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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February 2, 2021
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(Washington, D.C.) February 2, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon President Biden's signing of an executive order regarding the public charge rule:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the Biden administration’s action today to begin unwinding the Trump administration’s patently unlawful Public Charge Rule that included housing assistance receipt against immigrants and their families when applying for an adjustment of residency status. Federal housing assistance exists to keep families together and to lift them up, not to be weaponized to tear them apart. The cruelty of the rule was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as it caused families to opt out of many critical safety net programs, including federal housing assistance.
"CLPHA looks forward to working with the Biden administration to ensure the equitable and compassionate treatment of immigrants and their families when seeking federal housing assistance.”
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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
January 28, 2021 |
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(Washington, D.C.) January 28, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon the conclusion of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs’ nomination hearing for The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, of Ohio, to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds HUD Secretary-designate Marcia Fudge’s forceful call for expanding emergency rental assistance at her Senate nomination hearing today for individuals who are facing housing instability due to lost income or are experiencing unemployment because of COVID-19, many of whom are people of color. She understands that the $25 billion allocated to emergency rental assistance in the most recent stimulus was not enough and only a down payment.
“Right now, in back rent alone, 10 million low-income renters have accrued an average of $5,600 in rental arrears, which totals $56.3 billion. The current stimulus package will help approximately 3.5 million renters pay back rent by February. The remaining 7 million renters who are unable to pay back rent will face eviction, compounding the strain on our nation’s economy and compromising our nation’s moral responsibility to address racial inequities among our most vulnerable individuals.
CLPHA calls for Congress to immediately pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan which contains $50 billion in emergency rental assistance, and for the Senate to swiftly confirm Secretary-designate Fudge so that she can begin her imperative work.”
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
January 15, 2021 |
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(Washington, D.C.) January 15, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement on President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan for including $35 billion in emergency rental and utility assistance and a significant extension of the eviction moratorium.
“The Biden-Harris proposal underscores the magnitude of the rental crisis facing the nation, and, when combined with the $25 billion in rental assistance from the December stimulus, finally begins to address the threat of housing instability that millions of low-income Americans are facing. To date, 11.4 million renters have accrued an average of $6,000 in back rent, totaling $70 billion in unpaid rent. President-elect Biden said last night that every day matters when keeping a roof over one’s head. The most effective model to deliver rental assistance immediately is the Housing Choice Voucher program. Its efficiency is proven, the infrastructure is in place, and it can rapidly expand to deliver the significant amount of relief proposed in the American Rescue Plan.
“CLPHA is committed to working with Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to ensure its swift passage so that Americans facing the threat of eviction don’t have to wait another day longer.”
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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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.
The Paterson Housing Authority received a $24,570 HUD Housing Counseling Program Grant. The grant will help the housing authority improve access to affordable housing and counsel residents on increasing their financial literacy, expanding homeownership opportunities, and maintaining homeownership.
Residents of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee’s Westlawn Gardens neighborhood completed the first urban pilot of the National Council on Aging’s Aging Mastery Program®. The five-week program offers comprehensive health and wellness education for individuals 55 or older to empower them to make small, yet impactful changes to their physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and other aspects of their lives.
Dr. DuBois-Walton to Lead The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Dr. Karen DuBois-Walton, CLPHA board member and Elm City Communities (ECC) president, has been named the next president and chief executive officer of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Her last day with ECC and on CLPHA’s board will be November 1.
Dr. DuBois-Walton was elected to CLPHA’s board in 2019. She has served for 16 years as president of ECC, which provides housing opportunities for more than 6,000 families and 14,000 individuals and includes the Glendower Group, LLC (the development affiliate of ECC) and 360 Management Group, Inc. (the property management affiliate). At ECC she has spearheaded initiatives to address systemic inequities in housing and community development, education and economic access and opportunity.
Under Dr. DuBois-Walton's leadership ECC has pioneered numerous cross-sector partnerships with education sector organizations that together offer programming that helps ECC residents pursue educational advancement. ECC’s groundbreaking work that helps improve education outcomes for low-income New Haven residents has long supported and informed CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative, and her move to The Community Foundation underscores the importance of philanthropic organizations to cross-sector efforts to address the needs of low-income families.
“CLPHA and our board have greatly benefitted not only from Karen’s intelligence and expertise, but also her warmth and compassion,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, CLPHA board president and CEO of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. “We are heartened to know that she will take her passion for helping low-income families find housing stability, economic opportunity, and improved health and education outcomes into her new role. We wish Karen the best of luck as she embarks on this new opportunity.”
“Karen’s leadership at ECC and on the CLPHA board has always been centered on the needs of low-income families, and particularly families of color.,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “She has shaped our thinking and practices on how to develop and sustain effective cross-sector partnerships to improve life outcomes for those we serve. She will no doubt continue to champion safe, stable, and affordable housing as foundational to improved life outcomes in her new role at The Community Foundation. While we will miss Karen in our industry, we wholeheartedly congratulate her on this new opportunity to continue her work serving the people of New Haven.”
From KSL.com:
A fast-growing section of Salt Lake City is getting another development, this time focusing on affordable housing for seniors.
The Housing Authority of Salt Lake City announced Wednesday it is moving forward with a plan to develop a new senior housing community just east of Fairmont Park. It comes after the Utah Housing Corporation agreed to set aside $20 million in federal low-income housing tax credits to support the construction of the Fairmont Heights Senior Community.
Construction isn't expected to begin until early 2026 after it goes through the final planning and city approval stages but the current plan is to build 110 new units designated for affordable housing for residents who are 62 and over.
The forthcoming Fairmont Heights Senior Community will replace a two-story business office building at 2257 S. 1100 East, directly east of Fairmont Park.
Half of the units will be built in an initial phase and will feature 40 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom layouts, available for seniors making 80% or below the area's median income. Most of these units will be set aside for seniors with 50% or below the area median income, which would cap rent somewhere between $600 and $1,150 per month, according to the Housing Authority.
A second phase will complete the remaining 55 units.
"The goal is to keep seniors in the neighborhoods they raised their families and where their families are now," said Britnee Dabb, deputy director of the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City.
Read KSL.com's article "Salt Lake City funds new, affordable senior housing community in Sugar House."
From the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's (AFHC) website:
Joyful giggles and the carefree sounds of children at play float on the wind at the new Pacific Terrace playground. Completed in summer 2023 as part of several ongoing upgrades at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s 40 unit affordable housing facility, the new play area is something the entire community now enjoys.
Thoughtfully designed to address the play needs of different age groups, there are actually two separate playgrounds connected by a walking path: a large, 2,400 square-foot area for children ages 5 to 12, and a smaller, 900 square-foot separate area set under the trees for children ages 2 to 5.
Creating two play spaces provided the opportunity to install equipment best suited for both older and younger children. Having the ability to separate the two areas also offered a quieter spot for younger children to play without the distractions of the more rambunctious older set.
“While the playground was built for Pacific Terrace residents, everyone in the community is welcome and it is wonderful to see so many families bringing their kids here to play, especially on sunny days,” says Maren Miller, AHFC’s property and program manager.
From the Los Angeles Rams' press release:
Leading up to the Los Angeles Rams 2024 home opener against the San Fransisco 49ers, the team partnered with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) to install a 60-yard turf football field at Nickerson Gardens, the largest housing development west of the Mississippi. The installation will bring enriching programming to underserved youth and create a lasting impact on the young people of the Watts public housing development and community at large. The very same field was brought to Hermosa Beach during the 2024 NFL Draft by the team and SoFi.
Rams safety and team captain Quentin Lake and running back Kyren Williams joined the event to unveil the field and lead youth in a flag football clinic.
"In a community like Watts, where green spaces are limited, this field is more than just a place to play - it is an investment in our youth, our community, and their future. It provides our youth a safe space to grow, learn teamwork, and develop critical leadership skills," said Marisela Ocampo, HACLA's Director of Housing Services. "These types of investments are deeply needed in the Watts community. HACLA would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Los Angeles Rams for investing in Nickerson Gardens and the residents we serve."
As part of the unveiling, the Rams worked with HACLA, Project Blue, ThinkWatts Foundation and Watts Gang Taskforce, to invite over 100 youth from various housing developments in Watts to come together for a moment of unity on the field. After the ribbon cutting, the team hosted a football clinic and flag football game for the united community of Watts. Development of the field was also supported through the NFL Foundation's Club Matching Field Grant program.
"For me to be here and really enjoy being with these kids and experience this together with them, is nothing but a blessing," said Lake. "The game of football is bigger than the players and the team. It's not just the Rams, it's the Rams House, it's everybody here. I'm so happy to show these kids that with hard work and effort they could be in the same position as me."
"The NFL Foundation is proud to partner with the Los Angeles Rams and HACLA to develop a youth football field in the Nickerson Gardens Housing Development," said NFL Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher. "Through the NFL Foundation's Club Matching Field Grant program, we strive to create access to opportunities for youth across the country to stay active and healthy through the game of football. We are excited to provide youth in the Watts community with a safe space to play for years to come."
The field will provide community members with a lasting space to learn, play and connect with one another. The Rams believe football is a game that develops transferrable life skills and strong character, promotes health and wellness, enhances opportunities to further education, and broadens perspectives while building a sense of community and creating more pathways for young men and women in sports.
"When we made a splash by bringing a turf football field to the beach in Hermosa Beach and providing lasting memories for thousands of local children, our longer impact play was always to find a permanent home for the field in an under-resourced community," said Molly Higgins, Los Angeles Rams Executive Vice President of Community Impact and Engagement. "We couldn't be more excited to bring this field – and all of the opportunities that come with the field - to the youth of Nickerson Gardens."
From the City of Norfolk's press release:
The City of Norfolk, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA), the Franklin Group and Brinshore Development celebrated the grand opening of the first two buildings at Kindred with an official ribbon cutting ceremony today, Sept. 17, at noon. The buildings, Reunion Senior Living and Origin Circle, are now fully leased, including 44 former Tidewater Gardens residents who have chosen to return to Kindred.
This milestone represents a significant advancement in the St. Paul’s Area Transformation/Tidewater Gardens Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI). With a total investment exceeding $300 million, including a $30-million HUD grant, this initiative is among the largest redevelopment projects undertaken by the City and NRHA.
A key component of the CNI grant is the assurance that original Tidewater Gardens families have the right and option to return to the revitalized community if they choose. Both the City and NRHA have supported this right through resolutions that formalize this and offer services to ensure they are able to do so. These services include assistance with applications, payment of security deposits and moving expenses and securing utilities for the new units.
Throughout construction, families received comprehensive relocation support and an array of holistic services including assistance with housing stability, education, economic mobility, and health and wellness.
Through the People First Initiative, residents are securing better-paying jobs and children are gaining access to health insurance, high-quality early childhood programs, and after-school enrichment opportunities. Youth are receiving essential resources to address developmental delays, leading to improved testing scores in reading and math. Adults are now connected to healthcare services, managing chronic conditions more effectively. These services are provided by People First, empowered by Urban Strategies, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that Tidewater Gardens families are stable and thriving. Since the redevelopment began, People First has facilitated relocation for Tidewater Gardens residents with several families achieving homeownership and more than 90 percent of residents moving to neighborhoods with low poverty rates with a Housing Choice Voucher.
Reunion Senior Living at Kindred is a 72-unit senior living community offering one- and two-bedroom apartments. It features amenities such as a fitness center, computer lab, community spaces, on-site management and off-street parking.
Origin Circle at Kindred is a family development with 120 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The property includes 3,600 square feet of indoor community and amenity space, outdoor gathering areas, a playground and 4,700 square feet of retail space along Church Street.
Both buildings boast high-end interior finishes, are EarthCraft Gold certified, and feature Energy Star-rated appliances and water-conserving fixtures. A community art project features stunning artwork by local artists, enhancing the common areas of both buildings with vibrant decorations.
The next two buildings are currently under construction with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2025.