CLPHA Press Room

From the NYCHA Journal:

Supporting a neighbor, friend, or family member through a mental health challenge is everyone’s duty. Building on that shared responsibility and care, NYCHA hosted its first-ever Community Mental Health Summit on December 6, 2025, at The New School, bringing together residents, community leaders, service providers, and City agency partners for a day of learning, connection, and healing.  

The Summit focused on deepening understanding of mental health and wellbeing while strengthening the ability to prevent and respond to mental health needs across NYCHA communities. It was organized in partnership with the NYCHA Mental Health Task Force, which brings together residents and partners to advance access to mental health and wellbeing supports that decrease stigma and nurture health, opportunity, and empowerment. 

Approximately 90 attendees participated in the Summit’s interactive workshops, storytelling, and resource-building. Workshop topics included intergenerational trauma and healing practices, mental health 101 and education and awareness, substance use and recovery, supporting NYCHA’s youth, and crisis prevention and response. 

The Summit was kicked off with words from Dr. Paul Archibald, who grew up at NYCHA’s Mariner’s Harbor development and is an associate professor, Master of Social Work program director, and Chair of the Department of Social Work at CUNY’s College of Staten Island. “One in 16 New Yorkers is a NYCHA resident,” Dr. Archibald said. “Today we gather together to make a change. We can actually lead the way for all New Yorkers to build community that supports mental health.”  

Facilitators and speakers represented a wide range of expertise and lived experience, including NYCHA Resident Health Initiatives staff, resident leaders, academic partners, City agencies, and community-based organizations. Partners who hosted the Summit included The New School Center for Global Mental Health, the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health, and the NYC Health Department. 

Shetara Turner, a NYCHA resident who is also the Smoke-Free NYCHA Senior Liaison, gave a presentation at the Summit. “Today, we learned about how mental health and healing happens in a community,” she said. “It’s important to know about available resources. You never know when you can help connect a neighbor or family member or friend.” 

In a post-Summit survey, more than 90 percent of the respondents indicated that because of the Summit they feel better equipped to prevent or respond to a mental health crisis. Participants also said: 

• “I feel more prepared because it reminds me that mental health resources are powerful ways to impact not just one person but the network they belong to.   
• “I feel equipped to be a beacon of information.” 
• “I can help others understand they’re not alone.” 
• “I definitely feel equipped to assist and help these crises.” 

NYCHA resident Norma Alexander echoed her fellow residents’ feelings about the resources provided: “The presentation on prevention and response was amazing. This is the level of information I have been seeking.” 

NYCHA Community Mental Health Partnership Manager Stephen Antony Beasley, who helped organize the event, said the Summit “was an amazing day of passion, caring, listening, and learning; it is my great hope that residents and partners continue to grow work to build awareness and education, community wellness, and crisis prevention and response to build sustainable approaches that improve community mental health and wellbeing across NYCHA communities.” 

From WPXI Pittsburgh:

 A new housing community is available for senior members of the LGBTQ+ community in Pittsburgh.

Mosaic Apartments is on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, on property donated by UPMC and Pitt.

It is meant to offer adorable housing to seniors in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.

The apartment is the first of its kind in Western Pennsylvania and only the second like it in the state. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Nov. 25.

“This day represents a first step forward in addressing the housing needs of an underserved population,” said Jim Pieffer, President and CEO of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network. “There is an urgent need for safe, welcoming spaces where LGBTQ+ seniors and their allies can thrive without fear of discrimination or exclusion.”

Those behind the project say they’re looking toward future communities as well.

“We also hope that this new community will spur people in existing apartment complexes to make them more LGBTQ friendly and more welcoming in the future as well,” Pieffer said.

The $28.5 million development was funded by public and private partners, including: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Huntington National Bank, U.S. Bank, National Equity Fund, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and 20 other foundations.

Read WPXI Pittsburgh's article "New affordable housing community opens for LGBTQ+ seniors in Pittsburgh."

3,000+ Jobs Created for Residents and Community Members

Rep. Maxine Waters Gives Remarks at Celebration Event

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) joined local and federal leaders, business partners, community advocates, and residents to celebrate the 10th anniversary of HACLA’s Section 3 program. The milestone event---held at Jordan Downs’ Kalmia Rose apartments--- a flagship development in partnership with BRIDGE Housing--- served as a powerful testament to the program’s role as a vital economic engine for our city.

A federal initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Section 3 ensures that when public dollars are used to build or improve communities, the economic benefits stay local. By partnering with contractors and developers, HACLA’s Section 3 program transforms construction sites into classrooms and job sites into careers—prioritizing employment, training, and scholarships for low-income residents. 

“Over the past ten years, HACLA’s Section 3 program has proven public investment is most powerful when it acts as an economic multiplier,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, HACLA President & CEO. “We aren’t just building housing we are fueling economic opportunity. By creating 3,000 jobs and reinvesting in residents' education, we are ensuring that funds circulate back in the pockets of our families and neighborhoods. This is how we move from public investment to lasting upward mobility!” 

A Decade of Impact by the Numbers: 

•  3,000+ jobs created for residents and community members. 
•  $23 million awarded to Section 3-certified businesses. 
•  $270,000+ in college scholarships for Public Housing and Section 8 residents. 
•  $10,000+ provided for vocational tuition, certifications, and union dues. 
•  30+ financial literacy and construction-related training programs hosted. 

“We can see that Section 3 is working and HACLA has done this exceptionally well. When we look at the jobs that HACLA has created, these numbers are extraordinary,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “This program and its success are proof that when you work hard, and you believe that every human being deserves to be respected and have a decent quality of life, you can make it happen.”  

This impact is sustained by a robust network of public-private partnerships.  

“What we’ve been able to accomplish over the last ten years through the Section 3 program is remarkable,” said HACLA Board Chair Cielo Castro. “As Section 3 continues to grow, so will the opportunities it creates, for residents ready to work, for families building stability, and for communities that deserve investments. We’ve accomplished a lot together, but the work continues. I’m excited about the next ten years as HACLA creates more opportunities, more mobility, and stronger communities.” 

Over the last decade, HACLA has collaborated with key partners including BRIDGE Housing, Portrait Construction, TMO, Walton Construction, Primestor Development, Related California, Staples, EFI Global, Reno & Cavanaugh, PLLC, and U.S. Bank to bridge the gap between housing and economic opportunity. 

“EFI Global is proud to support HACLA’s Section 3 programs and provide meaningful impact to the community through job opportunities and scholarships,” said Shayan Simantob, Vice President, EFI Global, Inc. “Our participation in these programs has been most rewarding, and it is an honor to see participants grow in their educational and professional careers through new opportunities.” 

“Being able to be a small part of the redevelopment of my community has been a great privilege for me, and I look forward to seeing how my community benefits from these changes, said Jose Mateo, Pueblo Del Sol Resident and Section 3 Participant. “Through the Section 3 program, Portrait Construction, took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to get my foot in the construction industry. For this, I am forever grateful to them.”  

From NBC 4 News Columbus:

 An affordable housing development designed to expand living options for adults with disabilities moved a step toward construction this month after receiving approval from Dublin planning officials.

The city’s planning and zoning commission recommended approval on Jan. 15 of the final development plan for All In Dublin, a four-story, 75-unit multifamily project planned for a 1.6-acre vacant site at the corner of Dublin Center Drive and West Dublin Granville Road. The development is expected to cost about $24 million.

All In Dublin is being developed by All Inclusive Living in partnership with TFG Housing Resources and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Construction is anticipated to begin this summer, with residents expected to move in by fall 2027.

...

Housing for residents with disabilities will be supported through Section 811 rental assistance, a federal program that helps low-income adults with disabilities afford housing.

“Projects like All In Dublin will serve individuals and families who desperately need affordable, inclusive housing, and we are proud to play a role in making this vision a reality,” said Robert Bitzenhofer, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority vice president of planning and development.

Read NBC 4 News' article "Housing project for adults with disabilities advances in Dublin."

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' (HACLA) press release:

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has been named a 2025 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA).  The award marks HACLA as a national leader in the fight to ensure that high-speed internet, devices, and digital literacy are no longer luxuries--- but fundamental tools to opportunity and success.  This year, HACLA joins 58 other Digital Inclusion Trailblazers paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the US. 

“This recognition places our agency among national leaders who are committed to measurable action including connection to jobs, education, and healthcare,” said HACLA President & CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez. “Being named a ‘Trailblazer’ reinforces our commitment that every HACLA resident has the tools and training necessary to thrive in a digital-first world. We aren’t just providing internet; we are providing a pathway to opportunity.” 

HACLA achieved Trailblazer status by meeting rigorous national standards across seven categories of best practices.  Key initiatives that drove the agency’s success include: 

• The Digital Ambassador Program: A peer-led initiative that provides hands-on tech support and training directly within residential communities. 

• Strategic ISP Partnerships: Collaborations with providers like Starry, Verizon, AT&T, and Spectrum to bring affordable, high-speed infrastructure to public housing. 

• Device Access & Learning Centers: On-site Technology Learning Clubs (TLC) and Community Learning Centers that provide the hardware and space needed for digital growth. 

• Inter-Agency Collaboration: Partnerships with the Mayor’s Office, the Economic & Workforce Development Department, and Cal State University Dominguez Hills to integrate digital skills with career readiness. 

“Nonprofits, libraries, churches, and other community organizations can’t reach digital equity on their own. For everyone to thrive in today’s digital world, we need all hands-on-deck,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazer program exemplifies the key role of local governments in building digital opportunities for all of their residents.” 

Trailblazers provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems. Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open-sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.