CLPHA supports the nation’s largest and most innovative housing authorities by advocating for the resources and policies they need to solve local housing challenges and create communities of opportunity. We frequently champion our members' issues, needs, and successes on the Hill, at HUD, and in the media. In these arenas CLPHA also advocates for legislation and policies that help our members, and the public and affordable housing industry as a whole, strengthen neighborhoods and improve lives.
Click below for links to congressional testimonies, statements for the record, action alerts, comments to HUD and other federal agencies, and the latest information about CLPHA's multi-pronged housing advocacy.
- Reach out to your Member of Congress.
- Explain why the SAVE Act is important to your public housing authority, your residents and your community.
- Urge your member of Congress to support the SAVE Act when it is re-introduced in Congress.
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Deadline: 5:00 PM ET Tomorrow, March 26
Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 1904: The Broadband Justice Act of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the growing digital divide and the deepening disparities among access to essential technology. These inequities especially impact lower income households and those living in federally assisted housing.
By updating the definitions used by HUD, the Department of Treasury, and USDA for utility allowance, The Broadband Justice Act of 2021 would bring affordable broadband to 8 million households residing in federally assisted housing throughout the nation. Bolstered through the creation of a new grant program to develop the required infrastructure and additional operating funds to mitigate increased costs, access to broadband as an allowed utility would be federally subsidized, in a similar way that gas, electricity, and water currently are. Congressman Bowman (D-NY), the bill sponsor, is organizing support for the letter and has set a Friday, March 26, 5:00 pm ET deadline for House members to sign on.
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ACTION:
1) CLPHA is asking you to strongly encourage your Members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 1904: The Broadband Justice Act of 2021.
2) Your Member of Congress should fill out this form to cosponsor the bill.
For additional information, please email Josh Shokoor, CLPHA Research & Policy Analyst, at jshokoor@clpha.org.
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Congressional Democrats are moving the next COVID-19 bill swiftly through Congress. CLPHA and other national public housing industry groups are asking our members to sign on to a joint industry letter to be sent to congressional leadership asking for additional emergency funding and longer-term preservation resources for public housing operating funding, housing vouchers, and infrastructure funding.
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Sign-on for the letter is on a short deadline with
sign-on due by 12:00 p.m. ET Friday, February 12.
Therefore, CLPHA is calling on members to re-double efforts to ensure our funding requests are considered by Congress and included in the next economic stimulus package.
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- Communicate with your Members of Congress and ask them to support including emergency funding and longer-term preservation resources for public housing, housing vouchers and infrastructure in the next COVID relief legislation.
- Ask your Members of Congress to urge the House and Senate Leadership to include emergency funding and longer-term preservation resources for public housing, housing vouchers and infrastructure in the next COVID relief legislation.
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The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities has endorsed H.R. 4351, the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act. The YIMBY Act, originally co-sponsored by Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA) and Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN), is a bipartisan housing bill that seeks to encourage, while not mandating, localities to advance policies that eliminate discriminatory land use policies, exclusionary zoning and other artificial barriers to building affordable housing.
The YIMBY Act achieves these goals by requiring Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients to report periodically on the extent to which they are removing discriminatory land use policies and implementing inclusive and affordable housing policies detailed by the bill.
The YIMBY Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed under suspension of the rules on March 2, 2020, and is now in the Senate awaiting consideration. CLPHA is working with Up for Growth Action, the lead advocacy organization generating support for the bill, and is encouraging our members to sign-on as an endorser of the bill.
There is a narrow window of opportunity to advance the YIMBY bill to passage after recess in September, and broad geographic, organizational, and industry support can help convince Senate leadership the bill should be considered for a vote.
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ACTION: To add your organization to the endorser’s list, please send an email to: For questions or additional information, contact CLPHA Legislative Director Gerard Holder at gholder@clpha.org.
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Emergency rental assistance is in jeopardy in the latest stimulus package in the Senate. Early indication is that housing assistance and direct rental assistance will not be a part of the Senate legislative package. The Senate is debating the stimulus right now. Renters are facing a devastating cliff with CARES Act protections expiring at the end of this month. Public housing authorities’ voices are critical to the Senate debate.
The Senate returned this week, resuming legislative activity for the next two weeks until their next recess begins August 7. This is the last opportunity to pass emergency economic relief and stimulus legislation in 2020 before Congress hits the campaign trail for the November elections.
The recent House-passed HR 6800, the “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act” or the “HEROES Act,” is a critically needed legislative package designed to provide economic relief to states, cities, local jurisdictions, medical front-line workers, first responders, unemployed persons, consumers, students, renters, homeowners, housing providers, and more.
The HEROES Act provides over $114 billion in funding for housing and community development programs. It includes $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, $4 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, $2 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund, and $750 million for Project Based Rental Assistance.
For this reason, CLPHA is urging members to make your voices heard to ensure emergency rental assistance is included in the next economic relief and stimulus package. CLPHA is calling for the $100 billion under the Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) to be made flexible to allow different funding portals, such as emergency single-use housing vouchers, or for other rental assistance platforms be able to allocate the funds.
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CLPHA strongly encourages members to:
Without your active engagement with your Senators, providing additional housing assistance to housing authorities will be jeopardized.
Senators must hear from you to know this is important!
For questions or additional information, contact CLPHA Legislative Director Gerard Holder at gholder@clpha.org.
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However, the joint letter is not enough!
It is critical that you follow up with your representatives and stress the need for providing additional resources to housing authorities as you work to deal with this devastating health and economic crisis.
Without your active engagement with your Members of Congress, policymakers on Capitol Hill will give lower priority to providing additional resources to housing authorities.
CLPHA is calling on members to step up efforts to ensure our funding requests are considered by Congress and included in the next economic stimulus package.
CLPHA strongly urges members to:
Over the past weekend of March 21, we asked CLPHA members to sign onto a letter to be sent to congressional leadership asking for emergency funding and longer-term preservation resources for public housing and housing vouchers in a COVID-19 stimulus package.
Sign on deadline for the letter has been extended. Negotiations for a third supplemental economic stimulus legislative package continue. The House Democrats under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi recently unveiled their separate stimulus package, and the possibility of a fourth economic stimulus legislative package is also being discussed.
Therefore, CLPHA is calling on members to re-double efforts to ensure our funding and regulatory relief requests are considered by Congress.
Specifically, CLPHA asks members to:
- Sign-on to the letter sent this past weekend, if you have not already done so
- Send a letter to your Members of Congress and ask them to support including emergency funding and longer-term preservation resources for public housing and housing vouchers in the next COVID-19 economic stimulus legislation. (see attached form letter)
- Ask your Members of Congress to urge the House and Senate Leadership to include emergency funding and longer-term preservation resources for public housing and housing vouchers in the next COVID-19 economic stimulus legislation.
BACKGROUND
HOUSE:
The Democratic proposal spearheaded by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) unveiled on March 23, HR 6379, the “Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act” introduced by Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), includes housing-related provisions in two main sections, Division A—Third Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, and Division I—Financial Services, Title I—Protecting Consumers, Renters, Homeowners and People Experiencing Homelessness. Division I wholly taken from HR 6321, “Financial Protections and Assistance for America’s Consumers, States, Businesses, and Vulnerable Populations Act” was also introduced on March 23 by House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA). Highlights from the Speaker’s package include:
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) – $158.827 billion
Management and Administration – $20 million to support activities by the Administrative Support Offices and Program Offices to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Funding would also support program administration and oversight for the $158.8 billion in emergency assistance provided to state, local, and tribal governments and housing authorities through this Act.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance – $1.5 billion to allow public housing agencies (PHAs) to respond to coronavirus and the ability to keep over 2.2 million families stably housed even when facing a loss of income. Allows PHAs the flexibility necessary for the safe and effective administration of these funds while maintaining fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and environmental protections.
Public Housing Operating Fund – $720 million for PHAs to carry out coronavirus response for the operation and management of almost 1 million public housing units. Allows PHAs the flexibility necessary for the safe and effective administration of these funds while maintaining fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and environmental protections.
Native American Programs – $350 million to address the needs of Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities in preventing, responding to, and preparing for coronavirus. This includes $250 million in formula funding through the Native American Housing Block Grants program and $100 million in imminent threat grants through the Indian Community Development Block Grant program.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS – $130 million to maintain operations, rental assistance, supportive services, and other necessary actions to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on low-income persons with HIV/AIDS.
Community Development Block Grant – $15 billion for coronavirus response and to mitigate the impacts in our communities: up to $8 billion to be distributed by formula to current grantees, $5 billion awarded directly to States, based on public health needs and other factors, and the remainder to be awarded on a rolling basis via a formula that prioritizes the risk of transmission of coronavirus, number of coronavirus cases, and economic and housing market disruptions resulting from coronavirus. The legislation also waives the public services cap to allow communities to respond to the impacts of the pandemic.
Homeless Assistance Grants – $5 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants to address the impact of coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and to support additional homeless assistance, prevention, and diversion activities to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
Emergency Rental Assistance – $100 billion to provide emergency assistance to help low-income renters at risk of homelessness avoid eviction due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Housing Assistance Fund – $35 billion for State housing finance agencies to provide housing or utility assistance to individuals and families to prevent foreclosure, eviction, mortgage delinquency, or loss of housing or critical utilities as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Assisted Housing Stability – A total of $1.1 billion for HUD multi-family housing programs to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus and ensure the continuation of rental contracts and necessary support services, including:
- Project-Based Rental Assistance – $1 billion;
- Section 202 Housing for the Elderly – $75 million; and
- Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities – $25 million.
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity – $7 million to address fair housing issues resulting from coronavirus. This includes $4 million for the Fair Housing Assistance Program and $3 million for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program.
DOT and HUD Oversight –
Inspectors General – $10 million total for the DOT and HUD Inspectors General to conduct audits and investigations to ensure transparency and efficiency within the agencies as they prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
SENATE:
The CARES Act, the third supplemental economic stimulus legislative package offered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, contains the following provisions for HUD:
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT – $17.4 billion
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – $10 billion. CDBG is a flexible program that provides communities and states with funding to provide a wide range of resources to address COVID-19, such as services for senior citizens, the homeless, and public health services. Funding will be distributed using formula.
Homeless Assistance Grants – $4 billion. These funds will enable state and local governments to address coronavirus among the homeless population. These grants, in combination with additional waiver authority, will provide effective, targeted assistance to contain the spread of coronavirus among homeless individuals. These grants will also provide state and local governments with homelessness prevention funding for individuals and families who would otherwise become homeless due to coronavirus.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance – $1.25 billion. These funds will preserve Section 8 voucher rental assistance for seniors, the disabled, and low-income working families, who will experience loss of income from the coronavirus.
Public Housing Operating Fund – $685 million. These funds will provide Public Housing Agencies with additional operating assistance to make up for reduced tenant rent payments as well as to help contain the spread of coronavirus in public housing properties.
Native American Programs – $300 million. These funds will be used to prevent homelessness due to lost income from the coronavirus, as well as to contain the spread of coronavirus on tribal lands. These programs provide flexibility to local tribal governments and Tribally-Designated Housing Entities to respond to local conditions and needs.
Housing Opportunities for Person with Aids (HOPWA) – $65 million. HOPWA is dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS by giving grants to local communities, states, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Project-Based Rental Assistance – $1 billion. This additional funding will make up for reduced tenant payments as a result of coronavirus. Preserving this critical housing assistance will prevent low-income families and individuals from being at risk of homelessness.
Section 202 Housing for the Elderly – $50 million. These funds will maintain housing stability and services for low-income seniors. Seniors are particularly at risk from the coronavirus.
Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities – $15 million. This additional funding will make up for reduced tenant payments as a result of coronavirus.
Fair Housing – $2.5 million for additional fair housing enforcement.
HUD Administrative Expenses – $50 million. These funds will ensure that HUD’s programs are able to continue serving low-income vulnerable populations, while also providing states and local governments with resources to contain and respond to the coronavirus.
HUD Inspector General – $5 million. Funding for the HUD Inspector General to provide oversight and ensure funds provided are used for lawful purposes.
CLPHA joined with industry colleagues NAHRO, PHADA, and the MTW Collaborative today to send a statement to House and Senate Committee leadership urging their support for the ACC contract language included in the Senate’s FY20 THUD Appropriations bill.
Because HUD’s proposed revisions to the ACC contain some provisions that are problematic and were not resolved during a joint industry meeting with PIH Assistant Secretary Hunter Kurtz and HUD staff, the four groups remain concerned that without the Senate appropriations language, HUD’s new ACC will not meet the standards set in the Housing Act of 1937 and the current ACC.
ACTION:
As members of the House and Senate Appropriations committee negotiate the final THUD appropriations bill, it is imperative that CLPHA members contact their Senators and Representatives and urge them to support the Senate’s language on the ACC.
If your Senators or Representatives are appropriators (see the list below) it is critical that CLPHA members contact them this week and ask them to support the Senate’s THUD Appropriations language on the ACC.
If you have questions about this action alert or the current status of the ACC, please contact CLPHA’s Legislative Director Gerard Holder at gholder@clpha.org.
Members of the Appropriations Committees
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
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MAJORITY |
State |
Dist. |
MINORITY |
State |
Dist. |
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Nita M. Lowey, Chairwoman |
NY |
17 |
Kay Granger, Ranking Member |
TX |
12 |
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Marcy Kaptur |
OH |
9 |
Harold Rogers |
KY |
5 |
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Peter J. Visclosky |
IN |
1 |
Robert Aderholt |
AL |
4 |
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Jose E. Serrano |
NY |
15 |
Michael K. Simpson |
ID |
2 |
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Rosa L. DeLauro |
CT |
3 |
John Carter |
TX |
31 |
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David E. Price, THUD Chair |
NC |
4 |
Ken Calvert |
CA |
42 |
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Lucille Roybal-Allard |
CA |
40 |
Tom Cole |
OK |
4 |
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Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. |
GA |
2 |
Mario Diaz-Balart, THUD Ranking |
FL |
25 |
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Barbara Lee |
CA |
13 |
Tom Graves |
GA |
14 |
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Betty McCollum |
MN |
4 |
Steve Womack |
AR |
3 |
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Tim Ryan |
OH |
13 |
Jeff Fortenberry |
NE |
1 |
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C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger |
MD |
2 |
Charles Fleischmann |
TN |
3 |
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Debbie Wasserman Schultz |
FL |
23 |
Jaime Herrera Beutler |
WA |
3 |
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Henry Cuellar |
TX |
28 |
David Joyce |
OH |
14 |
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Chellie Pingree |
ME |
1 |
Andy Harris |
MD |
1 |
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Mike Quigley, THUD Vice Chair |
IL |
5 |
Martha Roby |
AL |
2 |
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Derek Kilmer |
WA |
6 |
Mark Amodei |
NV |
2 |
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Matt Cartwright |
PA |
8 |
Chris Stewart |
UT |
2 |
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Grace Meng |
NY |
6 |
Steven Palazzo |
MS |
4 |
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Mark Pocan |
WI |
2 |
Dan Newhouse |
WA |
4 |
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Katherine Clark |
MA |
5 |
John Moolenaar |
MI |
4 |
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Pete Aguilar |
CA |
31 |
John Rutherford |
FL |
4 |
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Lois Frankel |
FL |
21 |
Will Hurd |
TX |
23 |
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Cheri Bustos |
IL |
17 |
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Bonnie Watson Coleman |
NJ |
12 |
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Brenda Lawrence |
MI |
14 |
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Norma Torres |
CA |
35 |
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Charlie Crist |
FL |
13 |
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Ann Kirkpatrick |
AZ |
2 |
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Ed Case |
HI |
1 |
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
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MAJORITY |
State |
MINORITY |
State |
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Richard C. Shelby |
AL |
Patrick J. Leahy, Vice Chair |
VT |
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Mitch McConnell |
KY |
Patty Murray |
WA |
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Lamar Alexander |
TN |
Dianne Feinstein |
CA |
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Susan Collins, THUD Chair |
ME |
Richard J. Durbin |
IL |
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Lisa Murkowski |
AK |
Jack Reed, Thud Ranking |
RI |
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Lindsay Graham |
SC |
Jon Tester |
MT |
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Roy Blunt |
MO |
Tom Udall |
NM |
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Jerry Moran |
KS |
Jeanne Shaheen |
NH |
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John Hoeven |
ND |
Jeff Merkley |
OR |
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John Boozman |
AR |
Chris Coons |
DE |
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Shelley Moore Capito |
WV |
Brian Schatz |
HI |
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John Kennedy |
LA |
Tammy Baldwin |
WI |
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Cindy Hyde-Smith |
MI |
Christopher Murphy |
CT |
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Steve Daines |
MT |
Joe Manchin |
WV |
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Marco Rubio |
FL |
Chris Van Hollen |
MD |
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James Lankford |
OK |
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The House of Representatives may vote as soon as next week on bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize HUD’s Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.
The bill – the “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act” – includes key reforms to the CDBG-DR program to help ensure that federal disaster recovery efforts reach all impacted households.
The bill was introduced by Representatives Al Green (D-TX) and Ann Wagner (R-MO) and passed out of the House Financial Services Committee this summer with unanimous support.
CDBG-DR provides states and communities with flexible, long-term recovery resources needed to rebuild affordable housing and infrastructure after a disaster. By formally authorizing the program, the bill would help ensure the process is administered consistently and that dollars can flow more quickly to communities in need. In addition, the bill includes important measures to ensure that scarce resources are targeted to families and communities with the greatest needs.
For more information on these important measures please see the fact sheet from our colleagues at the Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition.
From Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's (D-MO) press release:
Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) announced the establishment of the Congressional Public Housing Caucus (CPHC). Co-chaired by a group of lawmakers with lived experience in public housing, the CPHC will serve as a dedicated resource for Members of Congress to help strengthen public housing nationwide.
“I am deeply alarmed by reports about the termination of hundreds of probationary HUD employees and planned cuts to the Department’s funding and workforce spearheaded by Elon Musk,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Despite public housing providing safe and stable shelter to millions of Americans nationwide, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and programs such as the Department’s public housing program are under constant assault. As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, as well as a former resident of public housing, I’m proud to launch the Congressional Public Housing Caucus with my colleagues to ensure our expertise and experience living in public housing can be used as a resource to defend and strengthen these programs for American families."
“As a proud product of the Old Colony Housing Project in South Boston and co-chair of the new Public Housing Caucus, I am honored to work with Ranking Member Cleaver and our other Caucus colleagues to build upon our lived experiences and advance our shared commitment to expanding and modernizing public housing on behalf of America’s working families,” said Congressman Lynch. “In the midst of an escalating housing crisis that includes a shortage of more than 7 million affordable homes for low-income families, the Trump Administration is planning to terminate 50% of jobs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development – the federal agency whose mission is to provide decent and safe public housing for low-income families, veterans, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. With the creation of this caucus, I look forward to making public and affordable housing a top priority in Congress."
“Growing up in public housing in New York, I know how essential diverse and stable housing options are for the residents of our districts,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. “That is why my colleagues and I are introducing this movement to continue working to unfreeze federal funding, bolster long-term policy solutions, and uplift the needs of vulnerable voices in our districts and across the country. I’m proud to help launch the Congressional Public Housing Caucus, especially at a time when the Department of Housing and Urban Development is yet another victim of the Trump-Musk Administration’s rogue budget cuts and workforce firings. Together, we aim to create safer spaces for the millions of low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities who call public housing their home."
"As a proud product of public housing, I understand firsthand the challenges and the immense potential that come with it,” said Rep. Torres. “The creation of the Congressional Public Housing Caucus marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing fight to uplift millions of Americans who call public housing their home. Together with my fellow co-chairs, we will advocate for policies that ensure affordable, quality housing for all and work to eliminate the barriers that continue to keep too many families from achieving their full potential. Public housing is not just a roof over one’s head; it’s a foundation for building a brighter future, and I am committed to fighting for the resources and support needed to make that vision a reality."
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to support the launch of the Congressional Public Housing Caucus led by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The time is now for Congress to take action and invest in public housing to ensure that our most vulnerable communities have access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. CLPHA looks forward to working with Congressman Cleaver and the Public Housing Caucus to improve the public housing stock and the quality of life for its residents,” said Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director, CLPHA.
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(Washington, D.C.) February 20, 2025 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities’ (CLPHA) Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement regarding the latest threats to public housing authorities (PHAs) posed by cuts to HUD programs and staff and a potential government shutdown: “PHAs are facing a triple threat from an expiring continuing funding resolution, slashing of some HUD programs, and cuts to HUD staff critical to program implementation. It has been reported that 50 percent of staff positions may be eliminated through early retirement and reductions in the workforce. These draconian actions are compounded by the looming federal government shutdown unless Congress passes an FY25 government funding bill by March 14. CLPHA urges Congress to protect HUD programs and staff and prevent a government shutdown. “The federal government is currently funded under an extension called a continuing resolution (CR) that expires on March 14. The government has yet to agree on and finalize the 2025 budget and without another CR to extend funding, the government will shut down. “A government shutdown disrupts PHA operations and continuity of service to residents, voucher holders, private owners, investors, and partners. Appropriators have still not agreed to the total amount of the budget, which is the first step in the budget process. After that it takes weeks to finalize and pass full year appropriations bills. Securing HUD funding is critical to protecting PHAs, residents, and staff. Congress must pass a full year FY25 appropriations bill that provides adequate funding for HUD programs.” |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
Media Contact: (202) 550-1381 |
Grant to Support Policy Agenda Addressing Homelessness for Infants, Toddlers, Expectant Parents, and Their Families
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(Washington, D.C.) February 3, 2025 – We are pleased to announce that the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI) has awarded $150,000 to support the work of Housing Is to strengthen the intersection of housing and early childhood development. Housing Is received this grant from PCI to work with a coalition of organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse America, Zero to Three, and our long-time partner SchoolHouse Connection, to build a policy agenda addressing homelessness for infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families and promoting strong early childhood development and economic security among this population. Each year, more than 364,000 infants and toddlers experience homelessness in the U.S., and nearly 70,000 babies are born to parents who experienced homelessness during pregnancy. Homelessness during pregnancy or in the first three years of a child’s life has lifelong consequences on physical health and mental well-being. These years are foundational to development, and trauma—including homelessness—can disrupt this growth, leading to long-lasting effects. Homelessness is preventable, and stakeholders must take action to address it. Homelessness in early childhood—recognized as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)—can lead to developmental delays, physical and mental health issues, and lasting effects on well-being. If partners act early—before families reach a crisis point—they can prevent and solve homelessness and mitigate the resulting impact on the developing child. “Housing Is is proud to receive this grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative and to join this coalition focused on improving housing opportunities and life outcomes for some of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals: infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, president of the Housing Is board of directors and CEO of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. “The early childhood, housing, and homelessness sectors must work together to build a coordinated, holistic support system for these children and their families. Public housing authorities play a critical role in providing affordable housing to this population, and Housing Is will represent the voices of PHAs and other housing organizations in this coalition. PCI’s support will enable Housing Is and our coalition to build and disseminate a policy agenda and messaging campaign that will address homelessness for these infants and young children and their families.” “Housing Is extends our gratitude to the Pritzker Children’s Initiative for their recognition of our work to align sectors that serve low-income families,” said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), which manages Housing Is under an operating agreement. “As Housing Is has stressed throughout our ten-year history, systems that serve low-income individuals are stronger and more effective when they work together. With this grant, PCI is helping Housing Is to further our mission to improve life outcomes for low-income families through cross-sector collaboration.” |
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About Housing Is |
