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.
*Please let us know if you are working on deadline.
To view all of CLPHA's press releases, click here.
To view all of CLPHA's press statements, click here.
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Thanks again for your interest in CLPHA!
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
March 10, 2021 |
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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.
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
March 4, 2021 |
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(Washington, D.C.) March 4, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement urging the swift passage of the American Rescue Plan Act in the U.S. Senate: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities calls for the Senate to pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which includes desperately needed $30 billion in emergency rental assistance, $5 billion in single-use vouchers, and a significant extension of the eviction moratorium. “This legislation is critical to addressing the rental crisis facing the nation. The situation has only grown more dire since the Biden Administration announced the American Rescue Plan in mid-January. Renters have continued to accrue past-due rent at an alarmingly high rate. While the eviction moratorium has provided important protections for renters financially impacted by the pandemic, the moratorium has meant that millions of renters have accumulated significant arrears. Economists estimate that unpaid rent at the end of January 2021 totals $52 billion, which amounts to $5,600 for the average renter. “The $5 billion in emergency housing vouchers will help transition persons-at-risk and homeless persons to stable housing. Emergency rental assistance is not only vital to renters, but its impact on the economy and public health is far-reaching. The Senate must act swiftly to provide emergency rental assistance and prevent a wave of evictions and housing instability that will tragically disrupt the lives of millions of Americans.” |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
February 27, 2021 |
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(Washington, D.C.) February 27, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon tonight’s passage of the American Rescue Plan Act in the U.S. House of Representatives:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the House of Representatives' bipartisan passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, which includes $35 billion in emergency rental and utility assistance and a significant extension of the eviction moratorium.
“This legislation is critical to address the rental crisis facing the nation. The situation has only grown worse since the Biden Administration announced the American Rescue Plan in mid-January. Renters have continued to accrue past-due rent at an alarmingly high rate. While the eviction moratorium has provided important protections for renters financially impacted by the pandemic, the moratorium has meant that millions of renters have accumulated significant arrears. Economists estimate that unpaid rent at the end of January 2021 totals $52 billion, which amounts to $5,600 for the average renter. With the March 31 moratorium on evictions rapidly approaching, additional rent assistance is urgently needed to help renters stay in their homes by addressing back rent. The Senate must act swiftly to provide emergency rental assistance and prevent a wave of evictions that will tragically disrupt the lives of millions of Americans.”
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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Of the complex’s 68 units, 34 are funded by Section 8 project-based vouchers, and 15 of those apartments are set aside for individuals with disabilities. The construction of Key’s Pointe Residences is part of HABC’s massive revitalization plan for Baltimore’s O’Donnell Heights neighborhood.
At the CLPHA Fall Meeting earlier this month, Bruce Katz, former Centennial Scholar at the Brookings Institution and founding Director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program,discussed how housing authorities, cities, and other stakeholders can seize the opportunity of the new Opportunity Zone tax incentives. Below is additional information and resources for CLPHA members on Opportunity Zones, including a CLPHA analysis of public housing developments in Opportunity Zones for members and a policy prospectus from Katz on how to best leverage these new tax incentives.
Background
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 established the new tax incentive, which will
“Allow any taxpayer to defer paying tax on capital gains from the sale of property if those gains are timely invested in Qualified Opportunity Funds, which in turn must invest 90% of its assets in businesses located or property used in a low-income community. If investors invest for ten years, they also pay no capital gains tax on the appreciation on that investment.”
Following the establishment of the tax incentives, U.S. governors designated more than 8,700 “Opportunity Zones” in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; many overlap with locations where CLPHA members have public housing communities. Opportunity Zone incentives are unique because they rely on individual investment decisions instead of government distributions, can be utilized for all manner of projects (residential, commercial, industrial, or infrastructure), are not contingent upon pre-specified outcomes or metrics for success, and there is no cap to the amount of benefits investors can receive.
Current Status
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released a notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of a public hearing on Investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones. There are two provisions related to housing in the proposed rule: a working capital safe harbor for the acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of property for up to 31 months and also a provision stating that the basis attributable to land will not be taken into account when determining whether the building has been substantially improved. According to the rule, excluding the basis of land will help facilitate the repurposing of vacant buildings in Qualified Opportunity Zones.
CLPHA will be reviewing the proposed rule to understand how PHAs can take advantage of Opportunity Zones to further local housing goals. Comments on the notice are due December 28 and the public hearing will be held on January 10, 2019.
Resources for Members
CLPHA Analysis of Members in Opportunity Zones: Using the list of designated Qualified Opportunity Zones and HUD data on public housing buildings, CLPHA performed a comparison analysis to determine which public housing buildings are located in designated Opportunity Zones. We found that 57 CLPHA members had at least one public housing building in a qualified Opportunity Zone. In the attached spreadsheet, you can find a full list of properties, including census tract and geographic data, located in Opportunity Zones, as well as a quick-glance table that lists the housing authority and property development name. Click here to download CLPHA’s Analysis from our Dropbox.
Policy Brief – From Transactions to Transformation: How Cities Can Maximize Opportunities –Bruce Katz and Evan Weiss: This brief details a vision for the potential economic and social outcomes of the Opportunity Zone tax incentives and offers ten steps for cities to leverage local resources in order to take advantage of them. Download the brief from Drexel’s website.
Additional Resources:
Opportunity Fund Directory: The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) has released this new online resource that provides descriptions and contact information for publicly-announced Opportunity Funds. View the Directory on NCSHA’s website.
Opportunity Zone Explorer: Enterprise Community Partners has created this mapping tool to help those interested in opportunity zones determine which tracts in their regions have been designated and how they related to other federal programs. Use the Opportunity Zone Explorer on the Enterprise website.
The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) and Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) were recognized for their work in addressing homelessness among community college students and other barriers to higher education in a recent article for Inside Higher Ed. THA’s College Housing Assistance Program began in 2014 in response to rising rents in Tacoma and Pierce Counties. High rates of homelessness among Tacoma Community College students created opportunities for partnership between the College and THA, which now serves 150 students — many of whom have children of their own — who are homeless and near homeless. With the help of a housing voucher and additional financial aid, students are able to continue pursuing their degrees.
CHA is taking a slightly different approach to a similar problem. In working with City Colleges of Chicago through a program known as Partners in Education, the housing authority covers tuition and other fees for residents. Over 600 CHA residents are currently enrolled in Chicago’s community colleges, and while many receive federal and state financial aid, additional assistance from the housing authority ensures continued enrollment. As Moving to Work (MTW) agencies, both THA and CHA are able to engage in postsecondary partnerships as a result of program flexibility.
THA and CHA will further discuss these partnerships with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, and Louisville Metro Housing Authority at a postsecondary convening co-sponsored by CLPHA, Housing Is, and Kresge next month. CLPHA looks forward to discussing how initiatives like these can be replicated and brought to scale across the country.
Hunt Capital Partners has provided $4.2 million in capital federal LIHTC equity financing for Rhododendron Place, a future 30-unit Vancouver, WA housing community funded in part by the Vancouver Housing Authority. Rhododendron Place will house individuals experiencing homelessness with behavioral health disorders or mental disabilities and offer related supportive services.
The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) and partners held a groundbreaking ceremony for Pacifica at Playa Del Sol, a future community of 42 affordable rental apartments, 12 of which will be set aside for individuals and families with developmental disabilities. SDHC contributed $10.8 million in tax-exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds towards the project, which is expected to cost $17.3 million.
From WSYR Syracuse:
The five-year anniversary milestone is a measure of success for any kind of event. Now, the Syracuse Housing Authority Youth Basketball Tournament is celebrating just that. It’s all for a good cause: helping at-risk kids create positive and healthy connections.
Last year’s tournament was a big success, and this year, they’re hoping to make things even better. Jalyn Clifford of the Syracuse Housing Authority, along with a player in the tournament, Freddy Fowler for a preview and some practice shooting ahead of the game.
The tournament’s intention is to provide youth at risk of perpetrating or being victims of community violence an opportunity to create positive and healthy connections with adults throughout the city. The Syracuse Housing Authority hopes to use this event as a catalyst initiative to prevent youth violence and exemplify alternative pathways to destructive behavior.
Read WSYR's article "Syracuse Housing Authority hosting 5th annual $10K Youth Basketball Tournament."
From the Housing Authority of New Orleans' newsletter:
On June 18, AARP announced its latest round of Community Challenge grantees, and the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) is proud to share that it has been awarded $15,000 through AARP’s Livable Communities initiatives to develop a community center and computer lab at The Estates in the city’s historic 9th Ward community.
HANO is one of 383 grantees selected nationwide through this program. With this funding, HANO will install new appliances, flooring, and computers, transforming a space at The Estates into a much-needed resource for residents. The newly developed center will offer a place for young residents to do homework or research, adults to apply for jobs, and neighbors of all ages to build digital skills that open doors to new opportunities.
“This grant from AARP means a great deal to us and to the families we serve,” said Marjorianna Willman, Executive Director of HANO. “Access to technology is no longer optional. It is essential. We’re grateful to AARP for helping us create a space where our residents can learn, connect, and grow. This project reflects our shared commitment to strengthen the communities we serve."
The AARP Community Challenge grant program is part of the AARP Livable Communities initiative, which helps cities and towns make quick, meaningful improvements that support people of all ages. Since 2017, AARP has awarded $20.1 million through 1,700 grants in over 1,000 communities across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Read AARP’s full announcement here. Learn more about their Community Challenge program here.
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.”