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.
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To view all of CLPHA's press statements, click here.
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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.
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.
August 10, 2020
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.
On August 1, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing, “America’s Affordable Housing Crisis: Challenges and Solutions.” The hearing focused primarily on the challenge of increasing the supply of affordable housing and strategies to address the significant housing cost burdens faced by many Americans. Senator Hatch opened the hearing, stating that the affordable housing crisis, “is a problem that should be ready for a bipartisan solution.” To view our write-up of the hearing, click here.
To help tackle the affordable housing issues discussed in the hearing, Senators Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have introduced legislation, S. 548, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act. The bill would increase Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) credit authority by 50 percent, as well as enact roughly two dozen changes to strengthen the program by streamlining program rules, improving flexibility, and enabling the program to serve a wider array of local needs.
During the hearing, Committee Members expressed their support for the Cantwell-Hatch bill and there was broad bipartisan consensus that the LIHTC program is a vital tool for increasing the production of affordable housing and providing low-income households, safe, quality, affordable homes. However, there were also concerns raised regarding oversight and compliance of the program. Daniel Garcia-Diaz, director of financial markets and community investment at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), presented testimony that IRS oversight of LIHTC is minimal and that there are no robust controls in place to ensure reasonableness of costs or compliance with program requirements. According to Mr. Garcia-Diaz, the GAO recommends that HUD, as an agency with a housing mission, play a greater role in the oversight of the program.
In our Statement for the Record, CLPHA applauded the leadership the Senate Finance Committee has shown in support of LIHTC to date and encouraged the Committee to support S. 548. The bill is especially beneficial to the public housing program, which has experienced decades of underfunding and federal disinvestment. We noted that LIHTC has proven to be an extremely important preservation tool for public housing, and PHAs have a long history of leveraging private equity through LIHTCs to fill the funding gap created by decreased federal appropriations. Without the LIHTC program, preservation of their public housing stock would not be possible.
CLPHA also acknowledged that competition for more valuable 9% LIHTCs is fierce in many states and that there have been concerns within the affordable housing community about increased demand from the public housing portfolio. Increasing the allocation authority by 50 percent would support the preservation and construction of up to 400,000 additional affordable apartments over a ten-year period, including the renovation of vital public housing units that are currently at-risk. Additionally, the legislation allows for an increased basis boost for projects serving extremely low-income households. This would be particularly beneficial to housing authorities, as 75 percent of public housing residents are extremely-low income.
CLPHA has been strongly supportive of the legislation. In addition to the Statement of Record above, CLPHA has also engaged in this work as a member of the A.C.T.I.O.N. Campaign Steering Committee (A Call to Invest in Our Neighborhoods). The A.C.T.I.O.N. Campaign has taken a lead role in promoting the expansion of LIHTC, including support of S.548. Last month the Campaign submitted a letter to Senator Hatch in response to his request for comments on tax reform, urging Congress to expand and strengthen the housing credit. Along with other Steering Committee members, CLPHA endorsed and signed the letter.
As Congress takes on tax reform in the upcoming months, we will continue to support this important legislation that would provide needed resources to public housing. CLPHA members should support the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act by contacting their senators during recess to urge them to support the bill.
Two-Generation Economic Act reflects the cross-sector collaboration that CLPHA’s Housing IsInitiative promotes.
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate, calling for the development of support programs that improve family economic security by breaking the cycle of multigenerational poverty through a comprehensive strategy that addresses the needs of parents and children. The Two-Generation Economic Act of 2017, or S. 435, seeks to align and link existing service systems and funding streams that currently support parents and children separately. Heinrich and Collins believe that aligning the support systems to help parents and children together will increase the whole family’s chances for success in life. The bill also establishes the Interagency Council on Multigenerational Poverty to provide guidance on two-generation programs; establish a system of coordination among agencies and organizations; identify best practices; and identify gaps, research needs, and program deficiencies.
The Two-Generation Economic Act of 2017 is a significant step in the fight against poverty. It would be the first piece of legislation to incorporate a two-generation approach aimed at increasing economic security, educational success, social capital, and health and well-being for parents and children together. In seeking to better align service systems and funding streams, the bill would give states, local governments, and tribes more flexibility to develop programs that meet their specific needs. The approach outlined in S. 435 would greatly improve the effectiveness of service delivery, and it highlights the same principles and goals around which CLPHA’s Housing Is initiative was founded, to better intersect housing and other sectors in order to improve life outcomes. CLPHA has long promoted two-generation initiatives as a best practice and has been a leader in fostering partnerships to encourage innovative solutions to address generational poverty.
The Interagency Council on Multigenerational Poverty will create a national focus on multigenerational poverty by facilitating coordinated efforts across multiple agencies and departments. This interagency collaboration will align and link fragmented systems and funding streams, resulting in holistic approaches that simultaneously address the needs of children and their parents or guardians.
A collaboration that has been in the works for several years, the Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act includes a balance of input and interests from local service providers, families, administrators, and other stakeholders. Heinrich and Collins hope that this innovative approach will help collectively ensure that people will have an opportunity to use already existing federal resources or attract private investment to implement the two-generation approach in their community, regardless of one’s zip code.
When Senator Collins first introduced the bill, she told the story of a five-year-old girl named Arianna who was homeless, living in a tent with her family outside of Portland, ME. A state social worker worked with the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance to provide support services to the girl and her family, who are now living in an apartment near where Arianna is attending school. This is a small-scale example of the holistic approach that Collins and Heinrich wish to achieve with their legislation.
“Just as a child’s ZIP code should not determine his or her future success, neither should bureaucratic inflexibility make it so difficult for families to get the help they need to escape intergenerational poverty,” Senator Collins said.
You can learn more about the Two-Generation Economic Act of 2017 by reading this fact sheet that explains the principles of the bill or view a copy of the bill by clicking here.
From News on 6 Oklahoma City:
Oklahoma City council members have chosen to partner with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority for the MAPS 4 project to combat homelessness.
The $10 million project would provide hundreds of new homes and repair nearly 1,500 assisted-housing units.
From LoHud.com:
A mural dedicated to singer Mary J. Blige, who grew up in Yonkers, and designed by artist Robin Alcantara, was unveiled where she lived in public housing at Palisade Towers on Schroeder Street, April 25, 2024. The Yonkers Housing Authority and Yonkers Arts unveiled the new mural titled "Together" as a tribute to the singer and songwriter. Blige, a local legend and international phenomenon was recently tapped to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
From My Edmonds News:
The Housing Authority of Snohomish County on Thursday announced that is has acquired 4.4 acres of land in Edmonds’ Five Corners neighborhood for future development of affordable housing.
The six parcels of land, called “Hadley’s Acres,” is located near the intersection of 80th Avenue West and 220th Street Southwest, south of Edmonds-Woodway High School. Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO) Communications Manager Pam Townsend confirmed that the housing authority had made an offer on the same property last year, but it was rejected.
While HASCO’s latest offer was accepted, the dollar amount was not disclosed. At the owner’s request, the transaction is not expected to close until August, a news release announcing the acquisition said.
“HASCO looks forward to working with the City of Edmonds and its citizens on bringing more affordable housing to the community,” the announcement said. “Providing affordable housing solutions for the most vulnerable in Snohomish County is our highest priority.”
Read My Edmonds News' article "Housing Authority of Snohomish County Acquires 4.4 Acres in Edmonds for Future Affordable Housing."
From KATU 2 Vancouver:
The City of Vancouver was awarded a million-dollar grant for affordable housing upgrades this week.
According to the city, the grant is from the Washington State Department of Commerce for energy efficiency upgrades in affordable housing.
The grant will be used to focus on high-efficiency appliance upgrades, siding repair, window replacement for increased insulation, air sealing and heat pump installations.
Legislators say the goal of this project is to implement energy efficiency retrofits at six affordable housing locations managed by the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA).
The City of Vancouver says the program will advance Washington's goal of reducing carbon pollution.
Read KATU Vancouver's article "Vancouver Gets Million-dollar Grant for Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Affordable Housing."
From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's press release:
Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) residents will soon be able to lay the foundation for a stronger future thanks to a new, innovative partnership with the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania (MBA) and an addition to the HACP’s resident programming set to roll into Pittsburgh in 2025 – the Workforce on Wheels CyberBus 2.0 – a mobile one-stop shop for HACP residents seeking to enter the workforce.
The partnership is aimed at bringing current workforce development opportunities among the 16 building trades unions in the Greater Pittsburgh Region, directly to HACP residents ages 18 and older and leading to well-paying union positions in trades such as plumbing, bricklaying, roofing and much more.
“At MBA we have identified workforce development as a key priority for our association. In 2023, we launched BuildWPA.org to help our members attract and retain skilled talent,” says Lance Harrell, Director of Workforce Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the Master Builders’ Association of Western PA. “Partnering with HACP on this mobile workforce development initiative dovetails perfectly with our goals to support our members, help expand the region’s economy and connect HACP residents with a great career in the trades.”
The HACP plays a vital role in providing affordable housing for low-income individuals and families in our city. With a mission rooted in the United States Housing Act of 1937, HACP manages more than 2,200 public housing units and provides oversight of additional mixed-finance units, providing housing and supportive services to more than 20,000 Pittsburghers.
“Workforce development is paramount to what we do as a Housing Authority,” says HACP Executive Direct Caster D. Binion. “We’re committed to removing any and every potential hurdle for our residents during their efforts to achieve self-sufficiency. And, as a developer and manager of affordable housing on a large scale, we are reliant upon the services provided by those in the skilled trades. Connecting our residents with these opportunities is a win-win.”
The HACP and MBA are committed to highlighting pathways to family-sustaining wages and benefits, along with life-changing careers, for residents of the City of Pittsburgh.
“Our overall goal with this partnership is to make sure we are connecting those who want the opportunity to get into a trade and complete their certification with the right program so that they have the opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency,” Lloyd C. Wilson Jr., HACP’s Resident Employment Program/Section 3 Coordinator, says. “It’s breaking ground to help them create a foundation for the future.”
Harrell agrees.
“We are giving residents access to a path that will help them earn life-sustaining wages in the construction industry and change the trajectory of their households,” Harrell adds. “This is a first-time, ground-breaking collaboration that we hope will not only help residents gain skills and employment, but maybe also inspire some to become architects, developers, or engineers.”
Wilson and Harrell feel this initiative will continue to open the door for future partnerships with area organizations and businesses that believe in the program’s mission and goals.
Rich Paganie Jr., Training Director, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, says the partnership will help the Carpenters’ Union diversify its ranks.
“It’s better when you have different people from different places working together,” he says. “I think it’s important when people are building their own neighborhoods; there’s a lot of value there. I told Lloyd and Lance I will do whatever I can do to help with the efforts.”
One outcome Wilson and Harrell hope to see from the partnership is the emergence of a large Black-owned general contractor firm in the Pittsburgh area that builds from the ground up, something similar to Waller Corporation in Washington, PA.
In conjunction with the partnership, the HACP is anxiously awaiting the addition of its Workforce on Wheels (W.O.W.) CyberBus 2.0 in mid-2025. Through this initiative, HACP’s Resident Employment Program will provide mobile support services to its 2,200 public housing units located throughout the City of Pittsburgh, offering residents access to a variety of employment-related supports.
Services will include access and assistance with job searches; resume building, interview prep, access to telehealth services, and support through the pre-employment process.
The HACP Resident Employment Program will utilize the mobile workforce development initiative as a platform to introduce residents to careers within the 16 building trades unions, offering exposure to a wide range of opportunities for professional growth and development. The mobile program will provide routine service to communities within HACP’s Low-Income Public Housing portfolio, while also making programming accessible to the roughly 5,500-plus families that utilize HACP Housing Choice Vouchers throughout the City of Pittsburgh.
Paganie adds the CyberBus 2.0 will help get the word out to people who may not know about the unions, as well as get them the necessary training needed to become certified in a trade. In the Pittsburgh region, there are about 5,000 Carpenters’ Union members in a seven-county area.
“Ultimately, the more people trained, the more people are making more money, which will contribute to the tax base. That’s a big win in creating generational wealth by flipping the dynamics of your income status. It can lift people up to have a positive, rewarding career,” he says.
“HACP has taken a great step to enhance opportunities for our city’s public housing residents seeking good-paying jobs in our trades,” adds Mayor Ed Gainey. “This new addition will provide access to residents on-site to learn skills that will positively impact both them and their families, as well as the communities they live in.”
HACP and MBA believe the partnership between the two organizations has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of Pittsburgh residents, providing access to resources, training, and opportunities for upward mobility; while simultaneously helping to bolster hiring workforce development efforts within the regional construction industry and creating new pathways to careers within the building trades unions. Together, we are committed to empowering individuals and families in Western PA to build brighter futures and stronger communities.
The 16 building trades unions include: Boilermakers Local 154; Bricklayers Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 9 PA; Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons International Association (OPCMIA) Local Union 526; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 5; International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC); International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers; Ironworkers Local Union #3; Operating Engineers Local 66; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) DC 57; Pittsburgh Plumbers Local #27; Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 354; The United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers Local #37; Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 12; Sprinkler Fitters Local 542; Steamfitters Local Union 449; and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local #432.
Master Builders’ of Western Pennsylvania, Inc., is a trade association whose membership includes more than 265 of the top general contractors, construction managers, specialty contractors, and service and supplier companies supporting our region’s commercial construction industry. Collectively, MBA membership accounts for more than 80 percent of the commercial construction in the Pittsburgh area. Since 1886, MBA has been a strong, influential, and single voice for the industry. MBA has awarded more than $800,000 in scholarship support to students interested in careers in the construction industry. MBA is affiliated with Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), representing more than 32,000 members nationwide. This affiliation affords MBA membership with an even stronger industry voice and broader access to services, resources, and activities available on a national level.