CLPHA Press Room

From WTKR3 Norfolk:

Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's (NRHA) HomeNet Homeownership Center received a $6.4 million grant from Virginia Housing to bridge the minority homeownership gap on Wednesday.

NRHA says the grant aims to bridge the minority homeownership gap in Norfolk and "empower individuals to fulfill their dream of owning a home."

The grant will enable the HomeNet Homeownership Center to assist minority first-time homebuyers by providing down payment and closing cost assistance, along with one percent interest rate discount point.

NRHA says the discount will help make homeownership more accessible and affordable, reducing the financial barriers that often hinder minority communities from entering the housing market.

"We are honored to receive this generous grant from Virginia Housing," said LaShawn Fortes, community economic development director at NRHA. "This grant not only acknowledges the importance of bridging the minority homeownership gap but also empowers us to take tangible steps toward achieving a goal."

Read WTKR 3 Norfolk's article "Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority receives $6.4 million grant."

From FOX 5 San Diego:

Construction crews are developing a multi-story building aimed to house people experiencing homelessness and they are using shipping containers to get it done.

The new development is underway in the El Cerrito neighborhood of San Diego and local leaders believe it could be the building blocks to a fast-paced housing solution.

FOX 5 was able to take a tour of the modular multi-story development made up of recycled shipping containers. It’s said to be an effective yet quicker approach to give shelter to the homeless population with hopes of opening at the start of the new year.

The building is comprised of studio apartments which are made up of two shipping containers, one-bedroom options made up of three containers, and a two-bedroom made up of four containers. Each unit comes already fabricated with drywall, sinks, cabinets, toilets, and windows already built in.

The project is spearheaded by homeless advocacy group, PATH San Diego in tandem with the city along with the San Diego Housing Commission.

Read FOX 5 San Diego's article "Shipping containers to act as multi-story housing for homeless in San Diego," featuring the San Diego Housing Commission.

From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners Tuesday advanced three major new housing developments on the West, North and Southwest Sides, including the first phase of the long-awaited LeClaire redevelopment effort. The other projects are Parkside Phase 5 in the former Cabrini Green area and Ogden Commons Phase A2 in the Lawndale neighborhood.

Together, these projects will add 357 new rental apartments around the city, including 153 apartments for families from CHA’s waitlists, 134 affordable apartments and 70 market-rate apartments.

“Creating new affordable housing in Chicago is a cornerstone of my administration and I am pleased that these three key projects are moving forward. A better, stronger, safer Chicago can only be realized when residents in every single Chicago neighborhood have access to affordable housing.  I am particularly grateful to Congressman Garcia for his support of the LeClaire redevelopment, which will add 650 new homes for families on the Southwest Side,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

“CHA is increasing affordable housing opportunities throughout Chicago and ensuring that these investments lead to strong communities where families who need housing assistance can achieve economic power,” CHA CEO Tracey Scott said.

Scott added: “The housing developments approved today come in addition to 1,800 total mixed-income units under construction now, and an additional 500 units that are scheduled to be under construction later this year. With our public and private sector partners, CHA continues to identify new opportunities to preserve and create affordable housing for low-income families in diverse communities across Chicago.

“The LeClaire project has been a long time coming and has included many local and federal stakeholders along the way. The new LeClaire development will return much-needed affordable housing to the CHA site and create a community where residents will have easy walking distance to groceries, child care, and healthcare services,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” Garcia. “Today’s CHA Board approval starts the project’s initial phases and will positively impact underserved communities on Chicago’s Southwest Side.” 

“The LeClaire development is fulfilling a long-held commitment to return affordable housing to this CHA site with vital community services,” said 22nd Ward Alderman Mike Rodriguez. “This long-vacant land along a key corridor will become a thriving neighborhood and provide high-quality homes to families, including those that need rental subsidies. Neighbors in the community have pushed for services like a grocery store and other basic resources to complement the housing. This development represents years of stakeholder engagement, including from public housing residents, who have advocated for the project.”

From the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's press release:

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Board of Commissioners today approved a combined total of over $50 million in new investments that will add or preserve 278 apartments as affordable housing for seniors and or fixed-income Columbus-area residents.

“Today’s decision by the CMHA Board represents just the latest example of CMHA being laser-focused on providing affordable housing and meeting the needs of our people in Columbus and throughout Franklin County,” said CMHA Board Chair James L. Ervin, Jr. “Our goal is to ensure CMHA remains an innovative agent for change and continues to evolve to meet the region’s housing needs.”

The communities approved for new investments by CMHA’s board include:

• Approving the issuance of $18 million in General Revenue Bonds for the new construction of Cobblestone Manor – a $32 million, 82-unit new construction development of affordable rental homes for low-income seniors in Grove City, Ohio.
• Approving the issuance of $22 million in General Revenue Bonds for the redevelopment of Country Ridge Apartments, a 95-unit community that serves low-income individuals and families in Hilliard.
• Approving an estimated $9.1 million, 10-year renewal of CMHA’s project-based voucher (PBVs) contract with its nonprofit partner Housing Ventures, Inc., to ensure 75 PBV’s at Sugar Grove Square Apartments in Westerville will continue to remain affordable through 2033.
• Approving an estimated $3.1 million, 10-year renewal of CMHA’s project-based voucher contract with its nonprofit partner National Church Residences to ensure 26 PBV’s at Westerville Senior Housing apartment complex will remain affordable through 2033.

CMHA’s plan to issue general revenue bonds this year was spurred by their A+ rating the authority received from S&P Global Ratings.

S&P is considered the largest of the three major credit rating agencies, which also include Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings. The A+ rating was secured after extensive third-party reviews and reporting from CMHA’s finance team. CMHA’s $40 million bond plan this year is the fourth issuance in a long-term strategy that CMHA officials say will become an ongoing series of bonding activities for the agency moving forward. The additional $40 million in bonds approved at the June 23rd Board meeting will bring CMHA’s total bond issuance to over $110 million for the development and preservation of affordable housing.

“Our A+ S&P rating will significantly reduce the Agency’s cost of financing by providing access to the bond markets. These factors create a self-sustaining model that will assist us in delivering on our strategic goal of adding to our portfolio a minimum of 500 units of affordable housing per year over each of the next five years,” CMHA CEO Charles D. Hillman said.

The Project Based Voucher (PBV) program is part of HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.

Most Housing Choice Vouchers are “tenant-based,” meaning families can use them to rent any private apartment that meets program guidelines. PBVs, in contrast, are attached to a specific unit whose landlord contracts with the state or local public housing agency to rent to low-income families. Families can move without losing rental assistance if another voucher is available. If a family in a project-based voucher unit moves out, another low-income family moving in benefits from the rent subsidy it provides.

Families or individuals in units with PBVs contribute 30% of their income for rent and utilities; the voucher pays the difference between the tenant contribution and the unit’s total rent and utility costs. Tenants in PBV units are assisted as long as they live in the unit and continue to qualify for the program.

PBVs are the largest, most available tool to create new project-based rental assistance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a nonpartisan research and policy institute which works at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

From the Port City Daily:

The local public housing authority is “getting creative” in how it supports the addition of affordable housing in the community, according to executive director Tyrone Garrett.

As part of its federal allocation of housing choice vouchers, Wilmington Housing Authority can dole out project-based vouchers to eligible developers. Vouchers are intended to assist families earning 80% or less than the county’s AMI. 

According to New Hanover County’s housing assessment, updated in 2023, nearly two-fifths of all renter households have annual incomes below $30,000.

At its Tuesday meeting, the WHA board unanimously approved issuing $3.8 million in project-based vouchers to Blue Ridge Atlantic, the group behind a 72-unit senior affordable housing complex on Middle Sound Loop Road.

The three-story Residence at Canopy Pointe will offer one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Only individuals ages 55 and over, making 30% to 80% of the area’s median income ($63,926, according to the county’s housing assessment), can apply, with rent ranging from $367 to $1,050, based on income and available units.

“We talked about the creation of affordable housing in the city and in the county, and we want to contribute,” Garrett said at the meeting. “We can’t build new units almost immediately like other developers.”

WHA’s vouchers will subsidize 18 units in the Residence at Canopy Pointe. Construction on the project began in February and expects to welcome tenants by January 2024.

Read the Port City Daily's article "More affordable housing on way, WHA boosts senior development project."