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David Greer
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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.”
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.
For Immediate Release
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“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is pleased House Democrats addressed concerns of large public housing authorities in the HEROES Act with increased funding for rental assistance for those who are at the greatest risk for homelessness and housing insecurity. The bill authorizes $4 billion in additional funding for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance with $1 billion of that designated for new temporary assistance for households who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or who are fleeing domestic violence. The bill also includes $750 million additional funding for Project-Based Rental Assistance, $2 billion in additional funds for the Public Housing Operating Fund, and $100 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance. CLPHA is also pleased with the proposal to protect funding that was shortly due to expire under the Choice Neighborhood Initiative by extending funding through September 30, 2021.
CLPHA will continue to forcefully advocate to policymakers that we as a nation must emerge from this unprecedented pandemic with an unequivocal commitment to address the growing need for rental assistance. “
(202) 550-1381
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities |
From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:
Families that experienced homelessness, like Emily and her children, are now at home in apartments at the newly constructed development Milejo Village in San Ysidro, built in collaboration with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC).
“I found myself living on the streets, struggling to provide for my children. We lived in motels, streets, curbs, tents, and different homeless shelters,” Emily, a Milejo Village resident, said at the development’s grand opening today. “But with the help of the Rescue Mission and Jamboree, we found our way to a brighter future. Now that we’re home in a safe and stable place, I get to read with them every night and help with homework. I make sure they eat breakfast every morning. I get to walk them to and from school every day."
Developed by Jamboree Housing Corporation, Milejo Village provides 64 affordable rental housing units with on-site supportive services for residents and one manager’s unit. Twenty-five of these units are set aside for families experiencing homelessness that include individuals with a mental disability.
SDHC awarded 64 federal rental housing vouchers to help pay rent for Milejo Village residents. These vouchers are linked directly to the development. When a resident moves on, the voucher will remain to help another household experiencing homelessness with extremely low income.
“All of us are likely to be able to deal with daily issues more effectively when we don’t have to worry about where we’re going to sleep at night. Having a stable and affordable place to call home is essential. That is why developments like Milejo Village are so important,” SDHC Vice Chair of the Board of Commissioners Ryan Clumpner said. “The completion of this development means 64 families that had been experiencing homelessness now have a rental home of their own with the supportive services they need."
To make this development possible, SDHC also awarded a $4.2 million loan toward the development. The loan consisted of federal, state and local funds SDHC administers:
- $2.5 million from HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded to the City of San Diego;
- $1.2 million from the City of San Diego Affordable Housing Fund; and
- $500,000 from the State of California Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF).
Financing for the development also included funds from the County of San Diego’s No Place Like Home Program and Innovative Housing Trust Fund.
“Housing is health and is an essential human service,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, Interim Agency Director of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. “I can tell you that as an emergency physician … I know what the impact of housing instability is on physical and mental health. Most of my patient population were folks who struggled with housing, and the fact that a facility like this can be created and sustained to serve that population really means a lot to me personally as a provider. And that’s why the County is investing so much money and land and resources into affordable housing and projects like this."
“Affordable housing and specifically permanent supportive housing like Milejo Village provide safe and stable housing to our most vulnerable neighbors,” said David Estrella, Director of Housing and Community Development at the County of San Diego. “When we invest in permanent supportive housing, we are investing in the community as a whole, ensuring that generations to come live healthy lives in a safe environment.”
Milejo Village is Jamboree Housing Corporation’s first permanent supportive housing development in the City of San Diego and its second affordable housing development in San Diego County. Umpqua Bank, Red Stone Equity Partners and JP Morgan Chase also provided financing for the development.
“What truly sets Milejo Village apart is the tailored, wraparound supportive services and programs for families and individuals,” Jamboree Housing Corporation President and CEO Laura Archuleta said. “These services will not only uplift our residents but will extend a lifeline to the surrounding community as well. It's a promise of a San Diego where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has a place to call home. It's a testament to the evolution of this community, embracing the critical need for housing production across all price points, including affordable housing for families.”
Jamboree Housing Corporation’s Community Impact Team will collaborate with Tenant Support Services to provide access to supportive services for residents, such as ESL classes, life skills training, job training, financial empowerment, after-school programs and healthcare.
Rent at Milejo Village will remain affordable for 55 years for households that experienced homelessness with income up to 25 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income, currently $34,450 per year for a family of four. Residents are identified through the Regional Task Force on Homelessness’ Coordinated Entry System.
Milejo Village’s affordable rental apartments are furnished with bedroom and living room furniture, a dining table, window and floor coverings and kitchen appliances, including an electric range oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator. Site amenities include a first-floor multipurpose room, conference room, community kitchen, lounge, computer lab, counseling offices, outdoor seating, barbecue area and a tot lot.
Milejo Village is approximately a half mile from the Beyer Boulevard Trolley Station on the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s (MTS) Blue Line, with nearby access to MTS bus service. Shopping and dining options, Southwestern College’s Higher Education Center at San Ysidro and single-family and multifamily housing communities, including SDHC collaborative development San Ysidro Senior Village, are also nearby.
From CBS 13 Sacramento:
Sacramento city and county leaders may be one step closer to navigating the homelessness crisis. An affordable housing plan meant to get people off the streets will create 2,000 units during a five-year plan.
On Tuesday, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Sacramento City Council approved a joint agreement. The city and county will need to finalize an affordable housing plan within 180 days of the agreement going into effect.
While it may appear to be the beginning, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) said the proposal is not in the infancy stages.
"We are moving forward with all of our energy and time and resources," said La Shelle Dozier, executive director of SHRA.
Dozier said there are units already in the pipeline.
Read CBS 13 Sacramento's article "Sacramento leaders agree on creating hundreds of affordable units for the unhoused," featuring the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency.
The Vancouver Housing Authority held a grand opening ceremony Wednesday for an apartment building for youth who are unhoused or have just left foster care. Watch the video news story on FOX 12 Oregon's website.
From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:
The Chicago Housing Authority partnered with the national non-profit Operation Warm for the 16th year Saturday at the UIC Forum, handing out 5,000 new winter coats to more than 2,000 families with children living in public housing and participants of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.
In addition to receiving a coat, kids were able to choose from 12,000 new books to take home courtesy of the National Book Foundation and HUD’s Book Rich Environments Initiative. There was also a resource fair with 30 organizations offering services and giveaways to pre-registered families.
CHA’s partnership with Operation Warm has resulted in a total of 121,000 coats being distributed to 35,000 families over 16 years.
Angela Hurlock, Chairwoman of the CHA Board of Commissioners, said: “As a volunteer for many neighborhood, family and educational causes, and as a volunteer teacher, I am thrilled to see CHA participate in these philanthropic causes. But it’s also a challenge, as the needs are great. That’s why partnerships like this one with Operation Warm are so vital.”
Silver Sponsors for the 16th annual Operation Warm were: Molina Healthcare, ComEd and T-Mobile/Assurance Wireless. Bronze Sponsors were: Aetna, AT&T, Nan McKay & Associates, CVR, BCBSIL, Old National Bank, Pepsico and RSM.
Thirty organizations participated in the Service Fair. Among the highlights:
Pepsico distributed bags of grocery products
- Chicago Department of Public Health provided free COVID-19 and flu vaccinations/boosters
- League of Women Voters registered people to vote
- The City Clerk’s Office provided onsite City Key card services
- City Colleges of Chicago provided information on how CHA residents can attend for free.
- Shea Moisture distributed free personal care products.
- Sister agencies Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Public Library, After School Matters and Chicago Park District participated.
- CHA’s Digital Inclusion team promoted affordable internet access along with sponsors AT&T and T-Mobile.
- CHA’s WORC office promoted workforce and resident-owned business programs and initiatives.
Gwenetta Simmons has attended Operation Warm for several years. She is often among the first registrants.
“It helps that I don’t have to go out in the cold in November to get his coat,” said Simmons, who got her sixth-grader a new coat this year. “And he loves the books.”
From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:
Samantha Stokes grew up one of four children living under the roof of hard-working parents. Ends didn’t always meet, and she remembers being evicted as a child – something she vowed never to experience as an adult.
Which is why Stokes says she is lucky to be the first Chicago Housing Authority resident to close on a home in the CHA’s new Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program, which helps residents and qualified low-income applicants achieve their homeownership dreams by offering a forgivable grant of up to $20,000.
Stokes, a case manager, closed on Oct. 4 and became the first homeowner in her family. “It really didn’t hit me until the keys were in my hand and I walked in and thought: ‘This is mine, finally.’”
CHA CEO Tracey Scott said homeownership is one way for residents to achieve the agency’s mission of helping families unlock their economic power – by lifting them out of poverty and creating generational wealth that reinvigorates communities.
Scott added: “When families who live in subsidized housing become homeowners, it creates more opportunities for people from our waitlists to access housing. The new Down Payment Assistance program is another innovative tool that CHA is using to achieve our goals.”
The DPA program is CHA’s second homeownership offering. In 2002, CHA launched Choose to Own (CTO), which allows qualified residents to use their CHA subsidy toward a mortgage for up to 15 years. Since its onset, CTO participants have purchased more than 800 homes in the City of Chicago.
To qualify for the new DPA program, which is in the form of a 10-year, forgivable grant up to $20,000, participants must earn no more than 80 percent of the Area Media Income (AMI) and be first-time homebuyers. Participants in the DPA program graduate from CHA subsidy assistance and move into the agency’s Alumni Network, where they receive ongoing coaching and support.
DPA Program Manager Jimmy Stewart said the program targets families who are eligible for a homebuying loan and are ready to take the next step.
“Many of our participants are afraid to take that next step,” he said. “While they can afford the mortgage, it’s a high amount for them. So when you combine the grant assistance that we offer with other down payment assistance programs out there, it can be a substantial amount that can make it more affordable and they can feel confident that they can pay the mortgage on that home.”
Stokes, a single mother who had previously lived on a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), said: “I’m a little more than low-income, and there aren’t a lot of resources out there for this group of people. We don’t qualify for certain benefits, but we do need some assistance. That’s where the DPA comes in handy. You just need that little bit of push and assistance that will help you get to where you want to be in life.”
She applied for the grant in late August and was approved within a month.
One of the joys so far has been seeing her 14-year-old daughter’s face when she saw her new home for the first time.
“She was excited, running through and opening up all the doors, running in the backyard - she’s never had a backyard before,” Stokes said. “She’s excited about having a washer and dryer in the home instead of going to the laundromat. It’s a bigger space to move around in, three bedrooms instead of two. She’s happy.”
Now, Stokes is telling family and friends that they too can become homeowners.
“My brother is looking into it, family, friends, coworkers,” she said. “One of my friends said, ‘I just passed your house - it looked great!’ So, I am assisting her and letting her know too that it’s not just those who live in CHA – but anyone can apply as long as you meet the qualifications.”
Stokes considers it a great honor to be the first-ever participant of the DPA program.
“I appreciate it every day. Every single day. I just can’t believe I’m a homeowner now.”