8/7/2012
CLPHA applauds Jim Gurke’s 30-year career in Alaska’s public housing sector, especially the impact he has made as Public Housing Director at the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. A press release announcing his retirement at the end of July notes that during his tenure, Gurke has “orchestrated the demolition and redevelopment of the Loussac Place in Anchorage, implemented new public housing software, and directed the creation of two new housing partnerships for hard-to-serve populations.” His dedication, creativity, and leadership will be missed, and we wish him all the best.
A study released by the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority shows that public housing had an impact of $42.6 in Norfolk, generating a clear economic benefit while providing quality affordable housing to low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
The Housing Authority of Baltimore City successfully pursued a claim with the bankrupt Integrity Insurance Company, enabling HABC to make “the largest payment to date toward a lead paint case in the amount of $3.675 million.”
In collaboration with HUD, the Houston Housing Authority facilitated a Leasing and Occupancy Forum for tenants of Telephone Road, a 200-unit, Section 8 development for seniors. The 65 residents who attended gained a better understanding of lease requirements and program basics.
The Spring/Summer issue of HUD's MTW newsletter highlights ways in which Home Forward and the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara “have made the most of their ability to combine funds to leverage resources and better respond to local needs.”
Support for Students
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The Housing Authority of the City of El Paso and the Greater El Paso Association of Realtors hosted a Back to School Supply Drive in late June that distributed school bags loaded with much-needed supplies to over 800 low-income children in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
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At a July 22 awards ceremony, the Charlotte Housing Authority presented 94 students with over $100,000 in scholarships from a fund that has picked up corporate sponsors and provided $2.5 million in aid to more than 500 students from low-income environments since 1983.
Green Initiatives
The installation of 96 solar panels atop a Boston Housing Authority building will reduce the facility’s hot-water bill by 40 percent and save $13,000 per year for a lifetime of 25 years, or a total of $325,000 – exceeding the project’s $311,088 cost, which was met through stimulus funding and a contribution by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
HUD's July EcoWise newsletter notes that the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles earned a LEED Gold certification for its Dana Strand Senior Apartments, and the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP) earned LEED Platinum certification for its Paisano Green Community.
Community Bridges
The Housing Authority of New Haven and the New Haven Police Department have joined forces to offer a Youth and Police Initiative, which aims to build communication and break down stereotypes.
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Area youth and a group of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s senior residents participated in a week-long intergenerational camp that focused on relationship building and wisdom sharing, culminating in a “make over” of the community room Fay Towers senior apartment building. |
Development News
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority impressed former residents with plans for the privately built and run mixed-use community that will replace the demolished Dove Court. One man commented, “I'm proof that you can come out of public housing and succeed. I think (Dove's mix of uses) is a great opportunity.”
A July 25 editorial in The Los Angeles Times describes as promising the ambitious redevelopment plan that the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles has proposed for its Jordan Downs housing project. It also identifies the thorny issue of time limits as one of the challenges that HACLA faces.
In its first cross-town development project, the Housing Authority of New Haven will provide the management services and expertise needed to revamp the Ansonia Housing Authority’s rundown Riverside Apartment Complex.
An article about the Tacoma Housing Authority’s plans to rebuild the Hillside Terrace apartments praises the agency for helping families to learn and earn independence. It also notes the role of MTW participation in enabling THA to direct time and money towards successful projects like its collaboration with McCarver Elementary School.
The Housing Authority of the City of El Paso has secured a 9 percent tax credit to develop a 14.5-acre mixed-use community that will include a total of 188 units of conventional public housing, Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and market rate units built to LEED Silver standards.
Former mayor Norm Rice and president of Seattle University Stephen Sundborg lauded Seattle Housing Authority’s redevelopment plans in an August 1 editorial in The Seattle Times: “The neighborhood of Yesler Terrace has defined what's ‘right’ for its future. What has emerged is a comprehensive plan to develop a healthy community. The effort merits the support of the Seattle City Council.”
Home Forward is partnering with LifeWorks NW on a development in Northeast Portland that will provide 32 permanent apartment homes with supportive services for graduates of substance abuse treatment programs, expanding the culturally-focused residential treatment program Project Network.
