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 [email protected].
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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.
July 20, 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.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's website:
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) WiFi On Wheels (W.O.W.) CyberBus is hitting the road for our nation’s capital to convene with national colleagues during the annual ConnectHomeUSA Summit.
Staff will travel to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters in Washington, D.C., Dec. 10-12, 2024, to discuss the HACP’s innovative Digital Literacy Initiatives programs, and give tours of our CyberBus.
The W.O.W. CyberBus is a mobile classroom equipped with computers and internet access that offers remote instruction in STEM education, computer science, financial literacy, and business development for students and parents in HACP communities. It was launched in an effort to bring broadband internet access to residents’ homes in the HACP’s continued mission to bridge the digital divide within the region.
The CyberBus was launched in fall 2022, in partnership with Jerome Bettis’ The Bus Stops Here Foundation and Pittsburgh’s STEM Coding Lab. Since its launch, the CyberBus has helped more than 500 clients achieve proficiency in various computer programs.
During the summit, the HACP will be presented with an inaugural ConnectHomeUSA Trailblazer Award in recognition of its groundbreaking digital literacy initiatives. Staff will also speak on the topic: “Making the Momentum Last: Building Sustainable Digital Inclusion Programs,” and share the success of the CyberBus and anticipated 2025 arrival of the Workforce on Wheels (W.O.W.) CyberBus 2.0 that will expand upon the HACP’s workforce development training opportunities across the region.
“HACP made a steadfast commitment to bridge the digital divide in our community and has made great advancements toward this goal in recent years,” said HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion. “We are very proud to take our act on the road to showcase best practices in digital learning and to raise awareness of the ongoing struggle to bring low-income populations – both rural and urban – online and equipped to succeed in the digital age.”
In 2022, the CyberBus traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the Super Bowl and brought technology to several underserved communities, including the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Housing Division. Residents were able to experience the many features the bus has to offer. The staff also provided 20 Samsung tablets to exceptional students, which were chosen by a local high school.
In 2024, the CyberBus headed to Detroit, Michigan during the NFL Draft and brought programming and devices to children who belong to various chapters of the Boys & Girls Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan.
“The CyberBus has previously traveled to high profile events like the Super Bowl in Phoenix and the NFL Draft in Detroit,” literature from ConnectHomeUSA reads. “The HUD CHUSA team has the honor of hosting them at HUD Headquarters so that CHUSA communities can get a first-hand view of all that the CyberBus offers and what it’s like to use a computer lab on a bus!”
From the District of Columbia Housing Authority's press release:
Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), alongside the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) and nonprofit developer Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), celebrated a historic milestone for the Barry Farm-Hillsdale community with the grand opening of The Asberry, a 108-unit mixed-use building and the first on-site building delivered under the New Communities Initiative (NCI) at Barry Farm. Officials and community members also broke ground on The Edmonson, a 139-unit affordable mixed-use property and the second new construction building on site.
“As a city, we made Barry Farm residents a promise under our New Communities Initiative – that we would welcome residents back into fantastic, safe, and affordable housing that honors and preserves the rich legacy of the community,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today, we take another step forward in delivering on our promise in a way that respects and celebrates the history – and future – of Barry Farm-Hillsdale.”
Located at 1200 Sumner Road SE, adjacent to the Barry Farm Recreation Center, The Asberry is the first building completed as part of the redevelopment of the historically significant Barry Farm-Hillsdale community. Established in 1867, Barry Farm was created to provide formerly enslaved African Americans with the opportunity to own land and build a self-sustaining community after the Civil War.
DCHA and POAH serve as co-developers for the site. Once completed, the Barry Farm redevelopment will feature a vibrant mixed-income community with at least 900 new affordable rental and for-sale housing units, including 380 public housing replacement units. The Barry Farm redevelopment project has so far created a total of 351 construction jobs for DC residents, with the highest percentage going to residents living in Ward 7 (68) and Ward 8 (92).
“This is a watershed moment for our DCHA families who had made Barry Farm Dwellings such a special place to live,” said Keith Pettigrew, DCHA Executive Director. “The opening of The Asberry gives our returning residents an opportunity to live in new, modern homes and creates a foundation for reestablishing the vibrant, spirited Barry Farm community for generations to come. Thank you to our partners in this project for bringing quality affordable housing options to Anacostia while honoring the Barry Farm-Hillsdale legacy.”
The Asberry, which has 77 replacement units for former Barry Farm residents, is a 100% affordable, 55+ senior preference residential property with 33 units at 30% of Median Family Income (MFI), 44 units at 50% MFI, 21 units at 60% MFI, and 10 units at 80% MFI. It also includes 5,096 square feet of commercial space and amenities include a sundeck, courtyard, fitness center, recreation room, and wellness room. Construction was completed in October 2024. The Edmonson will be the second newly constructed building in the redevelopment project, which is being led by co-developers DCHA and POAH. It will include 139 affordable units, including 52 two-bedroom units. The Edmonson will also have 50 replacement units for former Barry Farm Dwellings residents, 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, shared community spaces, and outdoor amenities.
“We are excited to celebrate the progress of the Barry Farm Redevelopment Project with the grand opening of The Asberry and the groundbreaking of the forthcoming Edmonson,” said Maia Shanklin-Roberts, Vice President of Real Estate Development, POAH. “These milestones represent not just buildings, but a vibrant future for this community—one rooted in opportunity, equity, and connection. It’s an honor to be part of a development that prioritizes quality, affordability, and the preservation of the rich history of Barry Farm, while paving the way for generations to thrive.”
DMPED invested approximately $43 million in Phase 1 of the redevelopment, including roughly $14.5 million towards construction of The Asberry. The five-story building also was funded by $33.7 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by the DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA).
“Mayor Bowser is delivering on the promises the District made as a city to the Barry Farm–Hillsdale community,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert. “DMPED is proud to be a part of this incredible partnership that is fostering inclusive growth and delivering the type of housing, amenities, and opportunities that residents want and deserve. And we’re just getting started.”
For The Edmonson, DCHFA issued $61.1 million in tax-exempt bonds and underwrote $52 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity. DMPED also provided a $21 million NCI loan. A $2.5 million grant from the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia and $3 million in financing from DC Green Bank is supporting a community geothermal system, which provides energy efficiencies, cost savings, and sustainability.
“The Barry Farm community is a site full of history and culture. The Asberry is the next chapter and a resurrection of that culture. Seniors, our long-term residents can now return to wonderful homes that are beautiful, healthy, and affordable,” said Christopher E. Donald, Executive Director/CEO, DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA). “DCHFA is proud to continue investing in the redevelopment of Barry Farm. The Edmonson is the Agency’s second investment. We eagerly anticipate what is to come and look forward to much more in subsequent phases of redevelopment of Barry Farm.”
By using an innovative Faircloth-to-RAD conversion approach, the Barry Farm redevelopment will increase the number of affordable housing units available at the site. Once complete, the project will create at least 900 residential units across several buildings – including at least 380 affordable replacement units onsite for former Barry Farm residents, an additional 320 other affordable units and 100 homeownership units; community-serving retail spaces; and a large central park with community facilities for on-site services and programs.
Run through a partnership with DMPED and DCHA, NCI is a District government program that was created to redevelop distressed public housing communities into vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods. Barry Farm is one of four NCI projects, along with Northwest One which officially opened in Ward 6 in late 2022; Lincoln Heights – Richardson Dwellings in Ward 7, where hundreds of replacement units have been delivered; and Park Morton in Ward 1, where construction is underway.
From the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority's website:
Late last year, the Highrise Health Alliance (HHA) received a $100,000 grant to further its work supporting MPHA resident health outcomes. After spending the last several months listening to residents’ priorities, the HHA is readying its plan to deploy this grant on a series of new and existing programs and initiatives that address residents’ top needs and concerns.
The Highrise Health Alliance is a cross-sector partnership between MPHA and the City of Minneapolis Health Department working to improve the health outcomes of MPHA’s high-rise residents. The $100,000 was granted to HHA members back in late 2023. In addition to the funds, the group was selected to participate in a nine-month leadership development program focused on public health called the Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy (PHEARLESS) initiative.
Over the last few months, MPHA resident leader Shirley Brown, MPHA Assistant Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives Rachel Almburg, and HHA members Jennie Meinz and Abdulkadir G. Mohamed have hosted MPHA resident listening sessions and workshops to identify resident health priorities. At the top of that list is improving communication around mental health between residents, building management, and on-site Volunteers of America staff. Additionally, residents expressed wanting additional support for new resident move-ins, especially for those coming out of homelessness and/or housing programs that offered supplemental mental health services.
Hearing this feedback from residents, HHA, through the PHEARLESS grant, is funding three initiatives to meet these needs. It will fund behavioral health peer support groups across at least seven buildings, social connection events initiated by residents, and improvements to new resident move-in materials, staff trainings, and regularly distributed relevant heath information to all residents.
Specifically, more than half of the grant will be directed to continuing behavioral health peer support groups across seven buildings led by Neighborhood HealthSource, MN Recovery Connection, and Volunteers of America. These support groups are already in place and are cultivating ongoing relationships. Funding these groups will ensure the continuation of care as existing grant funding expires. The existing behavioral health peer support groups will not see any lapse of care with the funding source change. Instead, programming will continue as usual for its beneficiaries.
About a fourth of the grant will support social connection events to aid community building and improve mental health. This portion of the funding will work as a mini-grant process, allowing residents to generate event ideas and be allocated funds to carry out the idea. Events may include sponsoring a variety of things from an educational speaker visit or yoga class to bingo or crafts. The HHA plans to start the mini grant application and dispersing process in 2025.
Additionally, small portions of the funding will also support revamping new resident move-in materials and provide supportive behavioral health resources, trainings for staff, service providers, residents on select topics (trauma informed, crisis response, etc.), and the regular distribution of general behavioral health informational resources.
The $100,000 grant covers the cost of programming through the end of 2025. After 2025, the HHA is hoping to fund the programs leveraging existing partnerships and new grant opportunities. With the continuum of programming being a high priority for HHA, future funding options are already being pursued.
From the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency's press release:
On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, officials and staff of the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) and Ramsey County will gather at the PHA’s Edgerton Hi-Rise at 1000 Edgerton Street, St. Paul, to celebrate the completed modernization of both elevators there. The entire cost–almost $800,000—was paid by a grant from Ramsey County under its Inclusive Housing Development program. The elevator modernization has been cheered by Edgerton Hi-Rise residents and their families and friends, PHA staff and other service providers who work in the building.
This modernization work was one of six improvement projects in PHA hi-rises that have been funded by Ramsey County in the last two years, through grants totaling $2.25 million. The other five County-funded hi-rise improvements include:
- Seal Hi-Rise Emergency Generator Replacement ($300,000)
- Ravoux Hi-Rise Exterior Sealant Replacement ($250,000)
- Dunedin Hi-Rise Community Room & Community Center Roof Replacement ($350,000)
- Iowa Hi-Rise LED Lighting Improvements - Interior and Exterior ($250,000)
- Hamline Hi-Rise LED Lighting Improvements - Interior and Exterior ($300,000)
“All of the Ramsey County-funded hi-rise improvements are essential work that will preserve and improve these buildings as affordable housing for future generations,” per Louise Seeba, PHA Executive Director. “We could not do this work alone, and we sincerely thank Ramsey County for their partnership!”
Ramsey County also awarded the Saint Paul PHA $3.95 million, most of which came from federal funds, to construct new affordable housing units on PHA property at McDonough Homes and Dunedin Terrace. The County received the funds through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The celebration for these new affordable units will take place at another time.
Scheduled speakers at the celebration event on December 4 include:
- Ramsey County Commissioner and HRA Board Chair Mai Chong Xiong
- St. Paul City Councilmember Rebecca Noecker
- PHA Board Chair Missy Staples Thompson
- PHA Commissioner Leonard Thomas
- Executive Director Louise Seeba
- PHA Maintenance Director Tim Angaran
Schumacher Elevator Co. performed the elevator modernization work at Edgerton, which included replacing most of the elevators’ mechanical and electrical components and installing new cab finishes. The contract included modifications to the building’s architectural, mechanical and electrical components necessary to meet the requirements of the new elevator code.
The PHA intends to complete the Ramsey County-funded improvements in the other hi-rises by early spring of next year.
From the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency's press release:
On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, officials and staff of the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) and Ramsey County will gather at the PHA’s Edgerton Hi-Rise at 1000 Edgerton Street, St. Paul, to celebrate the completed modernization of both elevators there. The entire cost–almost $800,000—was paid by a grant from Ramsey County under its Inclusive Housing Development program. The elevator modernization has been cheered by Edgerton Hi-Rise residents and their families and friends, PHA staff and other service providers who work in the building.
This modernization work was one of six improvement projects in PHA hi-rises that have been funded by Ramsey County in the last two years, through grants totaling $2.25 million. The other five County-funded hi-rise improvements include:
- Seal Hi-Rise Emergency Generator Replacement ($300,000)
- Ravoux Hi-Rise Exterior Sealant Replacement ($250,000)
- Dunedin Hi-Rise Community Room & Community Center Roof Replacement ($350,000)
- Iowa Hi-Rise LED Lighting Improvements - Interior and Exterior ($250,000)
- Hamline Hi-Rise LED Lighting Improvements - Interior and Exterior ($300,000)
“All of the Ramsey County-funded hi-rise improvements are essential work that will preserve and improve these buildings as affordable housing for future generations,” per Louise Seeba, PHA Executive Director. “We could not do this work alone, and we sincerely thank Ramsey County for their partnership!”
Ramsey County also awarded the Saint Paul PHA $3.95 million, most of which came from federal funds, to construct new affordable housing units on PHA property at McDonough Homes and Dunedin Terrace. The County received the funds through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The celebration for these new affordable units will take place at another time.
Scheduled speakers at the celebration event on December 4 include:
- Ramsey County Commissioner and HRA Board Chair Mai Chong Xiong
- St. Paul City Councilmember Rebecca Noecker
- PHA Board Chair Missy Staples Thompson
- PHA Commissioner Leonard Thomas
- Executive Director Louise Seeba
- PHA Maintenance Director Tim Angaran
Schumacher Elevator Co. performed the elevator modernization work at Edgerton, which included replacing most of the elevators’ mechanical and electrical components and installing new cab finishes. The contract included modifications to the building’s architectural, mechanical and electrical components necessary to meet the requirements of the new elevator code.
The PHA intends to complete the Ramsey County-funded improvements in the other hi-rises by early spring of next year.