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.
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David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
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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 |
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(Washington, D.C.) November 25, 2024 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement upon the nomination of Scott Turner to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), whose members serve over 2.2 million people, including over 480,000 children, across the country, congratulates Scott Turner on his nomination as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our nation is experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis, and PHAs offer critical affordable housing opportunities to the most vulnerable families in their communities. Safe, stable, and affordable housing is central to breaking the cycle of poverty and expanding economic, education, and health opportunities. We look forward to working with Mr. Turner on our shared goal of improving the lives of low-income Americans who, for a variety of reasons, have been left behind economically, and lifting up the communities where they live through safe and affordable housing.” |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
Media Contact: (202) 550-1381 |
Congratulations to Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman on New Role as Acting Secretary
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(Washington, D.C.) March 12, 2024 — “On behalf of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, we congratulate HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge on a dedicated career in public service from serving as Mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, to U.S. Congresswoman from Ohio’s 11th district, and culminating as the 18th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,” said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. “When Secretary Fudge took the reins of HUD in the middle of a global COVID-19 pandemic, she provided steadfast leadership that expanded rental assistance and served more than 1.2 people experiencing homelessness. She has been an ardent housing champion giving voice to millions of people in need. “Secretary Fudge worked with CLPHA throughout her tenure to provide greater flexibility to address housing needs and redress systemic racism that has been embedded in housing policy for decades. “We commend her on an exemplary career in public service and wish her well in the next chapter of her life. We look forward to working with Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman, former CLPHA Vice President, in her new role as Acting Secretary.” |
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### Media Contact: David Greer, CLPHA
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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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 |
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(Washington, D.C.) November 25, 2024 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement upon the nomination of Scott Turner to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), whose members serve over 2.2 million people, including over 480,000 children, across the country, congratulates Scott Turner on his nomination as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our nation is experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis, and PHAs offer critical affordable housing opportunities to the most vulnerable families in their communities. Safe, stable, and affordable housing is central to breaking the cycle of poverty and expanding economic, education, and health opportunities. We look forward to working with Mr. Turner on our shared goal of improving the lives of low-income Americans who, for a variety of reasons, have been left behind economically, and lifting up the communities where they live through safe and affordable housing.” |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
Media Contact: (202) 550-1381 |
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(Washington, D.C.) August 19, 2024 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon the release of Vice President Kamala Harris' and Governor Tim Walz's housing plan at a rallty in North Carolina on Friday: "The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the Harris-Walz campaign for its historic call for more affordable housing measures in its economic plan released on Friday in North Carolina. By every measure, low-income Americans are experiencing crisis levels of housing instability and homelessness. CLPHA strongly supports the Harris Walz campaign’s call for an expansion of tax incentives for affordable rental housing, an innovation fund for low-income housing, and expansion of the child tax credit, which would contribute to decreasing housing instability and homelessness among American’s most vulnerable families. 'We are hopeful that the tax incentives for affordable rental housing are at a scale that would generate as much affordable housing production or more as the low-income housing tax credit provisions in the bipartisan tax bill. The child tax credit improves a low-income parent’s ability to afford housing, which increases housing stability and improves children’s health outcomes. 'CLPHA will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize the affordability and sustainability of public and affordable housing throughout this campaign which includes fully funding the public housing capital and operating funds, expanding the Housing Choice Voucher program, and prioritizing cross-sector approaches for housing, health and education." |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities |
From Vox:
In the last issue of this newsletter, I wrote about what went wrong with public housing in the United States — how it didn’t necessarily fail, but was routinely sabotaged because of bad policy choices that contributed to neglect and mismanagement. So this week, I want to look at what successful public housing can look like.
Oftentimes, when looking for models to emulate, many Americans look abroad for answers — Austria, Denmark, and Singapore, for example, are frequently cited as places to learn from. But one of the problems with turning to other countries is that their politics and governments are fundamentally different, and simply copying them isn’t always an option.
That’s why I’m particularly interested in looking at examples of public housing models that have worked quite well here in the United States. After all, if one American city or county can pull off an ambitious program, then what’s stopping others from doing the same?
Earlier this year, my colleague Rachel Cohen highlighted a place where local leaders are expanding public housing: Montgomery County, Maryland.
Montgomery County has long prioritized affordable housing. Developers, for example, are required to make at least 15 percent of units in new housing projects available for people who make less than two-thirds of the area’s median income.
But the county got creative with how it could provide public housing: It set aside a fund to finance and develop housing projects. And while the county partners with private developers, its investment makes it a majority owner of a given project. As the New York Times put it, the county, as an owner, becomes “a kind of benevolent investor that trades profits for lower rents.”
For background, the county’s Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) is not just a public housing authority, but a housing finance agency and public developer as well. “We have these three different components that ultimately work together to help us really advance a very aggressive development strategy that we have deployed over 50 years,” said Chelsea Andrews, executive director of HOC.
Read Vox's article "A public housing success story."
CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman was quoted in BisNow’s recent article “Biden's Budget Includes 'Once in a Generation' Investment in Vouchers, Public Housing. Now Landlords Need to Get on Board,” offering CLPHA’s perspective on the Biden administration’s American Jobs Plan that would allocate $30 billion the Housing Choice Voucher program and $40 billion to public housing.
“To propose this level of investment in one fell swoop, it’s extraordinary,” Zaterman told BisNow. “There’s now a strong consensus that more could have and should have been done in 2008 and 2009 for reinvestment,” she added. “This $40B [proposal] does not meet the overall need, but it is extraordinary in the level that it raises the funding from our current baseline.”
Read BisNow’s article. (requires free registration for access to the article)
NPR’s Pam Fessler quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman in a story about the challenges of utilizing the $5 billion in emergency housing vouchers included in the American Rescue Plan. Zaterman told Fessler that while balancing landlord, tenant and taxpayer interests has always been hard, the situation is more dire than ever in the pandemic with millions of Americans struggling with rent. “There is a need for all of our members, a crying need, for additional vouchers that are serving a wide range of populations,” Zaterman said.
Sunia Zaterman participated in a recent story on the unique opportunities presented by the new administration to address the nation’s dire affordable housing shortage as part of Fast Company’s Home Bound, a series that examines Americans’ fraught relationship with their homes.
“Our focus now is assembling the tools to give housing authorities more ability to acquire properties and to bring to neighborhoods other types of affordable housing,” Zaterman told Fast Company of CLPHA’s goals to capitalize on this inflection point in the public and affordable housing industry. She added that while the new HUD administration’s more flexible rules help housing authorities create more affordable housing in their communities, the main need facing PHAs and affordable housing providers is more money: “You may have heard this before—money is the key obstacle.”
This morning, CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss public and affordable housing issues and President Biden's proposed American Jobs Plan.
Ms. Zaterman answered questions from host Pedro Echevarria and members of the public from around the country, explaining what public housing authorities do, who they serve, and why increasing funding for public housing, vouchers, and other HUD programs is crucial to preserving affordable housing opportunities, strengthening the social safety net, and improving the life outcomes of low income Americans. She also discussed the positive impacts of the American Jobs Plan -- CLPHA estimates that 440,000 jobs will be created and $76 billion in economic impact generated during the time when the $40 billion in funds from the Plan are spent.
On Friday, April 9 from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. ET, CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman will appear on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss President Biden's proposed American Jobs Plan, public and affordable housing, and related issues. Read Ms. Zaterman’s statement applauding President Biden’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan here.
You can watch Ms. Zaterman’s interview on the C-SPAN channel or live on C-SPAN's website and ask questions of Ms. Zaterman during the program via phone:
Outside U.S. and Text: (202) 748-8003
Republicans: (202) 748-8001
Democrats: (202) 748-8000
Independents: (202) 748-8002
Viewers can also share their thoughts and questions via email (journal@c-span.org), Twitter, Facebook and text messages (202-748-8003).
From Atlanta Housing's press release:
Atlanta Housing (AH) and its public-private partners broke ground today on Bowen Homes Phase I, a $63.6 million redevelopment project set to revitalize the historic Bowen Homes site and the Carey Park neighborhood. Leaders from Invest Atlanta, the City of Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Centene Foundation, Peach State Health Plan and development partners McCormack Baron Salazar and The Benoit Group joined in celebrating this milestone, marking the beginning of a transformative, multi-year effort. The redevelopment of Bowen Homes will create a vibrant, mixed-income community and serve as a national model for equitable, community-focused revitalization.
Located in the northwest area of Atlanta, Bowen Phase 1 will add 151 units to Atlanta’s housing inventory, with most of them reserved as affordable.
“Bowen is poised to be a national model for neighborhood transformation, an anchor for progress in Carey Park, and a testament to the power of community-focused redevelopment,” said Atlanta Housing President and CEO Terri Lee. “This project is about more than housing; it’s about empowering people, fostering economic self-sufficiency, and ensuring that families have the support they need to succeed for generations to come.”
This transformational investment is critical as development expands westward from Atlanta’s urban core. Supported in part by a $40 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant and backed by over $523 million in public and private commitments, the project is expected to catalyze broader revitalization along the Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and James Jackson Parkway corridors.
“I am super excited! The redevelopment of Bowen Homes is delivering on our promise to invest in affordable housing and bringing a vibrant neighborhood back to a community who has long-deserved quality homes, access to fresh food and quality greenspace,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “This project represents not only new homes, but the preservation of a community’s history and a commitment to its future. Thank you to all of the partners involved who share our vision for an inclusive and thriving Atlanta.”
The first phase will feature deeply affordable housing, including:
- 48 units for households earning 30% or below of the Area Median Income (AMI), defined by HUD as $32,250 annual household income for a family of four in the Atlanta metro area
- 49 units for families earning up to 60% AMI
- 10 workforce housing units for essential professionals such as teachers, nurses, and first responders
- 44 market-rate units to promote economic diversity and integration
“As a national leader in community-focused development, we are honored to help bring the vision of Bowen Homes back to life,” said Vincent R. Bennett, CEO of MBA Properties, Inc. and President, McCormack Baron Salazar. “This mixed-income, sustainable development will not only provide high-quality housing but also create a thriving, connected community that reflects the resilience and aspirations of its residents.”
“The redevelopment of Bowen Homes is a testament to what is possible when the public and private sectors work together toward a shared vision,” said Eddy Benoit Jr., CEO of The Benoit Group. “This transformation will serve as a model for how we can create equitable, sustainable neighborhoods that honor the past while embracing the future.”
From the Spokane Housing Authority's press release:
The Spokane Housing Authority (SHA), a leading organization dedicated to facilitating access to affordable housing across seven Eastern Washington counties, is pleased to announce their recent signing to purchase vacant land from Country Homes Christian Church. Located at the intersection of North Wall and Country Homes Boulevard adjacent to the church, this strategic purchase is a noteworthy step forward in addressing our region’s affordable housing needs.
The site has been named Chalice Place to reflect the prominence of the chalice in the Country Homes Christian Church’s theology. SHA plans on developing a vibrant community with about 100 units for seniors with incomes at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This initiative aligns with SHA’s mission to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing solutions for all members of our communities.
“Our partnership with Country Homes Christian Church in developing the Chalice Place site is a prime example of how faith-based organizations can play a vital role in creating affordable housing solutions while continuing to support their congregation,” said Pam Parr, Executive Director of SHA. “We at Spokane Housing are excited to continue this collaboration.”
Chalice Place will prioritize serving seniors by offering high-quality housing options tailored to their needs. Units will be income-restricted to ensure affordability, with rent prices set at levels to enable households to thrive economically. For instance, a single-person household earning
$35,100 annually would pay approximately $878 per month for a one-bedroom unit.
Construction on the project is intended to commence in fall 2026, with completion anticipated by spring 2028. The waiting list is not available at this time. SHA is dedicated to ensuring that the development process is conducted with transparency, accountability, and community input
every step of the way.
From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:
Mayor Brandon Johnson today joined Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) leadership, 43rd Ward Ald. Timothy Knudsen, Co-Developer PIRHL and the Illinois Housing Development Authority to celebrate the completion of extensive renovations at the Edith Spurlock Sampson senior apartments and the grand opening of the new Sheffield Residences. Together, Edith Spurlock Sampson and the Sheffield Residences are a mixed-income, affordable, multi-generational, transit-oriented development providing 485 apartments in the heart of Lincoln Park.
“The redevelopment of the Edith Spurlock Sampson senior apartments and the completion of the new Sheffield Residences represent a major step forward in our collective commitment to fostering multi-generational and mixed-income housing," said City of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “With this $168 million investment, we are preserving affordable housing for seniors, expanding opportunities for families and making significant steps to ensure Chicago remains a city where affordable housing broadens opportunities.”
Edith Spurlock Sampson Apartments is composed of two senior buildings that have been a vital part of the Lincoln Park community since the late 1960s. The 394 existing apartments were extensively renovated and an additional 11 new senior apartments were added on an under-utilized parking lot at the site. All apartments received new kitchens and baths, as well as new plumbing and air conditioning, elevator improvements, modern lighting and more.
The Sheffield Residences is a new six-story building featuring 80 family apartments. It is positioned parallel to the Edith Spurlock Sampson apartments with a connecting pedestrian bridge linking all three structures. In addition to the apartments, it includes a community hub with a large activity/dining room for the Golden Diner senior meal program as well as gathering areas for residents.
The entire property is a designated Transit-Oriented-Development site, offering residents convenient walkable access to medical offices, grocery stores, retail shops and parks.
"Having leadership from the City of Chicago and CHA, come together with developer partners, residents and the community to celebrate this achievement underscores the power of collaboration," said Angela Hurlock, CHA Interim CEO.
"These mixed-income, multi-generational apartments will serve as an anchor for the community, allowing seniors, families, and professionals of all kinds – all of whom are part of the fabric of our city – to find affordable homes near jobs, schools, and civic resources,” said Kristin Faust, Illinois Housing Development Authority Executive Director. “We are proud to have supported this transformative development and are committed to continuing this work in Chicago and across the entire state.”
“The development is truly unique - a first of its kind. We hope it can serve as a flagship model for senior and family housing throughout the city,” said Johana Casanova, Senior Vice President of Development, PIRHL, co-developer on the project. “With each floor completed, residents were eagerly waiting to move back into their new homes. There is genuine excitement from the residents because the space was redeveloped with their needs at the forefront.”
The opening of the Edith Spurlock Sampson/Sheffield Residences marks the final of three ribbon-cuttings for CHA housing this month, following Encuentro Square on Feb. 15 and the Canvas at Leland Plaza on Feb. 26. These events highlight the agency’s ongoing commitment to creating new housing opportunities in communities across Chicago.
Mayor and CHA Announce Key Updates on Agency Progress
During the event, Mayor Johnson, CHA Interim CEO Angela Hurlock, and CHA Interim Board Chairman Matthew Brewer also announced timely CHA-related updates. The agency is at a moment of transition and undertaking key steps to reprioritize resident and community engagement and collaboration as it renews itself for the future.
“Under my administration, the Chicago Housing Authority is beginning to address its past challenges around lack of transparency and accountability head-on. In this moment, CHA must ensure that its residents—and the entire city—have renewed confidence in the agency,” said City of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “A shift like this does not happen overnight, but I am encouraged by the spirit of collaboration and energy that are happening in this moment.”
As Chicago’s largest rental landlord and third-largest public housing authority in the U.S., CHA plays a critical role in expanding access to affordable housing. With an estimated shortage of nearly 120,000 affordable rental units in Chicago as of 2023, according to DePaul University's Institute of Housing Studies, the demand continues to grow. Amid escalating housing pressures, sweeping national political changes, post-pandemic economic shifts and a pivotal moment of organizational change, CHA faces both an urgent need and a powerful opportunity to define its future.
“We are considering 2025 to be CHA’s ‘Year of Renewal,’” said Angela Hurlock, CHA Interim CEO. “This year is all about being intentional and inclusive as we amplify key stakeholder voices and begin to rebuild trust through openness, collaboration and long-term strategic planning.”
From Affordable Housing Finance:
Officials have closed on the financing for the construction of a new $62 million apartment development and $8 million in major infrastructure work for the redevelopment of the Mary Ellen McCormack public housing complex in Boston.
Led by WinnCompanies and the Boston Housing Authority, the move kicks off the first phase of the much-anticipated 3,300-unit, large-scale mixed-income and mixed-use project.
When completed in the fall of 2026, the first 112,000-square-foot building will provide 94 modern apartments for low-income families currently living at the Mary Ellen McCormack community, offering 37 one-, 44 two-, 12 three-, and one four-bedroom units.
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“This milestone represents our unwavering commitment to the families of Mary Ellen McCormack,” BHA administrator Kenzie Bok said. “We are not only preserving deeply affordable homes but also creating a new, thriving mixed-income community to which current residents will have the right to return. With this first building, we are laying the foundation for a neighborhood that will be greener, more connected, and full of opportunity for all.”
From WHRO Public Media:
Planning has officially begun for the redevelopment of two more public housing neighborhoods near Norfolk’s downtown.
Young Terrace and Calvert Square comprise 55 acres of land next to downtown. The two neighborhoods of 1950s-era housing are currently home to more than 2,000 across 1,056 apartment units.
Redevelopment plans call for tearing down the barracks-style brick apartments over the next decade, giving way to modern mixed-income housing and commercial spaces similar to what’s happening in the former Tidewater Gardens neighborhood a block away.
Nathan Simms, the head of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, told WHRO if the plan leans into density, there could be twice as many housing units once the mixed-use redevelopment is complete.
What exactly the plan will look like has to be hashed out over the next several months, and Simms said it will be shaped by input from residents and community members.
“Folks feel like it’s time,” Simms said.