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CLPHA Responds to Trump’s Proposed Cuts to Public Housing Budget
In the face of an estimated capital needs backlog of $70 billion, HUD’s budget zeroes out the public housing capital fund, which is used to address the growing physical needs of aging properties.
WASHINGTON (February 10, 2020) - Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s FY 2021 Budget proposal, which would slash funding for the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development by more than 15 percent, including a 43 percent cut to public housing funding.
“It is no surprise that this Administration has again proposed to gut funding for our nation’s public housing authorities, which serve more than 3 million low- and very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities through the public housing and voucher programs.
“In the face of an estimated capital needs backlog of $70 billion, HUD’s budget zeroes out the public housing capital fund, which is used to address the growing physical needs of aging properties.
“In his Budget Brief message, Secretary Carson touts the department’s commitment to resident health and safety with a nominal $90 million increase in funding to address certain hazards including lead, radon, and carbon monoxide. These one-off grants, though welcome, are insufficient and do not comprehensively address the needs of public housing residents or properties.
“We also have serious concerns that HUD’s budget underfunds the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Project-Based Rental Assistance so inadequately that as many as 160,000 households could lose voucher funding.
“The proposal additionally attempts to reintroduce rent increases and work requirements, two controversial polices that lack support from advocates and housing leaders.
“Some bright spots in the budget include increases to the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and Jobs-Plus, and a request of $100 million for the RAD program, which enables public housing authorities to convert public housing units to the Section 8 funding platform.
“But these improvements are meaningless if there are not enough resources to operate the public housing properties or to dramatically improve property conditions for residents living there.”
“Congress has previously rejected draconian budgets that shred our safety net, and we call on them to do so again.”
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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CLPHA Statement on PHA Radon and Mitigation Practices
WASHINGTON (November 22, 2019) - The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities issued the following statement in response to news coverage about radon testing and mitigation practices in public housing:
Public housing authorities (PHAs) are committed to providing rental housing that is safe, decent, and affordable for millions of low- and very-low income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. PHAs are regulated and funded by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which sets health and safety standards for PHA properties.
HUD does not require or fund PHAs to test for or mitigate radon in public housing units. While HUD does have radon testing and remediation requirements for certain multi-family properties, these do not apply to public housing.
Chronic underfunding of public housing has led to a mounting capital needs backlog of an estimated $70 billion, yet HUD’s most recent budget proposal would have slashed funding for public housing by $4.6 billion and zeroed out the Public Housing Capital Fund, which is designed to address capital needs.
PHAs welcome consistent standards with adequate funding to mitigate hazards through grants or other funding opportunities. As an example, CLPHA strongly supports bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate to mandate the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all public housing units. The Safe Housing for Families Act would provide $300 million over a three-year period to install and maintain the detectors.
CLPHA is supportive of these and other comprehensive efforts to improve conditions in HUD-assisted housing for low and very low-income residents.
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“In the coming weeks, the House will consider bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize the disaster relief funding platform for housing programs. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 is rational, comprehensive, badly needed, and Congress should pass it. Its proposed standardization and codification would make it easier for public housing authorities (PHAs) to apply for, and receive, relief funds after being impacted by disasters the way our colleagues and their residents were in Houston during Hurricane Harvey, in Wilmington during Hurricane Florence, in San Buenaventura during the Camp Fire, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“Perhaps if the bill were law today, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development would have a harder time intentionally stalling the disaster relief funding process for Puerto Rico, which two senior HUD officials admitted to doing during a hearing last month, and Secretary Carson has not denied.
“This is unconscionable and a blatant disregard of a statutory deadline. Though Congress has allocated $20 billion in CDBG-DR funds to Puerto Rico, HUD has only disbursed $1.5 billion, while thousands of American citizens struggle to recover.
“To remedy this, Senate appropriators included strong language in the THUD spending bill to prevent HUD from implementing its financial transformation initiative until the Department takes the appropriate steps to make all disaster recovery funds available along with necessary administrative requirements, which would include remaining allocations to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Congress must take action to compel HUD to follow the law. We urge support for the House and Senate efforts to ensure that all Americans, regardless of income and geography, whose housing is impacted by natural disaster receive the support they need quickly and efficiently.”
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 Housing Is Initiative to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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From KFOX 14 News El Paso:
More than 100 families and residents are now enjoying "modernized living spaces" after the city hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a revitalized apartment complex in northeast El Paso on Tuesday.
El Paso's housing authority, also known as Housing Opportunity Management Enterprises or HOME, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday for the Sun Pointe Apartments, a newly redeveloped complex in northeast El Paso.
Formerly known as the Roosevelt Apartments, Sun Pointe is a 146-unit affordable housing complex that underwent a $28 million rehabilitation, providing "modernized living spaces" for its families and residents, the city said in a statement.
“This redevelopment represents a significant investment in the well-being of our community and the future of affordable housing in El Paso,” said HOME CEO Gerald Cichon. “We are proud to reopen Sun Pointe as a symbol of progress, resilience, and commitment to providing quality homes for our residents.”
Read KFOX 14 News El Paso's article "Affordable northeast El Paso apartment complex unveiled following $28M rehab."
From the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) press release:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is announcing that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is receiving additional funding –over $37 million in Tenant Protection Vouchers in an effort to maintain a resident-first focus during ongoing repairs. Additionally, NYCHA recently also received $7.5 million to remove lead-based paint from public housing.
HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman announced these funds today during a visit to a Brooklyn affordable housing complex managed by NYCHA. While touring the property, Acting Secretary Todman highlighted all the ways HUD is working to reduce housing costs and expand assistance for lower-income Americans. This includes boosting access to energy efficiency and clean energy, which can help lower utility bills and create more sustainable, affordable homes for the families HUD serves.
“HUD is working to ensure that all Americans have access to homes that are not just affordable, but resilient,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “Today, I am proud not only to release more funding to help New York families, but to announce new actions to boost access to solar energy for these families. We know that solar energy can reduce both emissions and housing costs for owners and residents, and this Administration is working to ensure low-income families receive these critical benefits.”
From KOCO 5 News Oklahoma City:
A $500,000 grant could help residents at one of Oklahoma City's oldest public housing complexes get access to services.
A partnership with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority and the nonprofit Lillyfield provided a private grant to Will Rogers Courts, a low-income housing community. The Oklahoma City Housing Authority will transform one of the property's existing buildings into a community center, where Lillyfield will be housed.
"The one thing that separates the people struggling from those of us who are doing a little better tends to be opportunity, so what we hope to do is extend opportunities to the folks here," Lillyfield Executive Director Holly Towers said.
The money will help bring services to families at Will Rogers Courts.
“We’ll be doing things like bringing OCCC (Oklahoma City Community College) on site to help families connect with them, bringing the Goodwill mobile employment van on site. We’ll be providing, through Community Action Agency, classes about financial stability and how to build your savings," Towers said.
Throughout the next six months, residents, 89% of whom are unemployed, will get a say in what services will be offered and how they want to transform their neighborhood and future.
“Transportation and child care is such a barrier for residents living here in the Will Rogers neighborhood that bringing the opportunity to their home will be a life changer for everyone," Laura Gregory, the director of resident services at the Oklahoma City Housing Authority said. "It’s a time for us to meet with the community and services partners to really come together and revitalize, reimagine what this neighborhood could look like."
Read KOCO 5 News' article "Will Rogers Courts gets $500K grant to bring services to residents."
From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's press release:
Today, Sept. 10, 2024, is Caster Binion Day in the City of Pittsburgh!
Pittsburgh City Council this morning honored HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion for his service to the City of Pittsburgh and to our country, on a recommendation by Councilwoman Theresa Kail Smith.
Mr. Binion has served as the Executive Director of the HACP and Allies and Ross Management & Development Corporation, Inc. (ARMDC) and its subsidiaries since February 2013. As Executive Director, Mr. Binion manages an annual budget of roughly $200 million and is responsible for the operations of roughly 2,300 units of Low-Income Public Housing (LIPH), 5,500 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and 1,000 mixed-finance housing units.
During his tenure, Mr. Binion has led several major affordable housing initiatives, including: the community-wide Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) in Larimer/East Liberty launched in 2014, the implementation of a $500,000 Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Planning Grant for Bedford Dwellings and subsequent $50,000,000 CNI Implementation Grant for Bedford Dwellings, and a $30,000,000 CNI for Larimer that just concluded.
Under Mr. Binion’s leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program.
Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP’s HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program – which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.
Under Mr. Binion’s leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program. Through this program, Mr. Binion has created opportunities for community-based redevelopment organizations to increase their capacity and initiate dozens of affordable housing development projects in neighborhoods throughout the City of Pittsburgh, ranging from Oakland Pride to Cedarwood Homes – one of the first affordable senior housing communities in the City’s West End.
Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP’s HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program – which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.
In addition to spearheading the HACP’s development efforts, Mr. Binion leads the agency’s efforts to provide residents of the LIPH and HCV programs with quality services that provide vocational training, employment assistance, crisis support, quality of life enhancements for senior citizens, education opportunities and recreation activities for youth, as well as an onsite 24-hour daycare center, robust resident employment initiatives and an innovative mobile digital literacy program. In essence, these combined efforts lend credence to the overarching theme of providing HACP residents with a “Place to Live and a Path to Launch.”
Prior to beginning his career in public housing, Mr. Binion served as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army, including during Operation Desert Storm, before retiring from the military in 1992.
During the Sept. 10 meeting, Councilwoman Kail Smith commended Mr. Binion and his “amazing team” for efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing within the City of Pittsburgh.
“When I first got elected, my district (District 2) felt saturated with housing authority properties. I raked the housing authority over the coals every chance I got,” she said, adding though Mr. Binion was not the director at the time, she continued once he assumed the role in 2013.
She said Mr. Binion did an amazing job working with the community, and had his staff investigate the properties in question throughout her district.
“Since then, he has been working with us and the community. I want to thank you and your amazing team. They do a lot of great things in the City of Pittsburgh. I know it’s not always easy, especially when affordable housing is not always so plentiful,” she added.
Mr. Binion thanked the residents of the City of Pittsburgh and the HACP, HACP staff, the Board of Commissioners, and all the community partners who have worked together to bring Choice Neighborhoods visions to fruition.
He also thanked his wife, Della, for “putting up with me” over the years, and thanked the HACP staff for being so dedicated, and doing excellent work.
“Our imagination continues to grow as we continue to try to find affordable housing opportunities for the residents of the City of Pittsburgh,” he said. “We have a lot to do as far as affordable housing.”
Councilman Khari Mosley (District 9), who also serves on the HACP Board of Commissioners, thanked Mr. Binion and his staff for being very responsive to constituent concerns, and for their “willingness to live by your words to be imaginative and creative as we try to figure out a level of affordability at the Bakery Square Development, and in meeting this mandate to create more affordable housing in the City of Pittsburgh.”
Councilman Bob Charland (District 3) also thanked Mr. Binion and the HACP staff for being incredibly responsive when issues arise in the district.
“You do a fantastic job of getting back to us quickly when we have an issue,” he added, citing a fire last week at Caliguiri Plaza in Allentown.
Congratulations on such a well-deserved recognition, Mr. Binion!
From the Housing Authority of Cook County's press release:
The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13, 2024 to celebrate the opening of Otto Veterans Square, an affordable housing development for veterans located in downtown Chicago Heights, IL. Otto Veterans Square is an 82-unit, four-story development located at 1440 Otto Boulevard on the former site of St. James Hospital. The $30.8 million project includes modern apartments that provide veterans with safe and comfortable residence.
“This is truly a beautiful, thoughtfully designed building by HED and partners that our veterans can be proud to call home,” said Danita W. Childers, Executive Director, Housing Authority of Cook County. “This development is a standing reflection of our commitment to address veteran homelessness in the community and contribute to the revitalization of downtown Chicago Heights.”
The property represents the first new development to emerge from the Downtown/East Side Choice Neighborhoods Plan, which was jointly developed by the City of Chicago Heights and the Housing Authority of Cook County and funded by a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Today marks an important step in our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every veteran in Cook County has access to safe, dignified, and affordable housing,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Otto Veterans Square is more than just a building; it is a testament to our dedication to the men and women who have served our country and a meaningful contribution to the revitalization of Chicago Heights. I commend the Housing Authority of Cook County, the City of Chicago Heights, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, and all our partners for their unwavering collaboration and hard work in bringing this vision to life.”
The Housing Authority of Cook County secured financing through partnerships with several organizations, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED), the National Equity Fund (NEF), BMO, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Wintrust Bank, the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program and Nicor.
“ComEd is proud of our work with the Housing Authority of Cook County to ensure energy-efficiency measures are included in Otto Veterans Square that will help provide a comfortable environment for veteran tenants but also help them save money and energy,” said Bonita Estelle, ComEd’s external affairs manager for the Southland Region. “These efforts are estimated to save 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which helps avoid more than 920,000 pounds of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of planting nearly 500 acres of trees or removing almost 100 cars from the road each year.”
In addition to providing affordable housing, Otto Veterans Square will offer comprehensive supportive services through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Respond Now. The VA will provide a range of veteran-specific services, including an onsite social worker, healthcare, mental health counseling, and access to peer support specialists, ensuring that residents receive the care and support they deserve. Respond Now, a local nonprofit based in Chicago Heights, will offer additional supportive services such as case management, access to community resources and emergency assistance, tailored to meet the unique needs of veterans. Together, these partnerships ensure that Otto Veterans Square residents receive a holistic network of care and resources to help them build stable, fulfilling lives in their new community.
“Otto Square Veterans Housing represents the pinnacle of what we can achieve when the federal government supports the vision of local leaders and public, private, and non-profit partners,” said Richard J. Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and former HACC Executive Director. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s work to end veteran homelessness would not be possible without the focused and collaborative efforts of amazing partners like the Housing Authority of Cook County and the City of Chicago Heights to ensure that every veteran has a roof over their head and the support they need when they return home.”
Following the ribbon cutting, guests were invited to view a model apartment and finished spaces with the design team. Otto Veterans Square offers residents a range of amenities, including an exercise room, media room, walking paths, and raised planting beds for community gardens. The property is pet-friendly, with designated spaces for service animals both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, the building provides 82 parking spots, including spaces for handicap and electric vehicles.