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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.

Read more at housingis.org.

The Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY) has finished Phase I of its Schlobohm Houses renovation project. When completed, MHACY will have renovated 411 units across eight buildings at a cost of $300 million with considerable assistance from the RAD program.

The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) and Tacoma Community College (TCC) have partnered with CWD Investments to subsidize Tacoma’s former Tiki Apartments community for participants of THA and TCC’s College Housing Assistance Program. The 62-unit complex, renamed Highland Flats, will house TCC students experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

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.

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and partners cut the ribbon on The Lindley, a 200-unit high-rise in Chevy Chase, MD. The opening of The Lindley constitutes a net increase of 22 units of affordable housing in the neighborhood. You can watch a time-lapse video of The Lindley’s construction here.