CLPHA Press Room

From WBZ News Cambridge:

The Cambridge Housing Authority has a unique program for teens in Cambridge Public Housing where they address specific educational issues.

"Being the first in their family to graduate high school, to go to college. So we started saying, 'How can we get them through high school?'" said Deputy Director of Resident Services at Cambridge Housing Authority Kambiz Maali.

They developed the Work Force High School program, where going to school becomes a job and young adults receive incentives for attending.

"That's how we've grown from a five-year program to an 11-year program, where we now start in sixth grade," Maali told WBZ-TV.

The classes are small and many of them are taught by the alums of the program.

"It would keep me accountable and learn really good skills around college enrollment and job readiness. So one of my favorite activities was, we would learn how to (tie neckties)," said Work Force Teacher-Counselor Yanley Francois.

Read WBZ News' article "Cambridge Work Force program helps high school students in public housing learn key life skills." 

From the Yonkers Times:

Yonkers Housing Authority President and CEO Wilson Kimball has been named as Executive Director of the New York State Public Housing Authority Directors Association (NYSPHADA). NYSPHADA is New York State’s leading organization in providing information to New York State Housing Authorities by providing networking opportunities through communication, training and education.

She will serve in this new role while remaining as President and CEO of the Yonkers Housing Authority (YHA), helping to bring her experience and knowledge to the rest of New York. “I look forward to continuing my work with NYSPHADA as we grow membership while providing the premiere support services to affordable housing authorities seeking grant opportunities, RAD resources and addressing climate resiliency among other issues."

Read the Yonkers Times' article.

From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:

Communities with lower income, higher rental cost burden, a higher proportion of Black and Hispanic households, more single-parent households, and higher unemployment levels are more likely to experience evictions in the City of San Diego, according to a recent San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) study of residential eviction trends from 2017 to 2022. The study, “Analysis of Residential Evictions in the City of San Diego,” was published today on SDHC’s website.

“All San Diegans need and deserve to live in secure and stable housing. This study highlights the housing challenges many residents face, particularly those from historically disenfranchised communities,” said San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “As a City, we need to do much more to guarantee everyone can have a roof over their head where they can live with dignity. Making sure our friends, family, and neighbors can afford to remain in and not be unnecessarily removed from their homes adds to the safety and stability of our neighborhoods and is an essential piece of our homeless prevention strategy. We must take active steps to prevent evictions, ensure people don’t fall into homelessness, and provide greater housing opportunities for all income levels."

SDHC initiated the study in February 2023, as households began to face potential evictions in greater numbers upon the conclusion of federal assistance and renter protections implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As rents continue to rise and vacancies remain low, individuals and families throughout the city will continue to struggle to pay rent and keep up with other living expenses at the same time. The potential for eviction is real for many households,” SDHC President & CEO Lisa Jones said. “This study analyzed data, reviewed best practices and sought input from renters themselves to provide our policy makers crucial information as they consider next steps to enhance eviction prevention."

SDHC completed the study in consultation with HR&A Advisors, a public policy firm with more than 40 years of experience in real estate and economic development.

“The goal of this report is to establish a baseline of existing conditions and trends related to residential evictions here in San Diego,” said Judith Taylor, a Partner at HR&A Advisors, Inc. “I want to thank the City of San Diego and the San Diego Housing Commission for acknowledging the importance of these issues and for conducting this study. Eviction-related challenges are not unique to San Diego, but with this analysis, community leaders here will have needed information to make informed policy decisions addressing local housing instability."

SDHC contracts with Legal Aid Society of San Diego to operate the City of San Diego Eviction Prevention Program, which launched in December 2021.

“The housing crisis in San Diego is one of the most pressing problems facing our residents today,” said Joanne Franciscus, CEO and Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD). “More than half of the cases LASSD handles are evictions and other housing-related cases. Evictions not only threaten people’s housing but their health, employment, education and financial well-being for years to come.  Effective eviction prevention requires a comprehensive, multifaceted solution that starts with lawyers enforcing people’s rights. LASSD is grateful to the City of San Diego and the San Diego Housing Commission for their forward thinking and ongoing support of the Eviction Prevention Program, through which we and our community-based partners provide legal representation, education, outreach, case management services, and emergency financial assistance that have helped thousands of San Diegans avoid eviction and homelessness to date.”

The study included analysis of Superior Court case data, Sheriff’s Department lockout data, U.S. Census Bureau data, survey responses from more than 6,000 residential renters in the City of San Diego, roundtable discussions with community-based organizations, and a review of best practices in cities nationwide.

Approximately 3,700 renter households annually in San Diego faced formal eviction proceedings before the pandemic, as measured by unlawful detainer case filings, according to SDHC’s study. However, that total does not fully capture tenants who received an eviction notice or faced informal evictions outside of the legal system. Research outside San Diego suggests that informal evictions could be twice as high as formal evictions, based on data before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Enterprise Community Partners’ 2022 report, “Home for Good: Strategies to Prevent Eviction and Promote Housing Stability."

The SDHC study also found that the geographic distribution of evictions remained consistent year over year. Central and Southeastern San Diego have historically faced the highest levels of evictions (Downtown San Diego, Southeastern San Diego, Otay Mesa, City Heights, Mission Valley and Tierrasanta). Neighborhoods with a higher share of Black and Hispanic residents, single-parent households, and residents who are unemployed were also more likely to experience higher rates of evictions (Southeastern San Diego, Barrio Logan, Encanto, Valencia Park, Lomita, Otay Mesa, and Nestor).

Key takeaways from the study also include that community-based nonprofits, cultural organizations and religious groups are essential partners in eviction prevention efforts.

Read SDHC's press release.

From the Vancouver Housing Authority:

When Roy Johnson became Vancouver Housing Authority’s leader in February of 2008, the Clark County (and national) housing landscape looked vastly different than it does today. So much has changed. So much has been built and funded and created in the last 16 years. Not to mention, housing has gotten a lot more expensive, making the agency’s work even more crucial.

Johnson learned to be a persistent advocate for building more affordable housing.

“If not for us, it might not get done so we have to do it,” he said.

What stood out to Johnson during his tenure was the first of their kind projects. Lincoln Place, which opened in 2016, marked the agency’s first housing first project, bringing much-needed supportive housing and services to those experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges. (The agency looks to build on the success of Lincoln Place and the lessons learned from this first project with Lincoln Place 2.)

Caples Terrace and Nám'u qas, built in 2019 and 2023 respectively, both serve youth aging out of foster care and homeless youth — a population the housing authority hadn’t targeted before. These communities ensure young people get on a path to independence and success.

Tenny Creek, an assisted living facility for homeless people with health issues that opened in 2022, was the first of its kind not just in Clark County but in the entire state.

In 2023, Johnson launched the Clark County Affordable Homeownership Program. He pulled together nonprofits, financial institutions and other partners in an effort to make homeownership more obtainable.

Johnson said the vast amount of collaboration in Clark County made these projects possible; it’s why the area punches above its weight when it comes to boosting affordable housing. VHA’s designation as a Moving to Work Agency was what initially drew him to work here.

“It made our programs more adaptable to the actual housing economy in Clark County,” Johnson said.

And the community’s needs have shifted toward more supportive housing. Some Clark County residents with behavioral health challenges need extra support and services to help them maintain their housing. When Johnson started in 2008, supportive housing wasn’t yet part of the conversation. Likewise, he’s expanded the services provided to tenants that help them address hurdles after they’re housed.

Andy Silver, who became CEO when Johnson retired, watched Johnson will things into existence whether it was a new building, program or funding source.

“Somehow it leads to a groundbreaking ceremony or a new service – name your project,” Silver said. The community is much better off for the work Johnson’s done, he said.

Johnson attributes his success to having a talented, supportive board and staff.

“You can do pretty remarkable things when you have the support of others and that’s been present here,” Johnson said.

Between January of 2008 and December of 2023, Roy Johnson . . .

• Completed a total of 19 different affordable housing projects (more than one per year), representing:
  • 41 buildings
  • 825,289 total square feet
  • 863 affordable housing/subsidized units
• Projects include LIHTC units; Section 8 subsidized; age 62+ housing; public housing that is now being converted to PBV and TBV housing; and the 31^st Street Tiny Homes.  Many of these projects are a mix of market rent and subsidized or LIHTC housing. 

From Atlanta Housing's press release:

The Atlanta Housing (AH) Board of Commissioners unanimously appointed Terri M. Lee as the agency's new president and CEO today, Wednesday, January 24. In this role, Lee will manage overall operations and establish strategic direction in alignment with the AH's mission to open doors to safe, quality affordable housing and create opportunities for economic mobility for Atlanta residents.  Lee will also support the acceleration of Mayor Andre Dickens' goal of building and preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing.

A nationally recognized affordable housing executive and advocate with a proven track record of more than 25 years of service, Lee previously served as chief operating officer for AH since 2020, where she oversaw a $452M budget and guided daily operations. Prior to her service with AH, she served as the City of Atlanta's first chief housing officer after serving as deputy commissioner of the Department of City Planning for ten years.

"On behalf of the AH board, we're excited to officially approve and welcome Terri Lee as our new president and CEO," said Larry Stewart, chairman of the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners.  "I've had the pleasure of working with Terri over the past eight years at the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Housing in advocating and implementing the vision of the past three mayors. I'm extremely confident in her ability to continue the momentum as we uphold the standards of excellence and innovation Atlanta Housing is known for in the housing industry and expand Mayor Dickens' commitment to housing affordability in Atlanta."

Outgoing President and CEO Eugene Jones, Jr. reaffirmed his support of Lee.  "I've made it no secret that I wanted my chief operating officer to succeed me," said Jones. "During her tenure as COO, Terri spearheaded the agency's five-year strategic plan. Her leadership and commitment to building healthy, thriving neighborhoods cements her capability to move this agency forward. Terri has been an invaluable member of Atlanta Housing's leadership team, and I am honored to support her appointment as the new president and CEO of the agency."

As Chief Housing Officer for the City of Atlanta, Lee developed the One Atlanta Housing Affordability Action Plan to mobilize $1B from private, philanthropic, and public sources to create and preserve affordable housing. She helped oversee the distribution of more than $11M in COVID-19 emergency relief aid to support approximately 2,000 residents within a span of four months. Prior to Atlanta, Lee also served in housing and development roles in the City of Jackson, Mississippi. She is a graduate of Grambling State University with a Bachelor's in Public Administration and obtained a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University. A member of several boards, Lee currently serves as an Executive Board Member and Trustee for Public Housing and Directors Association.  In addition, she serves on the board of the Urban Land Institute's Livable Communities Council and District Council, HouseATL, and the City of Atlanta Housing Commission.

"Terri Lee is an exceptional leader with a long and distinguished career in affordable housing. Her extensive knowledge of housing policy, operations, and a deep connection to residents and love for Atlanta make her the right person at the right time to lead Atlanta Housing," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. "Both I and members of my Administration look forward to working closely with her to accelerate my goal of building and preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing in eight years. Thank you to the Search Selection Committee, its Chair Duriya Farooqui, and the AH Board of Commissioners for leading a thorough and professional process. Together, with Terri, the Board of Commissioners, the incredible team at AH and my entire housing team, we will continue to move with the needed absolute urgency to build a more affordable Atlanta."

"I am honored to be entrusted with the leadership of Atlanta Housing at this pivotal time. As housing affordability continues to be a national issue, it will take innovative approaches and partnerships to make the progress Atlantans deserve," said President and CEO Terri Lee. "I look forward to working alongside our Board of Commissioners, Mayor Andre Dickens, our community partners and outstanding staff to maintain the momentum of Atlanta Housing's continued transformation."