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.
For media inquiries, please contact:
David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
*Please let us know if you are working on deadline.
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Thanks again for your interest in CLPHA!
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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Policies Would Bring Housing Stability to Nearly 1 Million Low-Income Americans |
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(Washington, D.C.) March 7, 2024 — The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) applauds President Joe Biden for his call to expand the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Low-income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs. As part of the proposed HCV program expansion, the President is calling for a voucher guarantee for low-income veterans and youth aging out of foster care. Notably, President Biden is the first U.S. President to call for a portion of federally assisted housing to be classified as a guarantee. “President Biden’s call for voucher and LIHTC expansion would immediately bring housing stability to nearly one million low-income Americans who are one lost paycheck or unforeseen health event away from homelessness,” said Sunia Zaterman, CLPHA executive director. “Moreover, the President’s extraordinary call to guarantee vouchers for low-income veterans and youth aging out of foster care is a transformative measure that would bring much-needed certainty to a portion of federal housing funding. This demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding housing stability for our nation's most vulnerable populations.” This year’s State of the Union address is considered by many to be the kickoff of President Biden’s 2024 election campaign. “It is clear after tonight that President Biden intends to make housing a top election priority,” said Zaterman. “We encourage President Biden to become the housing president by creating a comprehensive long-term plan for a sustainable future for public housing that would include the recapitalization of the public housing portfolio, permanent expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program, and a cross-sector approach that includes housing, health, and education. We look forward to working with the President on such a plan.” |
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### Media Contact: David Greer, CLPHA
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
 (Washington, D.C.) January 11, 2022 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to announce that Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) CEO Jeffery K. Patterson has been named president of CLPHA’s board of directors.
Mr. Patterson was elected at CLPHA’s December 2021 board meeting, and previously served as the board’s vice president. He follows CLPHA’s previous board president, King County Housing Authority (KCHA) Executive Director Stephen Norman, who retired on December 31, 2021. CLPHA is also pleased to announce that La Shelle Dozier, executive director of the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency, was elected CLPHA vice president and Maria Razo, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, was elected CLPHA secretary at the board’s December 2021 meeting. Ed Lowndes, executive director of the Housing Authority of Kansas City, MO, was re-elected board treasurer.
"I am honored to be elected president of CLPHA’s board and would like to thank Stephen Norman for his service and leadership upon his well-deserved retirement,” said Patterson. “Decades of chronic disinvestment, an aging housing portfolio and racial inequities have long predated the pandemic. Entering the third year of pandemic, these issues have only been magnified.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Patterson added. “Historic housing investments proposed by the White House and passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the Build Back Better Act have stalled in the Senate. CLPHA will continue robust advocacy to ensure these significant housing investments are available to housing authorities across the country who are serving low-income families every day in their local communities.”
“Congratulations to CMHA CEO Jeffery Patterson on being named president of the Board of Directors of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. I was pleased to join him, residents, and city leaders at the recent groundbreaking of the Buckeye-Woodhill Choice Neighborhoods transformation plan, which will provide high quality affordable housing that is connected to economic, educational, and health opportunities in a vibrant neighborhood. I look forward to continuing to work with CEO Patterson in his new role to bring greater affordable housing opportunities to more people and communities in Ohio and across the country,” said Senator Sherrod Brown, Chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
“Jeffery has been an invaluable asset to CLPHA in his seven years on the board,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “He leads in many ways -- as board vice president and chair of the Racial Equity and Inclusion Committee and Communications Committee, but also more locally through the many boards he serves on in the greater Cleveland area. Jeffery has a deep understanding of national housing issues as well as local challenges and solutions, and his commitment to CLPHA will ensure continuity through this leadership transition. I look forward to working with CLPHA’s new board leadership to advance our goals and policy priorities in these unprecedented times.”
Mr. Patterson has served as CMHA’s CEO for ten years and has over thirty years of dedicated service to the residents of Cuyahoga County. As CEO of one of the largest housing authorities in the country, he is responsible for a $230 million dollar budget, approximately 750 employees, 10,500 units of housing, 15,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, and nearly 55,000 residents and participants of CMHA's low-income Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs. He also serves on the board of directors for the Housing Authority Insurance Group, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (Chairman), Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (Vice-Chairman), St. Luke’s Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Foodbank, Unify Labs Inc., University Circle Inc., the Cleveland Public Library Foundation, and the National Kidney Foundation.
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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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 |
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(Washington, D.C.) November 17, 2023 — Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement yesterday of the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health and the CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework:: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the Biden-Harris administration’s publication of the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health and the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health-Related Social Needs Framework. President Biden and HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge have led the nation in raising awareness of the foundational role that housing plays in improving life outcomes for low-income Americans throughout the President’s term. “CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative has driven the conversation for a decade on how best to bridge the housing and health sectors to improve the life outcomes of residents living in federally assisted housing. CLPHA has long supported public policies cited in the Framework such as evidence-based interventions to support housing and nutrition needs for certain Medicaid enrollees. CLPHA has also advocated for innovative solutions like waivers for Medicaid through its 1115 demonstration that allow for housing-related assistance. “With current programs proving beneficial and innovative programs being developed we know we have the answers. Yet, for these programs to be successful they must be funded at a level that meets the need. Unfortunately, they are not funded at those levels currently. While announcements like these are important in raising the awareness of the foundational role of housing in improving health outcomes, we must continue to advocate for increased resources, including incentivizing PHA/Medicaid partnerships, so they can deliver the benefits they are designed to achieve.” |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
(Washington, DC) November 30, 2022 -- Statement from Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, on the importance of finalizing the FY23 appropriations legislation:
“For the millions of families served by public housing authorities, it is critical for Congress to complete the FY23 appropriations legislation before the start of the 118th Congress in January. The leading public housing advocacy organizations, in one voice, call on Congress to get this legislation passed so that our most vulnerable families are not put at risk.
“The consequences of a government shutdown or a series of continuing resolutions, which lock the previous year’s funding levels in place, create uncertainty for PHAs by not accounting for inflation or current shortfalls that could be severe and would amount to a budget cut. It will tie the hands of housing authorities and impact their abilities to provide their residents with safe, secure, and affordable housing.
“These consequences are preventable if Congress passes the FY23 appropriations legislation at the funding levels requested by the public housing organizations in the letter sent to Congress. We look forward to working with Congress as they finalize the legislation.”
Media Contact:
David Greer, CLPHA
(202) 550-1381
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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 week, CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman was quoted in The Washington Post's article "In George Floyd’s old neighborhood, Biden’s war on poverty faces a crucial test." The article examines the potential impacts of President Biden's American Rescue Plan on families in poverty through a focus on Houston's Cuney Homes public housing community, where George Floyd lived much of his life before his killing in police custody.
“If we don’t make a difference in individual lives, then we really haven’t done the job yet,” Zaterman said of the Biden plan's antipoverty efforts. “The folks in the community that George Floyd grew up in — that is our test of whether our models, our resources, our impact has hit our target.”
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).
Today, HUD awarded $6.5 million in Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants to 13 communities in 11 states. Each selected project will receive a $500,000 grant to create a comprehensive neighborhood transformation plan. Summaries of each community's grant project are available here.
Four CLPHA members received planning grants:
- Housing Authority of the Birmingham District for the Kingston/Woodlawn neighborhood
- Miami-Dade County Public Housing & Community Development for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Station
- Detroit Housing Commission for the Greater Forest Park/Eastern Market neighborhood
- Houston Housing Authority for the Near Northside neighborhood
CLPHA congratulates our members on these grant awards and wishes them the best of luck in the planning process.
From Fort Worth Housing Solutions' press release:
The Stop Six community, Fort Worth city and civic leaders, developers and supporters joined Fort Worth Housing Solutions to celebrate the groundbreaking of Babers Manor on Aug. 28 at the Eastside Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County.
Also in attendance were family members of Clarence Donald Babers, the namesake of the planned 80-unit community who was instrumental in bringing HUD funding to Stop Six.
“In the years I go to know Mr. Babers working alongside our Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens, I was struck by his tenacity for change, the recognition that public housing would be different and that you could completely transform communities with the right level of public-private partnership,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said. “And that’s what this groundbreaking really represents.”
Babers Manor, which will include townhome and garden apartments on Ramey Avenue between S. Hughes Ave and S. Edgewood Terrace, joins current Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative developments Cowan Place Senior Living and Hughes House, which is under construction.
Bivens, who grew up in Stop Six and whose district includes Stop Six, has represented the area on the Fort Worth City Council since 2013 and has long advocated for investment in the area. She worked closely with Mr. Babers for years.
“When you visit people who get lucky enough to move to Babers Manor, I want them to know who my friend was because it his knowledge, his connections and overall his passion for his community is why we have Cowan Place … (and) Hughes House,” Bivens said.
Babers Manor is part of the landmark Stop Six Choice Neighborhood effort that launched in 2020 when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded FWHS and the City of Fort Worth a $35 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. Former Cavile Place residents who relocated as part of the redevelopment process have the right to return to the community as new Stop Six CNI properties come online.
“I want to emphasize what brought about the funding here,” said Candace Valenzuela, HUD Regional Administrator for the Southwest. “Because of the incredible partners, because of the members of the community, we have this Choice Neighborhood Grant.”
The HUD grant will be spread across six phases of development and is expected to leverage $345 million in investment for the neighborhood. In all, FWHS and partners will develop approximately 925 new units across the community. The City of Fort Worth plans additional infrastructure improvements, including a new community hub and aquatics center.
“The Choice Neighborhood process is all about getting to a yes,” said Mary-Margaret Lemons, President, Fort Worth Housing Solutions. “In 2019 this community stood up and said it’s time.”
The groundbreaking also included numerous partners, including Hunt Capital Partners; Aetna; CVS Health; the City of Fort Worth; Urban Strategies, Inc.; McCormack Baron Salazar Development, Inc.; GMA Construction; RPGA Design Group, Inc. and Mason Joseph Company.
As part of the celebration, donations were made to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County and the C. Donald Babers Memorial Scholarship.
From the Durham Housing Authority's press release:
Tomorrow the public-private partnership of Laurel Street and the Durham Housing Authority (DHA) along with its tax credit equity partners, CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) and Red Stone Equity Partners, will join other community partners at a groundbreaking ceremony for Commerce Street Apartments, a mixed-income housing community located in downtown Durham.
Commerce Street Apartments is the second housing phase of a four-phase redevelopment initiative in downtown Durham known as Durham Choice. Durham Choice is a partnership between the DHA and the City of Durham created under the umbrella of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Program. Durham Choice will advance the vision outlined in the DHA Downtown & Neighborhood Plan and has three core goals:
- Redevelop two aging public housing developments in downtown Durham, 519 E. Main, and Liberty Street Apartments, into vibrant mixed-income communities in partnership with Laurel Street.
- Provide DHA residents with comprehensive health services, as well as educational and employment training opportunities, to assist them in pursuing their personal goals.
- Invest in the surrounding neighborhood, with a focus on the historic African American community of Hayti, by supporting community institutions, building connections among residents, and supporting small and minority-owned businesses.
Commerce Street Apartments will offer 172 mixed-income apartment homes in two four-story buildings. 88 of the units will be reserved for older adults (62+), while 84 will be available to individuals and families of all ages. 71 of the apartments will be public housing replacement units, while another 58 will serve households with incomes below 60% of Area Median Income. Additionally, nine units will be designated for persons with disabilities or experiencing homelessness and ten units will be reserved for those with mobility impairments.
CVS Health's support of Commerce Street Apartments includes a more than $17 million equity investment towards the construction of the property through Red Stone Equity Partners. The investment is a local demonstration of CVS Health's commitment to improving the health of individuals across the country, which includes creating and preserving access to quality, safe, affordable housing, especially in historically underserved communities. To date, CVS Health's investments have led to the creation or preservation and renovation of over 2,500 affordable and supportive housing units across the State of North Carolina.
"The first step to improving an individual's health and wellbeing is addressing housing insecurities," said Keli Savage, Head of Impact Investment Strategy, CVS Health. "Made possible through community programs like Durham Choice and impactful collaboration, the construction of Commerce Street Apartments will provide Durham residents with a new safe, beautiful, and affordable place that they can proudly call home."
DHA will provide on-site services free of charge to all Commerce Street Apartments residents with the aim of holistically improving the social and environmental determinants that help lead to economic stability, educational success, and improved quality of life. Services provided will include workforce development, education (early learning and school-aged children), and health services. The Durham Children's Initiative and other local partners will provide additional programs and services.
"Commerce Street Apartments further advances the mission to provide more affordable housing options for our residents in various economic levels," said DHA CEO, Anthony Scott. "We are so proud of this development and it being the first phase of our $40 Million Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant awarded in 2022. This is a continuation of many exciting new communities, and we're thrilled to see this progression and celebrating the milestones with our partners and community."
The complex will be located about one half mile southeast of downtown Durham within walking distance from a senior center, Edgemont public park, a police station, convenience store, and an elementary school. Within just about a mile radius of the properties are restaurants, banks, Family Dollar, grocery stores, and Lincoln Community Health Center. Property amenities will include community rooms, on-site management, computer centers, playgrounds and "tot lots", central laundry, storage, and secured access.
"Commerce Street embodies our commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive communities that cater to the needs of residents of all ages and incomes," said Dionne Nelson, President and CEO of Laurel Street. "We are proud to continue our efforts to increase the vitality of the east side of Downtown Durham through Commerce Street and our other new developments on East Main Street."
Representing its significance to the community, Commerce Street Apartments has also received significant local support totaling $21.7 million, including soft funding from a $9.4 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation ("CNI") grant loan, an $8.2 million HOME loan from the City of Durham, and a $4.1 million land acquisition loan from DHA. The total development costs for the property are $58.3 million.
From NBC Connecticut:
The New Haven Housing Authority has plans to begin a new affordable housing project as part of the West Rock neighborhood redevelopment.
The abandoned healthcare facility at 34 Level St. will be transformed into 50 affordable housing units for seniors.
Shenae Draughn, the executive vice president for Elm City Communities said they were able to obtain the property on Level Street and others in the city, through a partnership with the City of New Haven.
“We look to the city to have a PILOT agreement (which is a "payment in lieu of taxes"), that will help offset the expenses of providing affordable housing in the city of New Haven,” Draughn said.
Read NBC Connecticut's article "New Haven's tax break program paves way for senior affordable housing redevelopment."
From Public News Service:
A coalition effort led by Energy Outreach Colorado has completed a first-of-its-kind multi-family electrification project, replacing gas-powered furnaces and water heaters with new climate-friendly technologies.
Denver is experiencing its second hottest summer on record, and Luke Ilderton - executive director of Energy Outreach Colorado - said many income-qualified residents were living in their basements to escape the heat.
"This housing community didn't have any central cooling," said Ilderton. "We were able to really solve that problem by bringing in this highly efficient all-electric heat pump that is now providing cooling to the residents."
Electrifying the 17 Denver Housing Authority units on the city's west side is expected to improve indoor air quality and lower the health risks associated with living in extreme cold or heat.
It can also reduce methane pollution associated with natural gas, which is at least 80 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2.
Ilderton said the challenges and lessons learned during the project could help retrofit thousands of affordable housing buildings across Colorado with the latest technology, including some 350 buildings similar to the pilot site in Denver.
Read Public News Service's "Colorado's first multifamily housing units upgraded to all-electric."