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David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
December 11, 2020 |
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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) December 11, 2020 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) called on the incoming Biden-Harris administration to address poverty, homelessness, and racial injustice by investing in public and affordable housing. These recommendations are among 52 proposals that CLPHA provided in a transition document to the incoming Biden-Harris administration.
“The Biden-Harris ticket’s decisive victory is a moral mandate to address the chronic problems of poverty, racial inequity, and housing insecurity,” said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. “CLPHA’s 52 recommendations are a roadmap to achieve these goals.”
Expanding the Housing Choice Voucher program is one of CLPHA’s top-line recommendations and a key plank in the Biden-Harris plan. Currently only one in four low-income households that are eligible receive housing assistance due to limited funding. We know that housing stability is central to economic mobility for low-income Americans, even more so during the pandemic and economic downturn.
Recapitalizing the public housing portfolio is also a top priority for CLPHA. "A capital backlog of $70 billion is putting the health and wellness of low-income seniors and children at risk," Zaterman said. “We call on the Biden administration to develop and implement a 10-year roadmap to ensure the long-term sustainability of this public asset.”
CLPHA also calls for expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and increasing operational flexibilities to better meet local housing needs. “These recommendations would result in significant investment in eradicating poverty and dismantling systemic racism,” said Zaterman.
CLPHA founded the Housing Is initiative to develop cross-sector resources of education and health five years ago. The Housing Is Initiative is calling for expanded coordination between federal agencies including the departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Housing and Urban Development, and increased funding for research and data sharing.
Over the past four years, the Trump administration has proposed or enacted egregious rules that disenfranchised marginalized people, such as immigrants and transgender Americans. CLPHA urges swift reversals of these dangerous rules.
“The Biden-Harris administration has a real opportunity to improve the lives of low-income Americans. CLPHA looks forward to working with the administration to make it happen," Zaterman concluded.
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
December 10, 2020 |
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(Washington, D.C.) December 10, 2020 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is proud to support the nomination of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to be the 17th Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department. CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement:
"Congresswoman Fudge is a longtime champion of affordable housing, urban revitalization, and infrastructure investment. She has demonstrated her leadership as a mayor, as a Member of Congress, and as the head of the Congressional Black Caucus. She understands that racial and economic inequities are deeply rooted, particularly in our housing systems, and that working across sectors is imperative. Her many years of work on economic justice issues such as food insecurity and education access can bring much-needed leadership to aligning systems and services to better meet the needs of low-income Americans. We look forward to working with Congresswoman Fudge in her role as HUD Secretary to address the growing need for COVID emergency rental assistance and safe, affordable housing."
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities |
(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
November 9, 2020 |
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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 70 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 Twitter @CLPHA and follow @housing_is for news on CLPHA’s work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
The Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Martin Luther King Branch opened this month in Columbus’s Near East Side neighborhood. The new library is a result of Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT), a partnership between Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Ohio State University, and other local stakeholders created in 2010 to transform and revitalize 800 acres of Near East Side.
The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) broke ground on Oso Apartments, a 48-unit apartment complex in Chicago’s Albany Park. Financed with help from $10 million in CHA RAD funds, 100 percent of Oso Apartments’ units will be affordable rental housing for individuals and families.
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.
The long-awaited Opportunity Atlas, published today by the Census Bureau in collaboration with researchers at Harvard and Brown, got top billing on today’s homepage of the New York Times’ data-driven digital property The Upshot. “Detailed New National Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children for Life,” includes the new interactive mapping tool, some of the project’s main findings, and examples of the mobility work that public housing authorities are currently doing, and plan to do, with the data. In addition to quoting Raj Chetty, one of the project’s researchers, authors Emily Badger and Quoctrung Bui feature quotes and examples from CLPHA members Greg Russ, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Andrew Lofton, Executive Director of the Seattle Housing Authority and Andria Lazaga also of SHA who each discussed how PHAs are using the data as part of their Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO) work.
Additional news coverage of the Opportunity Atlas includes an NPR segment during today’s Morning Edition broadcast that features interviews with Chetty and local officials in Charlotte, NC, who intend to use the data to shape future policy decisions.
Read the article and use the interactive maps on the NYT website and listen to the Morning Edition story on NPR’s site.
On August 9, HUD sent the 2017 Worst Case Housing Needs Report to Congress, providing national data and analysis of critical problems facing low-income renting families throughout the nation. The report, which is HUD's 16th in a longstanding series, chronicles an increase in severe housing problems, with the number of households considered to have worst case housing needs jumping from 7.72 million in 2013 to 8.3 million in 2015. HUD also reports that, since 2007, the U.S. has seen a 41 percent increase in severe housing problems, and a 66 percent increase since 2001. The Worst Case Housing Needs Report defines households with worst case needs as very low-income renters who do not receive government housing assistance and who paid more than one-half of their income for rent, lived in severely inadequate conditions, or both.
Using data from the 2015 American Housing Survey, HUD found that the economic benefits of an improving national economy are not reaching the lowest-income renter households and that overall severe housing problems are on the rise. The report acknowledges a large shift from homeownership to renting as playing a major role in the increase of worst case housing needs, noting that, "modest gains in household incomes were met with rising rents, shrinking the supply of affordable rental housing stock in an increasingly competitive market."
You can view the 2017 Worst Case Housing Needs Report by clicking here.
From HACLA's press release:
Last week, on Wednesday, November 15th, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) and in partnership with the Los Angeles Mayor's Office, hosted a presentation on incentives available to property owners who are willing to rent to individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. Held at HACLA’s Headquarters at 2600 Wilshire Boulevard, the event was well attended with 75 prospective property owners and guests who had an opportunity to hear about the successes of the Homeless Incentive Program (HIP). With HUD’s recent approval of higher Voucher Payment Standards (VPS), HACLA’s maximum rents have reached a historic high and at market rate, a one-bedroom voucher payment can go up to $2,400/month. Additional benefits and financial incentives to property owners who participate in the Program include holding fees, where landlords can receive up to one month's rent per vacant unit held, and based on the number of bedrooms and current Fair Market Rents (FMR), move-in assistance, and damage mitigation.
Following the presentation, a total of 18 inspections were scheduled on the spot (three of which were specifically for EHV units). HACLA also received many interest cards, where owners indicated a total of 219 available rental units ready to be listed by HACLA. The event proved to be a great success and HACLA plans to have more in the near future.
“We’re so grateful for the property owners who already participate in this program, but we know we have a way to go,” said HACLA President and CEO Doug Guthrie. “We hope that events like this will aid us in getting the word out about the program and its incentives to property owners who haven’t been aware or who have, perhaps, been a bit skeptical in the past. This is a great way for us to partner together with them and give more individuals and families a place to call home.”
"It is critical that we strengthen our partnerships to provide the necessary resources and support to house our most vulnerable populations within the County. Property owners who are willing to partner with us are key to accomplishing that goal," said LACDA Executive Director, Emilio Salas. "Programs like HIP allow the LACDA, HACLA, and property owners to work together to house our unhoused neighbors and empower our communities."
“Each of us has a role to play in confronting the homelessness and housing affordability crisis,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “I thank property owners who are already helping us provide affordable housing options and those who answered our call to provide permanent housing to Angelenos who hold housing vouchers. I encourage more property owners to join us in being part of the solution. I also applaud HACLA and LACDA for joining forces and working together to make process improvements and offering resources to increase the number of property owners offering units in the private rental market.”
From the Seattle Housing Authority's press release:
The Seattle Housing Authority has been awarded $1,075,200 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand neighborhood choices for more families with young children being served by SHA. SHA has designed a suite of services that increase the ability of these families with vouchers to rent in neighborhoods which have proven to result in improved academic achievement, health, income and other life outcomes for the children in low-income families as they grow into adults.
“Every parent knows the value of providing a safe and secure place for their child to call home. Stability at home helps promote their future success – in school and onwards,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge in making the award.
SHA Executive Director Rod Brandon says the funds will be used to expand beyond a pilot study SHA engaged in to determine the effectiveness of enhanced services on the ability of families to use their Housing Choice Voucher in a wider variety of areas throughout the city. “SHA and its partners launched the Creating Moves to Opportunity project five years ago and it has shown remarkable results in opening up neighborhood choices to families raising children,” Brandon said. “We are seeing that with the right information and support, parents are able to exercise real housing choice and make the best decisions for the success of their family. The exciting thing is that we know from prior research that results in a better chance of families ending intergenerational poverty.”
The Creating Moves to Opportunity pilot was a partnership between the Seattle Housing Authority, King County Housing Authority and a group of leading national social science researchers. The pilot demonstrated that the specific set of enhanced services, referred to as mobility-related services, are effective in removing the barriers that have prevented families with children from using their voucher to rent in neighborhoods with higher opportunity factors.
SHA is one of only seven housing authorities in the country to receive funds from HUD under this Housing Mobility-Related Services award.
“This award affirms the success of our Creating Moves to Opportunity mobility program, and we are thrilled to receive this HUD funding knowing it will enable us to make a life-changing difference for many more families working to create a bright future for their children,” said Alice Kimbowa, SHA Director of Rental Assistance Programs.
From KOCO 5 News Oklahoma City:
klahoma City addressed the affordable housing crisis with a new approach: converting a motel into supportive housing.
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority is using MAPS dollars to do it. It is the first time the city has transformed a motel space into housing for the homeless.
The city's Housing Authority said it's faster and less costly than building from the ground up.
"It’s the first one like it, so if it’s successful, it makes the next one much easier," Kassy Malone, the director of real estate and planning with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority, said.
The Motel 6 near Bricktown will convert into supportive housing, helping Oklahomans get off the street and into a warm home. It's a first-of-its-kind project for OKC.
"The property also has a large space on the eastern portion of the building that has a commercial kitchen, so we hope to create a workforce incubator in that space," Malone said.
Read KOCO 5 News' article "Oklahoma City addresses affordable housing crisis with new approach."
From the New York City Housing Authority's press release:
Today, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced the completion of more than $24.1 million in safety and security upgrades, including new CCTV cameras, layered access control installations, entrance renovations, and/or lighting improvements at 23 campuses over the past year to improve the quality of life for over 46,000 NYCHA residents.
Developments that received large-scale security improvements include Bailey Avenue-West 193rd Street, Marble Hill, Melrose, Mill Brook, Monroe, and Sedgwick in the Bronx; Farragut, Hughes, Kingsborough, and Pink in Brooklyn; Dyckman, Elliott, Fulton, Grant, King Towers, LaGuardia, LaGuardia Addition, and Rangel in Manhattan; Pomonok in Queens, and Berry in Staten Island.
Additionally, the Authority has also completed construction at three developments as part of the Entryways pilot program, which comprehensively renovates building entrances and enhances overall security.
These improvements were guided by resident involvement and completed thanks to funding from several current and former City Council members, federal, State, and City funding. Safety and security improvements made at a majority of these NYCHA developments over the last year further Mayor Eric Adams’ Blueprint for Community Safety plan by investing in the rehabilitation of safety and security systems infrastructure at developments within Gun Violence Prevention Task Force priority precincts.
“We appreciate the investment from our partners at the federal, State, and local level who contributed to improving safety and security systems across NYCHA campuses,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Feeling safe at home is core to well-being, and these improvements demonstrate this administration’s commitment to enhancing living conditions and bolstering that feeling of safety for NYCHA residents.”
“The Authority has made significant improvements to the security infrastructure of NYCHA developments,” said NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “These investments in cameras, doors, lighting, and other areas were made possible through support across all levels of government and we would like to thank the legislators and agencies who marshalled the resources needed to help keep our residents safe. We will continue to prioritize those quality-of-life upgrades that strengthen NYCHA buildings.”
From the New Haven Independent:
The city has officially purchased a Foxon Boulevard hotel for $6.9 million, and is now busy converting it into a non-congregate homeless shelter that the Elicker administration said it hopes to open before Christmas.
And the housing authority has closed on its $21 million acquisition of more than eight acres of Union Station-facing vacant land that used to house the Church Street South apartment complex, and is about to embark on a year-long planning process to determine how best to transform that empty expanse.
Those two private-to-public property deals were recently recorded on the city’s land records database, marking major milestones for two government agency initiatives to put more roofs — both temporary and long-term — over more New Haveners’ heads.
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Asked about the difference between the purchase price and tax appraisal for the ex-Church Street South site, housing authority Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton said, “In determining our price, we considered the appraisal, the location, the potential for redevelopment and the importance of the asset as a transit oriented location prime for redevelopment and adjacent to our existing parcel at Robert T. Wolfe. Additionally, we were in negotiations with Northland and competing with at least one other interested purchaser.”
Now that the housing authority has officially acquired the former Church Street South site, DuBois-Walton said that the next step is to develop a “Union Square Transformation Plan.”
That will likely be a year-long project itself, DuBois-Walton said, funded by a $500,000 federal Choice Neighborhoods planning grant the authority secured prior to closing the cash deal with Northland.
The first public meeting to inform such a plan is slated to take place on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at High School in the Community at 175 Water St.
The idea is to identify not only what kind of housing can be established on the property, but what sort of community and residential amenities — anywhere from education, workforce development, job training, healthcare services, and/or entrepreneurial support — can be bundled into a broader affordable neighborhood development that would transform eight acres into what DuBois-Walton said will ultimately be known as “Union Square.”
Creating that particular blueprint is also a prerequisite for applying for a larger Choice Neighborhood Implementation (CNI) grant, which could award anywhere from $30 to $50 million to the development, according to DuBois-Walton.
That program is an extension of the federal government’s HOPE VI funding. While the latter provides grants to help rehab distressed buildings, CNI focuses, as the name suggests, on revitalizing entire neighborhoods.
DuBois-Walton said that she’s particularly optimistic about acquiring funding for the project through CNI because of the housing authority’s previous successes securing HOPE VI grants. Both Monterey Place, the 339-unit public-housing complex in Dixwell, and Quinnipiac Terrace, the stretch of two- and three-story homes full of affordable apartments along the river, were funded by HOPE VI, DuBois-Walton recalled.
“We have experience working with these big HUD grants,” she said. “There’s no guarantee that the planning grant leads to that,” she noted, but the planning process itself should catalyze “lots of conversations with partners so that we can go after the kind of funding we need.”
Read the New Haven Independent's article "It’s Official: City Buys Ex-Hotel For $6.9M; Housing Authority Buys Ex-Church Street South For $21M," featuring Elm City Communities.