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.
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David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
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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.
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
July 2, 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.
Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, provided the following statement in her opening remarks at the Housing Is Summit on the death of George Floyd:
"I would like to address the events of the past week that have roiled our nation’s conscience. The death of George Floyd once again reveals this nation’s centuries old, enduring stain of racism. Our hearts are with the Floyd family and the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor and the multitudes of black men, women and children who have paid the ultimate price for this country’s systematic and lethal racism.
We as a nation cannot move forward until we right the wrong of racial injustice. This means understanding, acknowledging, and dismantling our sanctioned systems of deep structural inequality.
With our nation facing the deadliest pandemic in more than a century, unemployment rates equal to those during the Great Depression, and now the tragic murder of George Floyd, America’s deep racial inequities have been laid bare. Black Americans are two and a half times more likely than whites to be killed by police. The latest overall COVID-19 mortality rate for Black Americans is nearly two and half times higher than the rate for White Americans. If they had died of COVID-19 at the same rate as White Americans, about 13,000 Black Americans would still be alive. COVID-19-related employment loss hit Black Americans far worse than White Americans. Black households have only 10 cents in wealth for every dollar held by white households. 30 percent of black families still live below the poverty line.
These deep structural inequities can and must be dismantled. Our work is to build a movement with cross-sector partners in housing, health and education that rethinks how these systems can work collectively to achieve racial justice and equity. Let our collective work across sectors lead the way so we as a nation can breathe again.”
Earlier this year, INLIVIAN received a $300,000 grant from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the aim of assisting families in obtaining affordable broadband internet access essential for work, education, healthcare, and various other needs. In July 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris visited the INLIVIAN Carole Hoefener Center to introduce the Affordable Connectivity Program. Today, families have the opportunity to thrive and excel with this remarkable initiative. Learn more about Vice President Harris's visit and INLIVIAN's work to advance digital equity via INLIVIAN's video below.
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's press release:
At an event today at the newly-opened Thrive residential complex in Denver’s Sun Valley neighborhood, Kelly Watkins of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 office joined Denver Mayor Michael Hancock; Denver Housing Authority CEO David Nisivoccia; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Regional Administrator, Erik Amundson; Denver City Council President, Jamie Torres; and Sun Valley resident, Craig Allen to announce a $1,049,300 Brownfields cleanup grant to the Denver Housing Authority (DHA).
The grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be used to clean up the eight-acre Former Zuni Tank Farm at 2514 West 13th Avenue and 2501 West 11th Avenue in Denver. DHA will oversee the redevelopment of the site into new, energy-efficient affordable housing units and a riverfront park expanding the greenway and connecting the neighborhood to the river. The park will feature environmental education, a water-feature play area, cafes, play fields and courts and multi-use trails.
“EPA continues to support city and community leaders as they work to revitalize the Sun Valley neighborhood,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This cleanup grant will address contamination at a critical property along the South Platte River, improving green infrastructure and water quality and providing opportunities for new housing and recreational amenities.”
The Zuni Tank Farm is a prominent property in Sun Valley near Invesco Field and the South Platte River. Former uses of the site include a scrap metal warehouse, landfill, coal-fired power plant, aboveground storage tanks and detention ponds. Soil sampling identified the presence of benzo[a]pyrene and other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Heavy metals, asbestos, lead and other inorganic contaminants have also been found in buildings and storage tanks on the site.
“Denver Housing Authority is thrilled to have been selected as an EPA Brownfields Grant recipient,” said David Nisivoccia, Chief Executive Officer of Denver Housing Authority. “Utilizing the grant funds, this site will be cleaned to residential standards and a portion of the land will be converted into a future park that borders the South Platte River. The project property is adjacent to our newest housing developments, GreenHaus and Thrive, which just completed construction, are leasing now and will serve 264 family households, in addition to the 187 families being served by the Gateway Apartments.”
As new families move into the Sun Valley community, economic benefits of affordability, new jobs, increased tax revenues and more consumer spending will continue to bring new life to the target area and surrounding businesses.
The City and County of Denver charged DHA with implementing the Sun Valley Neighborhood Transformation Plan. DHA created Sun Valley Zuni, LLC, to assume site ownership and cleanup at the tank farm property.
EPA’s award for the Sun Valley project is among eight Brownfields grants totaling more than $5 million announced this month for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado. Other grantees are receiving funds for projects in Brighton, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Silverton, San Luis, San Miguel County and Trinidad.
Background
Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.
EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.
From the Houston Housing Authority's press release:
The Houston Housing Authority (HHA) is unveiling their new, first-of-its-kind Training Center, representing a major milestone in advancing the affordable housing industry. In partnership with Nan McKay (NMA), a leading organization known for delivering innovative solutions for communities nationwide, HHA will provide comprehensive training courses for housing authorities, property management companies, and municipalities here locally and across the country.
The unveiling of our Training Center marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide effective and innovative housing solutions," said HHA President and CEO David A. Northern, Sr. "Through our partnership with NMA, we aim to equip housing professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to better serve vulnerable populations and drive positive change in communities across the nation."
The Training Center is expected to make a significant impact on the affordable housing industry. By providing housing authorities, property management companies, and municipalities with comprehensive training courses, HHA and NMA will enhance the effectiveness, strategic planning, and compliance-focused approaches to housing solutions. Ultimately, this will positively impact families nationwide, ensuring they have access to safe, affordable housing options.
"While the Training Center is Houston-centric, our vision extends far beyond our local community," added Northern. "Through virtual training courses, we aim to reach housing authorities nationwide, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among professionals in the affordable housing industry across the country."
From the Cambridge Housing Authority's website:
A vibrant crowd of almost 200 attendees assembled for the ribbon cutting event, commemorating the revitalization of the Daniel F. Burns Apartments following an extensive three-year modernization project. The program unfolded with inspiring remarks, the prestigious presentation of a Community Spirit Award to a resident, a captivating exhibit of resident portraits, unit tours, and, finally, the ceremonious cutting of the ribbon, symbolizing a new era for the property and its community.
Construction on the 198 units at Burns Apartments started in February 2020, just weeks before the widespread shutdown and isolation measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As with Millers River Apartments in East Cambridge, every building system was replaced or upgraded, and a new air conditioning system has been installed at Burns. The building is now insulated and cladded with a cementitious panel. Enhanced and expanded community spaces were constructed, including a new second floor outdoor deck. In addition, eight new handicapped accessible units were constructed as a part of the revitalization effort.
Community Spirit Award recipient, Phil Anderson, is a true community spirit and deserving winner of the recognition presented to him by CHA Director of Operations, Kevin Braga. With 14 years of residency at Burns Apartments, Phil’s commitment to the building and its tenants is unwavering. As a former member of the tenant council and a Veteran, he brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the community. Phil’s background in construction management made him an invaluable asset during the building’s renovation, where he actively participated and shared his expertise. Known for his patience and kindness, Phil treats everyone he meets with respect. He fearlessly advocates for necessary improvements, always expressing his concerns in a compassionate manner.
Following the program, the CHA treated building residents to a hot meal and a raffle featuring several prizes as a special thank you for their patience during construction and to continue the celebration of their upgraded living community.
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A recent longform article in The Columbus Dispatch highlights how housing stability and programming provided by the Columbus Scholar House helped a 45-year-old single mother earn her college degree and discusses other programs across Ohio that provide housing support and related services to low-income college students. “'One degree at a time': Columbus Scholar House helps get student parents through college” tells the story of Nikia Gales, who lived in the Columbus Scholar House with her two daughters for five years and recently received her bachelor's degree in social work from Ohio State University. The Columbus Scholar House is a development funded by housing tax credits for student parents operated through a collaboration between Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH), Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, and other partners. According to OCCH, Scholar House residents must be 18 years of age, low-income, the custodial parent of at least one child, and be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university. The Louisville Metro Housing Authority helped launch the nation’s first Scholar House site in Louisville, KY, and Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority also help run a Scholar House in Cleveland, OH. Gales told The Columbus Dispatch that moving into Columbus Scholar House greatly eased her financial burdens and helped her to focus on finishing her degree: “I thought, ‘I don't have to worry about housing. Housing is not on my plate no more.’ That alone was a huge relief.” Last month, Gales received her diploma at a graduation ceremony alongside her peers, with her daughters Skylar and Payton in the audience. Housing authorities across the country are collaborating with developers, college access partners, community colleges, and universities to increase postsecondary educational achievement for low-income residents and college students experiencing homelessness. Learn more about such partnerships in our May 2019 report "Eliminating Barriers to Postsecondary Success.” |