gardens, and for Section 8 FSS residents citywide. Furthermore, low- to no-cost Electric Bicycle Lending Program at Rancho San Pedro and Nickerson Gardens reduce air pollution while providing residents with mobility.
- Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: Major developments at Jordan Downs and One San Pedro redevelopment are setting new benchmarks for public housing. Jordan Downs is the City’s second LEED Neighborhood Development and is building to LEED Platinum while One San Pedro will meet LEED Gold requirements. Combined, these sites will feature thousands of units with 100% building electrification, solar-ready roofs and widespread EV charging infrastructure to support a permanent carbon-free lifestyle.
- Portfolio-Wide Efficiency: HACLA’s city-wide retrofit campaign has already reduced water consumption by 27% through LED lighting and high-efficiency fixtures. HACLA’s Toilet Sensor Project, which uses real-time monitoring to detect leaks and trigger maintenance alerts, recently won the Advancing Water Efficiency in Affordable Housing award at the 21st Annual Green Gala & California Green Building Awards.
Reflecting HACLA’s leadership, President Castro Ramírez was recently recognized as a 2025 Visionary of the Year by Enterprise Community Partners, a distinction that underscores the entire agency's commitment to regional decarbonization.
“When public and private sectors unite, our families win,” added Castro Ramirez. “These partnerships allow HACLA to scale the climate solutions our residents deserve, ensuring a healthy, sustainable environment for every Angeleno we serve.”
From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:
Mayor Karen Bass joined with BRIDGE Housing – the leading nonprofit affordable housing developer on the West Coast – and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) today to celebrate the grand opening of Cypress View, a new affordable housing community within the $1 billion redevelopment of the Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts.
Mayor Bass attended the ceremony alongside HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez and BRIDGE President and CEO Ken Lombard, along with dignitaries, service providers, financial partners, residents, and community members.
Cypress View features 119 new apartment homes ranging up to 5 bedrooms in size, including 106 units affordable for families earning 30%-80% of the Area Median Income and one manager’s unit. The remaining 12 apartments are offered at market rates. Twenty units are reserved for previous Jordan Downs residents.
“The grand opening of Cypress View represents the culmination of our work to comprehensively address issues related to housing, homelessness and the affordability crisis impacting so many across our city,” said Mayor Bass. “Since taking office, we have accelerated the building of affordable housing units, increasing the city’s housing supply and helping Angelenos stay in the communities they love, in the city they love. I want to thank HACLA CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez, and all those involved in this project, for not only creating much needed housing — but building a community.”
The community was built in conjunction with Pearl Park, a beautiful new community green space, and represents a key milestone in the transformation of the 1940s-era Jordan Downs public housing complex into a model urban village offering mixed-income housing, open space, retail, and resident support services.
"HACLA’s strategic $9.5 million contribution to Cypress View has served as a critical catalyst, leveraging over $90 million in federal, state, and private investment to advance the holistic revitalization of Jordan Downs,” said HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez. “Also, by exceeding HUD’s local hire benchmarks, we are creating a powerful economic ripple effect that extends far beyond housing to include job creation, infrastructure, and parks. This milestone reinforces our unwavering commitment to the Watts community, ensuring that legacy residents remain at the heart of a stable, sustainable, and affordable neighborhood they are proud to call home."
“The opening of Cypress View marks an exciting milestone in the decade-long revitalization of Jordan Downs that will serve families and strengthen the Watts community for generations to come,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard. “This achievement is the result of an outstanding public-private partnership, addressing L.A.’s urgent housing crisis while providing residents with the dignity of a stable home they can afford.”
Cypress View is BRIDGE Housing’s fourth community in the sweeping Jordan Downs redevelopment, following Kalmia Rose (76 apartments), Cedar Grove (115 apartments), and Park Place (80 apartments). BRIDGE plans to develop three additional communities as part of the HACLA-led revitalization, one of the nation’s largest urban revitalization projects.
Cypress View reflects the shared vision of BRIDGE Housing and HACLA of pairing thoughtful design with meaningful community partnerships. Supportive services will be delivered by El Nido Family Centers, a trusted nonprofit that has served Angelenos since 1925. El Nido’s services include food distribution, case management, community building opportunities, and connections to resources to help residents achieve independence.
“For decades, El Nido has worked alongside families in Watts, and we’re proud to be part of the Cypress View community,” said Liz Herrera, CEO of El Nido Family Centers. “Since 2019, our partnership with BRIDGE Housing, HACLA, and the Jordan Downs community has been grounded in trust, respect, and a shared commitment to safety, stability, and access to opportunity.”
Amenities at the three-building development include community rooms, bicycle storage, in-unit and shared laundry facilities, onsite resident parking with EV chargers, and landscaped outdoor courtyards with BBQ grills. Adjacent Pearl Park offers water features, a children’s play area, shade structures, and an open lawn. The community is conveniently located within a short walk to transit at the Jordan Downs Plaza retail center, a medical clinic, pharmacy, high school, and public library. The marching band from Jordan High School provided musical entertainment at today’s festive ribbon-cutting.
“We are proud to partner in the revitalization of Jordan Downs, ensuring long-term affordability, preserving community, and delivering top notch housing and amenities to its residents,” said Hao Li, Originator, Citi Community Capital. “This project highlights the power of public-private partnerships, with Citi playing a key role in its success.”
“With the support of state investments from the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) and Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) programs, Watts residents are benefitting from affordable housing as well as safer streets, access to parks and transit, a new shopping center and grocery store, and a neighborhood families can take pride in," said Erin Curtis, Executive Director of the California Strategic Growth Council, which awarded $77 million to the overall Jordan Downs revitalization project and $35 million to the Watts community. “This incredible neighborhood transformation shows what happens when we invest in people, honoring their voice and building a healthier, more connected neighborhood.”
Mary Goodlow, 46, has called Jordan Downs home for most of her life. After decades of living in Jordan Down’s legacy public housing, the mother of three recently moved into a new apartment at Cypress View.
“At first, I wasn’t sure what the changes at Jordan Downs would mean for long-time residents like me. Fortunately, moving to Cypress View has been a wonderful experience,” Goodlow said, citing her outdoor porch and new appliances as some of her favorite features. “I’m excited for Jordan Downs to continue improving and providing opportunity for this community, because we deserve it.”
A significant proportion of the workforce that developed the project comprised workers and businesses who meet the HUD Section 3 Worker and Section 3 Business eligibility criteria. Over 180 new employment opportunities were created for Section 3 workers, including Jordan Downs and Watts residents. Additionally, over 50% of labor hours were performed by Section 3 Workers, exceeding HUD’s 25% labor hour benchmark goal. Section 3 Businesses received over $17 million in subcontract awards.
Young residents at Cypress View will have the opportunity to join the Building Bridges program, a summer skilled trades program created by BRIDGE Housing in partnership with Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. High school aged residents will receive a paycheck as well as hands-on experiences in welding and construction while working toward industry-recognized certifications.
Jordan Downs was built as semi-permanent housing for workers during World War II and converted into public housing the following decade. HACLA, BRIDGE Housing, and The Michaels Organization are leading the redevelopment of Jordan Downs. The ongoing redevelopment will provide 1,500 units of mixed-income housing, including one-for-one replacement of existing units, and a 115,000 square-foot retail center. The community also includes a robust job training and social services platform, a new 50,000+ square foot Community Center and nine acres of open space.
Cypress View was designed by architecture firm KTGY, and the general contractor was Portrait Construction. In addition to HACLA, BRIDGE Housing’s financial partners included U.S. Bank, Citibank, California Department of Housing and Community Development, and California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.
From Fresno Housing's press release:
Fresno Housing announced today that the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) has awarded Davu Village a value of approximately $25 million in federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Davu Village will include significant rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the existing structures and addition of new construction to provide a total of 63 studio apartments, related common space, and amenities. This investment advances the conversion of the former emergency shelter, Golden State Triage Center, located at 1415 W. Olive Avenue in Fresno into a high-quality affordable housing development. Davu Village is an example of how public and private partnerships can deliver investment to provide permanent affordable housing for residents transitioning out of homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless.
Davu Village marks a significant milestone in broader revitalization efforts planned for the Parkway Drive corridor lead by Fresno Housing and the City of Fresno. This development represents the third motel, formerly used as an emergency shelter, along the corridor to be reimagined and converted into a beautiful apartment community. Once known for blight, disinvestment, and unsafe conditions, this stretch of Parkway Drive is undergoing a multi-year transformation of converting distressed properties into affordable and mixed-income housing designed for families and individuals, including those previously experiencing housing insecurity.
“Parkway Drive has a long history of challenges, but today it represents one of Fresno’s most promising examples of what reinvestment and community vision can accomplish,” said Tyrone Roderick Williams, CEO of Fresno Housing. “The tax credit award for Davu Village continues the momentum of turning once-dilapidated sites into vibrant communities that offer safety, stability, and opportunity.”
When completed, Davu Village will feature:
- 63 affordable studio apartments
- Outdoor green space
- Community center for onsite services, events and resident engagement
- Laundry facilities
- Gated Community
- Onsite property management
“For five years, we’ve worked to meet people where they are—providing services, skills training, and temporary housing. Davu Village takes that work further- by bringing permanent housing to 63 people who were formerly homeless. This is another way to give them the stability they need to rebuild their lives and succeed,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer.
Davu Village’s progress has been supported by the State of California Homekey Program and local funding provided by the City of Fresno. These early investments have been foundational in preparing the site to compete successfully for state and federal tax credits.
The transformation of Parkway Drive aligns with Fresno Housing’s strategic goals to invest in neighborhoods, expand the supply of affordable housing, and ensure that all residents have access to safe, sustainable communities.
Construction on Davu Village is planned to begin in Summer 2026 following the completion of all financing due diligence.
From Shelterforce:
Back in 2006, Cambridge, Massachusetts’s aging public housing stock needed serious work. Some of the housing authority’s nearly 2,500 apartments were in 70-year-old buildings with deteriorating and outdated infrastructure, Cambridge Housing Authority officials say, and a few properties built in the 1970s had leaked for decades. Many needed upgrades to heating, ventilation, and plumbing systems.
A five-year capital assessment required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revealed capital needs of at least $228 million. CHA officials estimated it would take 32 years to make the needed improvements based on its annual HUD funding at the time.
“Our backs were against the wall. We were going to start losing units,” says Margaret Moran, CHA’s deputy executive director for development. “Out of desperation, we began a process, both internally and with our residents, of exploring alternate ways to tackle the capital need.”
That exploration helped launch a series of improvement projects starting in 2010. Today, CHA is about 75 percent done with a portfolio-wide redevelopment, Moran says, with extensive work completed on 17 properties encompassing more than 2,345 units. Moreover, they’ve exceeded original plans, including addressing more resident comfort issues, achieving energy efficiency improvements, and adding 200 new deeply affordable housing units, with further expansion in the works.
It’s not news that federal support and funding for public housing has declined sharply since the early 1970s. Housing authorities across the U.S. have struggled to afford maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to their properties, and the number of available units is steadily declining. Against that grim backdrop, Cambridge stands out as a positive exception.
CHA’s redevelopment has been cited as an innovative model for its layering of strategies and funding sources to pay for the renovations, as well as for minimizing disruption for residents and retaining ownership or control of the properties rather than ceding them to private interests.
“It’s a great example of what can be possible,” says Susan Popkin, a fellow at the Urban Institute who co-authored a 2024 research report that profiles CHA as one of a few public housing authorities that have financed redevelopment in innovative ways.