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
During the COVID-19 quarantine, David can be reached at (202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
*Please let us know if you are working on deadline.
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To view all of CLPHA's press statements, click here.
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July 30, 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.
July 29, 2020
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(Washington, D.C.) July 29, 2020 -- CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement on the Republican plan for the next coronavirus relief package, the Heath, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools Act (“HEALS Act”): "The recently announced Senate Republican version of the latest coronavirus stimulus proposal is noteworthy because public housing and Housing Choice Voucher funding are included. While the amount is not equal to the funding in the HEROES Act, the fact that emergency rental assistance is included in the Republican version indicates a rare bipartisan acknowledgement that public housing and vouchers offer critical, immediate relief to those facing housing instability as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the coronavirus showing no signs of abating soon, the need for rental relief will continue to grow. CLPHA urges Republicans and Democrats to continue to prioritize the urgent needs of renters as the stimulus moves through the Congressional process."
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities |
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
July 23, 2020 |
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(Washington, D.C.) July 23, 2020 -- CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement on why the Senate must include emergency rental assistance in its next COVID-19 stimulus package:
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 the District of Columbia Housing Authority's press release:
The District of Columbia Housing Authority, local and federal officials, and the Kenilworth Courts community broke ground today on Kenilworth 166. The $83 million project is the first phase of the Kenilworth Courts redevelopment, which kicked off with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CHOICE planning grant 10 years ago.
“The groundbreaking for Kenilworth 166 is the first of many celebrations for the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) as we move forward with the agency’s portfolio investment plan to preserve, rehabilitate, and redevelop affordable housing for District residents today and in the future,” said DCHA Executive Director Brenda Donald. “I want to thank our partners for making this project a reality, including HUD who not only helped us secure the planning grant but also approved this as DC’s first RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) Faircloth project. HUD also provided our customers with vouchers to facilitate their moves during construction. I look forward to continuing the relationship with Ms. Herring, resident leadership and the entire Kenilworth Courts community on the journey towards their new homes."
The first phase of the Kenilworth Courts redevelopment includes 166 units in a senior building, a multi-family building, stacked flats, and townhouse rentals. Of these, 118 will be deeply subsidized replacement units and 48 will be affordable units at 50% of Area Median Income for a family of four.
This month, La Shelle Dozier, vice president of CLPHA’s board and executive director of the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency, was honored as one of Sacramento Business Journal’s (SBJ) “Most Admired CEOs.”
SBJ recognized Dozier in part for her agency’s success in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozier told SBJ, “Once the vaccine was readily available we assisted staff in getting appointments. We held vaccine clinics for residents and distributed food to our elderly residents who were largely homebound during the lockdown. All of these proactive measures were put in place to protect our employees and keep them safe during the pandemic. Going forward we have changed how we view work by moving from a traditional method of getting work done to a more flexible approach that focuses on what works for the employee to maintain their work life balance. If anything the pandemic has taught us all that we need to reevaluate our own personal priorities and adopt healthier approaches to getting our work done.”
CLPHA congratulates Ms. Dozier on this recognition of her steadfast leadership!
From the Seattle Housing Authority's press release:
In keeping with its long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, the Seattle Housing Authority has signed on to a new U.S. Department of Energy Better Climate Challenge. As a partner, SHA is committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent and energy consumption by 15 percent across all portfolios by 2032, using 2017 as a baseline.
Of more than 90 organizations across the U.S. and across sectors that have stepped up to the Challenge so far, the Seattle Housing Authority and King County Housing Authority are the only public housing authorities to join.
As technology has advanced, SHA has incorporated energy efficiency in renovations and new construction through solar panels, water conservation, state-of-the-art building systems, lighting upgrades, energy efficient windows and appliances and more, including low-carbon hot water technologies in partnership with the Department of Energy. In 2016, SHA made Environmental Stewardship an Organizational Cornerstone in its Strategic Plan and in 2019 adopted its first Sustainability Agenda. SHA has converted 100 percent of its fleet of passenger vehicles to electric and in 2017 became the first public housing authority to expand food and yard waste collection to every property to reduce carbon footprint and material going into landfills.
At a national roundtable yesterday, attended by SHA Executive Director Rod Brandon, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, joined by White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, recognized SHA and the other organizations signing onto the Challenge.
“Better Climate Challenge partners like SHA are committing to decarbonize across their portfolio of buildings, plants, and fleets and share effective strategies to transition our economy to clean energy,” said Secretary Granholm. “Their leadership and innovation are crucial in our collective fight against climate change while strengthening the U.S. economy.”
“Environmental stewardship has been a core value at SHA for many years and we have a long history of investing in innovative approaches,” said Brandon. “We are excited about this further commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure healthier living and working environments for our residents, staff and community. We are also appreciative of Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for supporting our Moving to Work status as an agency, which allows us the funding flexibility to be able to make these important investments.”
Details of the Seattle Housing Authority’s environmental commitment can be found in its Environment Stewardship Report and Sustainability Agenda.
From the New Haven Register:
The campaign over the state’s need for affordable housing and the power of mostly white suburban enclaves in one of the country’s most-segregated states was renewed in the General Assembly on Tuesday, when lawmakers heard public testimony on a variety of bills, including legislation that would allow housing authorities to purchase properties in adjacent towns.
During an afternoon-long virtual hearing of the legislative Housing Committee, property owners and managers said that state regulations are hurting them and costing them money, while tenants warned that they are becoming victims at a time when landlords can force out those who pay lower rents because the owners can bring in new tenants who’ll pay sharply higher amounts.
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Karen Dubois-Walton, president of the Elm City Communities/The Housing Authority of New Haven, said that allowing agencies like hers to purchase and develop affordable properties in neighboring towns would be an important way to allow more people to live in high-quality, affordable and market-rate dwellings.
“Housing authorities, as originally contemplated, were not in the business of development, and the laws on the books, currently, in Connecticut reflect the original housing authorities, not necessarily the housing authorities of today,” Dubois-Walton said. “Out of necessity, we have moved away from your old-style public housing into becoming much-more developers of mixed-income, mixed-finance type of communities.”
She said current laws limit housing authorities to work only within the borders of their municipalities. “At the same time, we all know, and this committee has been really great at looking at the issues of the lack of affordable housing in our community and trying to find pathways to expand that,” she said. “I believe this bill is a no-nonsense, easy opportunity to add another tool to our box about how we can create affordable housing.”
Read the New Haven Register's article "CT Lawmakers again tackle the need for housing in one of the nation’s most-segregated states," featuring Elm City Communities.
From California Governor Gavin Newsom's press release:
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced more than $116 million in funding for seven Homekey projects across the state. The seven new projects will provide 387 housing units for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Since the Governor announced a $2.75 billion extension of Homekey in September 2021, the state has awarded $470 million to 23 projects that, when completed, will create more than 1,700 housing units for Californians most in need of a safe place to call home. When combined with the original Homekey program from 2020, the Governor’s nation-leading initiative has provided $1.3 billion for 7,700 new homeless housing units.
“Our historic response towards homelessness has housed thousands of individuals at an unprecedented rate since the start of the pandemic,” said Governor Newsom. “Today’s announcement will bring 387 housing units for those most in need of a home, offering several essential supportive services with easy access to public transportation.”
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The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles has been awarded nearly $37 million for the acquisition of multifamily rental housing projects located near off-site amenities including public transportation. When construction is completed, this project will offer 126 units of permanent housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Supportive services include intensive case management services, linkages to behavioral and physical health services, assistance obtaining benefits and essential documentation, and educational and employment services emphasizing Housing First principles, trauma informed care and operate according to harm reduction models.
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles has also been awarded more than $10.5 million for the acquisition of a newly constructed apartment building located near off-site amenities including a transit station. This project will offer 34 units of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. On-site supportive services include client-centric individualized case management such as income support, linkages and access to physical and behavioral health services, substance abuse treatment and eviction prevention.
Read Governor Newsom's press release, featuring the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles.