Welcome to CLPHA's Press Room
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David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or [email protected].
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Community Collaborative Programs Work to Improve Health Outcomes for CLPHA Housing Authority Members in Durham, Louisville and Norfolk, among Others
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(Washington, D.C.) May 8, 2026 – Housing Is, a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging gaps among the housing, health and education sectors to improve life outcomes for low-income individuals and families, and UnitedHealthcare announced today an expansion of their national collaboration to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in public housing. The expansion includes launching three additional Community Collaborative programs at Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) member housing authorities: Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (Norfolk, VA), Durham Housing Authority (Durham, NC) and Louisville Metro Housing Authority (Louisville, KY). The new locations were announced at the 2026 Housing Is Summit, the preeminent event dedicated to collaboration among the housing, education and health sectors, in Washington, D.C. Together, the organizations support public housing authorities in establishing Community Collaborative programs at the local level while providing national infrastructure to support community and systems-level advancement. The Community Collaborative programs bring together cross-sector organizations to co-develop, evaluate and sustain interventions to address community health needs. CLPHA, which founded Housing Is and operates the organization under a management agreement, and Housing Is have worked with UnitedHealthcare to foster relationships with public housing authorities (PHAs), federally qualified health centers and community-based organizations to improve the health and well-being of PHA residents and their surrounding communities. Since the collaboration between Housing Is, CLPHA, and UnitedHealthcare was established in 2020, ten PHA members of CLPHA have participated in the program, including Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, Atlanta Housing, Housing Authority of the City of Austin, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Detroit Housing Commission, Houston Housing Authority, King County Housing Authority, Memphis Housing Authority, Housing Authority of New Orleans and Seattle Housing Authority. The Community Collaborative programs in these locations have addressed a wide range of health and social needs from chronic disease and food insecurity to mental health and digital literacy. “Helping low-income residents improve their health outcomes is central to the missions of CLPHA’s housing authority members, and the collaborative programming greatly supports our members’ efforts to address the most pressing health needs in their neighborhoods,” said La Shelle Dozier, CEO of CLPHA. “UnitedHealthcare has long been a critical partner to CLPHA and Housing Is, and the addition of three new sites in Durham, Louisville and Norfolk builds on many successful years of collaboration. We are honored to continue our groundbreaking work with UnitedHealthcare.” This work reflects UnitedHealthcare’s broader commitment to investing in communities to help the healthcare system work better for individuals nationwide. Through its Community Collaborative program, UnitedHealthcare has established more than 40 local programs across 26 states. “By working jointly with Housing Is, we’ve opened new channels for honest, meaningful dialogue to truly understand and address the unique needs of the communities we serve,” said Mike Cotton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community & State. “When UnitedHealthcare comes together with community members, government agencies, providers and nonprofits, we’re all better able to deliver the right resources and interventions to those who need them most. These types of collaborations are how we make the health system work better for everyone.” "Housing Is has long known that data and resident input are crucial to creating, sustaining and scaling successful health interventions, and our longstanding collaboration with UnitedHealthcare helps PHAs to implement health programming in their communities that is driven by this information,” said Abra Lyons-Warren, director of Housing Is. “With this collaborative expansion into Durham, Louisville and Norfolk, we will have much more data about what health interventions low-income PHA residents in these cities need. Housing Is expresses our gratitude to UnitedHealthcare for continuing and growing this collaboration that meets low-income individuals where they live with opportunities to improve their own health outcomes.” In September 2025, Housing Is and CLPHA released a request for applications for new Community Collaborative Programs for the first time to eligible PHAs in the CLPHA membership. UnitedHealthcare, Housing Is and CLPHA staff evaluated each proposal and selected:
Media Contact: (202) 550-1381
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About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with physicians, care professionals, hospitals and other care facilities. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow UnitedHealthcare on LinkedIn. For more information on how UnitedHealthcare is working to build healthier communities, visit uhccs.com.
About Housing Is Housing Is helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes. Housing stability is a critical first step to improve life outcomes for low-income children, families, and seniors; Housing Is is based on the premise that sectors can better meet needs when they work together. Housing Is establishes, broadens, and deepens efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results. Learn more at housingis.org and on LinkedIn.
About CLPHA The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 85 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org and on LinkedIn.
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Grant to Support Housing Is Will Be Used to Address Homelessness for Infants, Toddlers, Expectant Parents, and Their Families
(Washington, D.C.) November 6, 2025 – Housing Is, a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging gaps among the housing, health and education sectors to improve life outcomes for low-income individuals and families, announced today that the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI) has awarded the organization $600,000.
“Housing Is is honored to receive this grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative. The support of our operations enables us to continue our partnership with Prevent Child Abuse America, ZERO TO THREE, and SchoolHouse Connection on our shared goal of addressing homelessness for infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, president of the Housing Is board of directors. “Public housing authorities and other affordable housing providers are committed to addressing homelessness in their communities, especially for infants, children, and families, and we know the value of cross-sector partners in these efforts. We at Housing Is are thankful that PCI believes in our work and that they will continue to support us in our critical mission to build a future where all people can thrive from the start of their lives.”
Housing Is will use funds from PCI to help further its work with a network of organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse America, ZERO TO THREE, and long-time partner SchoolHouse Connection, on Thrive from the Start. Thrive from the Start is an initiative dedicated to ensuring all expectant parents, infants, toddlers, and their families have the resources and opportunities to thrive. This coordinated multi-sector effort helps national, state, and local partners and networks to build stronger systems of support for families experiencing homelessness and housing instability during pregnancy and in the first three years of life.
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.
“We deeply appreciate PCI’s deep commitment to our work,” said Abra Lyons-Warren, director of Housing Is. “For over a decade, Housing Is has been driven by the premise that systems that serve low-income individuals are stronger and more effective when they work together. We are able to extend this commitment and continued to work with a network of partners across issue areas who are aligned by our mutual devotion to ensuring that infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families have access to safe and stable housing opportunities.”
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About Housing Is
Housing Is helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes. Housing stability is a critical first step to improve life outcomes for low-income children, families, and seniors; Housing Is is based on the premise that sectors can better meet needs when they work together. Housing Is establishes, broadens, and deepens efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results. Learn more at housingis.org and on LinkedIn.
Dozier Brings More Than 30 Years of Affordable Housing Leadership to New Role
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“Replacing a leader as well-respected as Sunia was no easy task, however, we were fortunate to have found the perfect candidate in La Shelle,” said CLPHA Board President and Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority CEO Jeffery K. Patterson. “La Shelle offers an unparalleled skill set to her new role, including leading a housing and redevelopment agency, advocating for public policies at the local, state, and federal levels, and driving innovations in public housing preservation and affordable housing development. She is the right person to lead CLPHA into a future filled with opportunities to impact the greater affordable housing community.” Dozier brings more than 30 years of experience in the public and affordable housing industry. Prior to joining CLPHA, Dozier served as executive director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency for 18 years. She also served as the vice president of CLPHA’s Board of Directors and as co-chair of the 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability, a broad-based coalition of stakeholders that will be producing a rigorous capital needs estimate for recapitalizing public housing and recommending financial tools to preserve the public housing portfolio for the next generation. “It is an honor to lead the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities at this critical moment,” said Dozier. “Sunia has built one of the most significant advocacy organizations for public housing in Washington, D.C. It is my goal to build on her accomplishments to ensure that public and affordable housing remains at the center of solving the nation’s affordable housing crisis and ensuring CLPHA’s members have the resources and tools to serve our nation’s most vulnerable families.” “I couldn’t leave CLPHA in better hands than La Shelle’s,” said Zaterman. “Her experience as a senior leader in public housing combined with her wisdom and passion for advancing the mission of CLPHA’s public housing members makes her the best candidate to lead CLPHA into its next chapter.” |
(Washington, D.C.) September 26, 2025 — The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), a national non-profit that advocates for the resources and policies to preserve and improve public and affordable housing in the United States, announced today the appointment of La Shelle Dozier as Chief Executive Officer. Dozier will be succeeding Executive Director Sunia Zaterman, who is stepping down after more than 30 years of service to CLPHA and the public housing industry. Dozier will be joining the CLPHA team on November 3, 2025, and will begin the transition process throughout the remainder of 2025. This selection was made after a nationwide search led by Sally M. Sterling Executive Search. |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
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Applauds Removal of Burdensome MTW Provisions
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Washington, D.C., May 18, 2026 — La Shelle Dozier, CEO of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), released the following statement in support of the revised bipartisan House housing package, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: "CLPHA supports passage of the revised 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and commends Chair French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters for their bipartisan work to advance meaningful housing legislation. We encourage House leadership to bring the bill to the floor promptly and urge the Senate to act swiftly to send a final package to the President. The amended House bill reflects important improvements that directly benefit the public housing authorities (PHAs) and the low-income families our members serve. Most notably, the removal of the Senate's problematic Moving to Work provisions is a significant win. Those provisions would have imposed burdensome and infeasible reporting requirements on existing MTW agencies and proposed an expansion cohort with limited flexibilities that would have undermined agencies' abilities to respond to local housing needs. Their removal reflects the legitimate concerns CLPHA and our members raised throughout this process. We are also encouraged by the inclusion of meaningful National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) streamlining reforms, which will reduce regulatory barriers to housing development and preservation, which is a priority for large PHAs working to expand and modernize their housing stock. The urgency of this legislation cannot be overstated. The 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability recently estimated that the baseline cost to preserve the nation's public housing portfolio stands at $169.1 billion, which reflects decades of chronic federal disinvestment and an aging public housing stock that continues to deteriorate. The NEPA reforms and other provisions in this bill that reduce barriers to development and preservation are exactly the kind of solutions our members need to begin making meaningful progress against this crisis. This bill is an important step in the right direction. We recognize that no piece of legislation is perfect. The removal of the provision to eliminate the RAD program cap is a setback, and we hope a conference process will create an opportunity to restore this important provision. We will also continue to closely monitor remaining provisions, including the HUD study on work requirements under Section 803. Even so, this bill represents meaningful bipartisan progress toward addressing the nation's housing affordability and supply crisis. Congress should move quickly to pass this legislation and build on the momentum it creates for the communities and families that need it most." |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
Media Contact: Kirsten Greenwell, CLPHA (202) 638-1300 |
(Washington, D.C.) January 29, 2026 – Abra Lyons-Warren, director of Housing Is, released the following statement celebrating today’s new research findings from Opportunity Insights which demonstrate that children who grew up from birth in revitalized public housing units earn about 50% more as adults:
“Housing Is applauds Opportunity Insights for contributing this research that will guide and inform the many sectors that serve low-income individuals, from housing to healthcare, education, and beyond.
“Housing stability is critical for babies and children to get the best start in life, and this groundbreaking research that children who grew up from birth in revitalized public housing units earn about 50% more as adults shows that investing in place-based solutions improves not only their development, but also their life outcomes. When we invest in housing, we invest in people, and that investment pays huge dividends in the adult lives of babies and children from low-income families through increased financial security and economic mobility.
“This research supports what public housing authorities and their partners have long known: that housing stability improves the life outcomes of their youngest and most vulnerable residents. Lawmakers must utilize these learnings to support more cross-sector and place-based solutions, including investments in public housing revitalization, that ensure individuals avoid homelessness in their infancy and childhood and access greater economic opportunities.”
Media Contact:
David Greer, CLPHA
[email protected], (202) 550-1381
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 85 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org.
(Washington, D.C.) January 29, 2026 – La Shelle Dozier, CEO of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA),released the following statement praising today’s new research findings from Opportunity Insights which demonstrate that children who grew up from birth in revitalized public housing units earn about 50% more as adults:
"The research released today by Raj Chetty and his team at Opportunity Insights provides irrefutable evidence that revitalized public housing is a powerful engine for economic mobility. By demonstrating that children raised in HOPE VI properties see significantly increased adult salaries, this study proves that smart, place-based housing policy is one of the most effective fiscal tools we have for breaking the cycle of poverty.
"These findings come at a critical moment. As Congress deliberates on the 2026 federal government funding bill, we are confronted with the reality that current funding levels do not meet the needs of the millions of families who qualify for assistance but remain on years-long waiting lists. Unfortunately, programs like the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative—the successor to HOPE VI—have faced recent budget pressures despite their proven track record of transforming high-poverty areas into vibrant, mixed-income communities.
"Investing in public housing brings untold dividends. It creates stronger neighborhoods, lessens the strain on the social safety net, and prepares the next generation to be productive contributors to our nation. We urge our Congress to consider these findings as a call for bold reinvestment and preservation of public housing. Ensuring every child has access to a stable, high-opportunity home is not only a moral decision, but also the smartest, most cost-effective investment we can make in our nation's future."
Media Contact:
David Greer, CLPHA
[email protected], (202) 550-1381
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 85 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org.
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 (j[email protected]), Twitter, Facebook and text messages (202-748-8003).
From WSOC-TV Charlotte:
Atrium Health has finalized a major land contribution that will help expand affordable housing in Charlotte.
The health system has transferred 14 acres off North Tryon Street to INLIVIAN, the city’s public housing authority, paving the way for new mixed‑income residential development.
The move comes after Atrium Health and INLIVIAN executed a land‑swap agreement this week. Under the deal, Atrium Health exchanged its 3‑acre property at 720 E. Morehead Street in Dilworth — which will also be developed for affordable housing — for a similarly valued 3‑acre parcel at Baxter Street Park in Midtown.
The Midtown property supports future expansion at The Pearl, Charlotte’s first innovation district.
With this agreement, Atrium Health has now contributed more than $51 million toward affordable housing and homelessness solutions in the Charlotte region over the past five years — one of the largest commitments made by any locally based organization.
“When families have a safe place to call home, we see it in their health and well‑being,” said Steve Smoot, EVP and president of the North Carolina and Georgia division at Advocate Health. “By partnering with INLIVIAN, we are helping create meaningful opportunities for families across Charlotte, while also supporting the continued growth of The Pearl.”
Wexford Science & Technology, a development partner at The Pearl, is also building a residential tower on about one acre of land, with 5% of units deed‑restricted for affordable housing.
The 14‑acre North Tryon property was deed‑restricted by Atrium Health in June 2024 to ensure it would be used for affordable housing. It sits between North Tryon and North Poplar streets and borders a 16‑acre INLIVIAN development already underway.
At least 25% of the units built on the site must be reserved for affordable housing, and half of those must be available to households earning 50% or less of the area median income.
From the New York City Housing Authority:
On March 26, a proud and grateful gathering of NYCHA staff came together to celebrate the graduation of CMLA Cohort 3: the newest graduating class of the Authority’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA) .
“This isn’t just a graduation,” said Yvette Andino, Vice President of Employee Engagement and founder of the CMLA program. “It’s a visible shift in the culture of our organization.”
Over the course of the 16-week program, mentees are paired with mentors who share not only practical expertise but also the perspective and working wisdom that come from years of experience: successes, mistakes, lessons learned, and the realities of leadership inside a large and complex organization.
But the CMLA’s emphasis extends beyond technical skills alone. The program encourages participants to reflect more deeply on how they lead, communicate, collaborate, and support one another.
“These mentees balanced their everyday responsibilities with something much deeper,” Ms. Andino said. “They found the time not just to manage their jobs and responsibilities — but to reflect deeply on how they do that important work.”
That spirit of mutual investment and support was echoed throughout the ceremony.
“To all of you mentees — thank you for being part of this program, because being part of this program means you are taking an active part in creating a better NYCHA,” said NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “To all of you mentors — despite all the challenges you handle every day, you chose to give your precious time to help other people learn and grow and thrive.”
“When you have somebody who makes you feel supported and heard and understood, it just makes such a difference,” Ms. Bova-Hiatt added. “And the more we pay it forward, the more we create an incredible NYCHA.”
NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble reflected on the important role mentorship has played in her own life and career.
“I would not be here today without my mentors,” Ms. Trimble told participants. “They absolutely shaped my life and my career.”
Participants were also encouraged to continue building connections across departments and to carry the program’s lessons into their everyday work.
“Leadership is about service,” said NYCHA Chief Administrative Officer Erin Villari. “And a key ingredient of real leadership is humility.”
“The supportive, coaching aspect of leadership should be at the forefront of everything,” Ms. Villari added. “Service in leadership; humility in leadership; humanity in leadership — what a great program!”
Dr. Tischelle George of NYCHA’s Learning & Development team praised the program’s broader impact on both mentors and mentees alike.
“The CMLA program really opens your eyes,” Dr. George said. “We serve an organization that cares about all of us, about our growth and development as professionals.”
As mentors and mentees were recognized, the sense of a growing leadership community was unmistakable. Participants reflected on increased confidence, stronger relationships, and a deeper sense of purpose in their work.
That momentum is already continuing beyond graduation. Several participants now plan to join Learning & Development’s “Learning Leaders” initiative, extending learning opportunities throughout the Authority, while new graduates were encouraged to return to the program as mentors themselves.
As certificates were presented and the ceremony drew to a close, one message emerged clearly: leadership is not a static title, but an ongoing practice grounded in reflection, connection, humility, and service.
For NYCHA’s newest CMLA graduates, that practice is already well underway.
From the DC Housing Authority's press release:
Today, the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), nonprofit developer Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Barry Farm community members celebrated the groundbreaking of the 90-unit, fully affordable Hillsdale Flats Phase I, the third new construction property in the multi-phase redevelopment of the Barry Farm-Hillsdale community in DC’s historic Anacostia neighborhood.
“This first phase of Hillsdale Flats marks a powerful step forward in one of the District’s most transformative redevelopment efforts,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert. “These 90 affordable homes build on more than $1 billion invested in Ward 8 under the Bowser Administration and reflect our commitment to creating opportunity, strengthening neighborhoods, and honoring this community’s legacy.”
Part of the New Communities Initiative (NCI) at Barry Farm, Hillsdale Flats Phase I will consist of 9 three-story, stacked-flat buildings constructed in a nearly 1.35 acre parcel between Sumner Road SE, Wade Road SE, Eaton Road SE and Firth Sterling Ave SE. It will offer 7 one-bedroom, 31 two-bedroom, 33 three-bedroom, 15 four-bedroom and 4 five-bedroom units.
Five of the 90 units are accessible for families with mobility impairments while two others are accessible for families with sensory impairments. Of the 31 two-bedroom apartments, nine will be live-work units where artists and entrepreneurs can take advantage of a hybrid studio space within the home. The apartment community’s 90 units are dedicated to residents earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 42 designated for former Barry Farm Dwellings residents.
“With this groundbreaking, we are fulfilling our promise to deliver safe and quality affordable housing that our Barry Farm families asked for and deserve,” said DCHA Interim Executive Director Nicole Wickliffe. “Hillsdale Flats Phase I was designed with the intention of supporting parents and children as they grow and thrive. These family-sized units will turn this idea into reality. Thank you to Mayor Bowser, DMPED, the DC Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and POAH for your dedication to our shared vision of community-centered neighborhoods with high-quality, affordable housing for all residents. Most importantly, thank you to our DCHA families for your partnership as we create quality affordable housing while honoring Barry Farm’s rich history.”
“POAH is excited to collaborate with so many committed partners to construct the third new property and continue our work to create a vibrant, mixed-income community at Barry Farm, as well as provide greater economic opportunities for neighborhood residents,” said Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO of POAH. “We are grateful to the former Barry Farm residents, Mayor Bowser, the District of Columbia Housing Authority, DMPED, DC Housing Finance Agency, and all our financial partners for their unwavering support and patience.”
The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) underwrote short and long-term tax-exempt bonds and federal and DC Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity to fund construction of Hillsdale Flats Phase I. The project is also supported by DMPED, which provided NCI loans for predevelopment, infrastructure loans and construction gap financing. Other construction financing partners include JPMorgan Chase and Fannie Mae, National Equity Fund Inc. as the equity investor, and the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
“DCHFA is proud to support the continued transformation of Barry Farm through developments like Hillsdale Flats Phase I, which expand access to beautiful, healthy and high-quality affordable housing for District residents. This project reflects our commitment to preserving affordability while creating opportunities for families to thrive in vibrant, well-resourced communities. We are especially encouraged by the focus on inclusive design, multigenerational living, and pathways for returning residents, all of which honor the history of Barry Farm while preparing it for a strong and sustainable future,” said Christopher E. Donald, Executive Director/CEO, DCHFA.
DCHA and POAH serve as co-developers for the Barry Farm site, where the multi-phase redevelopment has already delivered The Asberry, a 108-unit, fully affordable, mixed-use property with a preference for elderly families. The first new construction project on the site, The Asberry opened in November 2024 and is fully leased. Construction began in 2024 on the 139-unit, fully affordable Edmonson, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Since commencing the Barry Farm redevelopment project, a total of 2,068 construction jobs were created and more than five dozen certified business enterprises (CBEs) delivered design, construction and other services.
Once complete, the project will create a vibrant, mixed-income community of at least 900 residential units, including at least 380 on-site replacement units for former Barry Farm residents; community-serving retail spaces; and central greenspace with community facilities for on-site services and programs. It will also feature five residential buildings designated as a historic landmark in honor of the community’s rich heritage.
Barry Farm-Hillsdale was established in 1867 as the first homeownership community in Washington, D.C. with land designated for newly freed enslaved African Americans. The community thrived and established a firm foundation of community organizations and leaders. This legacy continued through the Barry Farm Dwellings, a public housing community constructed in the 1940s whose residents continued to be trailblazers and advocates for racial and economic justice nationally, in D.C. and in their own community.
The multi-phase redevelopment of Barry Farm is one of four former public housing communities being revitalized through the New Communities Initiative (NCI), a District government program that creates vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods through a partnership between DMPED and DCHA.
Other NCI projects include the Rise at Temple Courts at Northwest One, which officially opened in Ward 6 in late 2022; Lincoln Heights – Richardson Dwellings in Ward 7, where hundreds of replacement units have been delivered; and Park Morton, where the first phase, the 142-unit Park Morton Apartments, opened in 2025.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:
From the Housing Authority of Snohomish County's press release:
On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO) held a groundbreaking ceremony for Leonard Crossing Apartments, a new 124-unit development in Marysville. The project aims to address the growing demand for affordable housing and will feature a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units designed to accommodate a variety of household sizes and needs.
The development will sit on a 4-acre parcel of land close to downtown, grocery stores, and medical services located across the street from Marysville Cedar and Grove Park & Ride. In addition to its convenient location and quick access to I-5, the property will have onsite management, a clubhouse with lounge space and kitchen, an exercise room, game room, & bike storage.
HASCO’s CEO, Laurie Olson, extends her gratitude to the City of Marysville, Snohomish County Treasurer, the Community Foundation of Snohomish County, Washington State Housing Finance Commission and Washington State Department of Commerce, “We are thrilled to celebrate our 55th anniversary by adding new homes to the Marysville community and are thankful to each of our partners that helped make this happen.”
Initially established in 1971 to address the housing needs of senior citizens, HASCO celebrates 55 years of business this year with a portfolio of over 2,600 units of housing and 4,300 housing choice vouchers.
Snohomish County Treasurer, Brian Sullivan, is excited to achieve a first-of-its-kind accomplishment for Snohomish County, “It has always been my goal to create affordable housing programs. The Snohomish County Treasury is the first in the State of Washington to bring taxpayer dollars for affordable housing supporting Leonard Crossing. I look forward to future projects using the Treasurer's Community Investment Program.”
The City of Marysville is anticipated to outpace Snohomish County in growth. Over the next two decades, the population of Marysville is projected to rise by approximately 27,500 residents, bringing the total to nearly 100,000—a growth rate of 41%.
“We’re excited to continue the partnership with HASCO to bring much-needed affordable housing to Marysville in the most efficient and timely manner possible.” says Keith James, a representative from the Inland Group.
The Inland Group is set to begin construction on the property this year, with leases starting by 2028.