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David Greer
Director of Communications
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Public Housing Authorities Need $8.5 Billion in Emergency COVID-19 Funds Plus Regulatory Relief
CLPHA members are working tirelessly, compassionately, and pragmatically to support low-income households. We urge Congress and HUD to do the same.
WASHINGTON (March 19, 2020) - The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities sent letters to Congressional leaders and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson today formally requesting $5 billion for the public housing program and $3.5 billion for the housing choice voucher program in emergency supplemental funds and additional regulatory relief for public housing authorities as they work to protect residents and staff during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement after submitting the requests to Congress and HUD:
"Low-income households and the elderly who are served by public and affordable housing have the most to lose during the current COVID-19 public health crisis because they are the most vulnerable to unemployment, lost income, and heartbreakingly, the virus itself.
"To ensure the health and safety of residents, and of staff, public housing authorities are taking unprecedented actions to follow public health protocols, while continuing to provide residents with services ranging from food deliveries to regular property repairs.
"The FY20 operating budget for public housing authorities is wholly inadequate to fund the enormous unforeseen cost of COVID-19 emergency expenses combined with estimated losses in tenant rent payments. CLPHA is requesting $8.5 billion from Congress in emergency supplemental funds and urging HUD to provide public housing authorities with the flexibility to respond to the changing situation as needed.
"Without a commitment from the federal government to support public and affordable housing operations during and after the COVID-19 emergency, millions of households could be left unprotected from the virus and face longer-term housing insecurity.
"CLPHA members are working tirelessly, compassionately, and pragmatically to support low-income households. We urge Congress and HUD to do the same."
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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.
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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From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:
Continuing their comprehensive approach to creating more housing that San Diegans can afford, Mayor Todd Gloria and the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) today announced the state has awarded $45 million to San Diego to support the creation of more than 1,180 affordable homes through the state’s Catalytic Infill Infrastructure Grant.
“Under the leadership of Gov. Gavin Newsom and this Legislature, the State of California has been a committed partner for cities that want to be part of the solution to the housing crisis, and this state grant represents another major step forward for San Diego,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “We will put this funding to work as quickly as possible to build out the community infrastructure necessary to support the creation of nearly 1,200 new homes for San Diegans looking for an affordable place to live.”
On behalf of the City, SDHC applied for the funds through the state’s Catalytic Infill Infrastructure grant program. The state awarded SDHC the maximum amount available for large cities.
“Everyone in San Diego deserves a place to call home that they can afford,” SDHC Chair of the Board Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell said. “This state grant will enable us to develop a significant number of new units in the city that provide housing solutions for low- and middle-income residents. I thank Governor Newsom, Mayor Gloria and our City Council for their continuing support of efforts like these to address the housing crisis.”
The state program made grants available to fill gaps in financing for infrastructure and improvements to existing buildings that are necessary for specific residential or mixed-use projects in urban areas, known as infill developments. The projects funded as part of San Diego’s application build upon policies pioneered by the City of San Diego to address housing affordability, including using surplus state land, building on underused land at a trolley stop owned by the Metropolitan Transit System, and leveraging a local community land trust. The SDHC Board of Commissioners on April 6, 2023, authorized SDHC to apply for the grants.
According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which administers the state grant program, the grant awarded to SDHC will fund site preparation, including demolition, excavation, grading, soil stabilization, erosion control, weed control, and dewatering. Surface improvements will include concrete paving and traffic signals. In addition, the funds will support new residential parking for the housing developments, and transit investments will fund new pathways, bus shelters, and bike facilities.
From the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's press release:
The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and national nonprofit The Community Builders announced today it has completed the $4 million acquisition of the United Way of Central Ohio (UWCO) downtown headquarters and property.
The move clears the way for CMHA and TCB to proceed on the development of AspireCOLUMBUS, a new $70 million, 12-story building that will combine up to 30,000 square feet of commercial space on the first two floors and 136 affordable apartment homes on the remaining upper 10 floors.
“AspireCOLUMBUS is an innovative, mixed-use project that will set a new standard for inclusive excellence in downtown development,” said CMHA President and CEO Charles Hillman.
“We have put community, opportunity, diversity, and affordability at the core of this plan and the vision is to remain committed to those principles for decades to come,” Hillman said. “Our intention for AspireCOLUMBUS is to prove that you can add a new piece to the Columbus skyline while also providing housing opportunities for residents across the income spectrum.”
Anticipated next steps in the project’s evolution include:
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The CMHA Board of Commissioners is tentatively scheduled to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in November/December and hire a demolition firm in January 2024 that will raze the United Way’s existing three-story building.
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Demolition is expected to be completed in early 2024, weather permitting.
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Groundbreaking on the site to begin construction is roughly set for early 2025, with construction to be finished during 2026.
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The grand opening is targeted for early 2027.
Housing choices will vary from studio to 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units. Eligible households are those earning between 80% or below of the Area Media Income in Columbus which, for example, is approximately $55,550 for an individual and $79,350 for a family of four.
UWCO announced the selection of the AspireCOLUMBUS proposal from CMHA and TCB for the sale of its headquarters site at 360 S. Third St. last year.
"There is an indisputable need for affordable housing in central Ohio, particularly in the vicinity of schools, jobs, and public transportation,” said Lisa Courtice, CEO and President of United Way of Central Ohio.
“Soon, the location that served as our headquarters for more than 40 years will become a beacon of what's possible when investors and developers come together to serve the greater good. We are very pleased that our vision is becoming a reality."
Battelle Memorial Institute Foundation donated the 1.08-acre site to United Way of Central Ohio in 1978 for use as its headquarters. When the nonprofit decided to sell the property, it enlisted the help of a Real Estate Task Force consisting of United Way employees, board members, community volunteers and outside advisors, who reviewed all proposals submitted and provided a final recommendation to the United Way Board of Trustees to accept the CMHA/TCB proposal.
AspireCOLUMBUS will hold true to the history of the site by selecting partners for the non-residential spaces in the building who adhere to the UWCO’s mission and values – neighborhood-serving uses that meet community needs, from early education to minority-owned business development.
It’s the first-ever collaboration between CMHA and TCB and represents TCB’s first investment in Columbus, one of the nation’s hottest housing and commercial real estate markets. Established in 1964, TCB opened its Columbus office in 2019 and is a leading nonprofit developer of mixed-income housing, completing over 33,000 multifamily homes across 15 states and the District of Columbia.
“TCB looks forward to providing an exciting new future for 360 S. Third Street,” said Jeff Beam, TCB regional vice president for real estate development.
“Our partnership with CMHA combines national experience with local knowledge to expand housing opportunity for Columbus residents and spark new business investments. We share the values of United Way and look forward to making Columbus an even more inclusive and vibrant city.”
TCB and CMHA has selected Moody Nolan to lead the design team. Headquartered in Columbus and with 11 regional offices across the U.S., Moody Nolan has grown since its founding 40 years ago to become the largest African American-owned and -operated architectural firm in the country and is the 2021 recipient of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2021 Architecture Firm Award, the AIA’s highest honor. Moody Nolan is the first African American firm in the U.S. to earn this recognition.
The funding sources for AspireCOLUMBUS will include New Markets Tax Credits equity, traditional debt, CMHA funding, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity and potential “gap” funding from state and local partners.
CMHA will lead the overall development for AspireCOLUMBUS, including programming, design and construction oversight based on decades of experience developing and owning housing in Central Ohio. TCB will be the co-developer, bringing substantial experience with mixed-income and mixed-use development and financial structuring from multiple other regional and national markets.
The proposed redevelopment of the United Way of Central Ohio site comes amid a well-documented shortage of affordable housing in Central Ohio. Only 29 affordable housing units are available for every 100 extremely low-wage earning households in the Columbus and Franklin County area. In Franklin County, roughly 54,000 families spend more than half of their income on housing, according to the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio.
For more information, visit cmhanet.com.
CLPHA Board President & Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority CEO Jeffery K. Patterson recently appeared on local news station WKYC 3 Cleveland to discuss CMHA's upcoming 90th anniversary celebrations, the status of the Buckeye Woodhill Choice Neighborhoods Initiative project, digital equity initiatives, and other news from the nation's first public housing authority.
From the Snohomish Tribune:
Families have already been moving into an apartment complex that, for many, will help stabilize their lives.
The Everett Housing Authority opened the doors of Madrona Square. Sixty-seven of the units here give a home to once-homeless families.
About 200 students under the McKinney-Vento Act program will be served, Heather Stults, a manager at the housing authority said. The other 38 units are not subsidized but are considered affordable.
The Madrona Square apartments represent the first fruits of the housing authority’s much larger redevelopment of the 16-acre Baker Heights complex, where it intends to build up to 1,500 units here over the next 10 years. More buildings could start rising in 2025, Jason Morrow, the housing authority’s director of development, said.
The Madrona site will also include an early learning facility*. Early learning was built into this plan in its early stages, Morrow said.
Read the Snohomish Tribune's article "New apartments at old Baker Heights site has units housing 67 once-homeless families," featuring the Everett Housing Authority.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Austin's press release:
On August 12, Austin Community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of a major, 19-acre redevelopment in the historic St. John’s neighborhood that will create more than 500 housing units in Northeast Austin.
Known as the St. John’s site at 7211 and 7309 North Interstate Highway 35, the property was formerly a location for a Home Depot store and a Chrysler Automotive dealership before becoming available for purchase 15 years ago.
The City of Austin, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), Greystar Development, and the St. Johns community have been working in unison on transforming the property since the City bought the site in 2008.
Plans are for the new site to have 526 housing units, with 50 percent of them considered affordable housing. The redevelopment will also include 15,000 square footage of commercial space, a clubhouse, and an expanded park.
HACA is extremely proud to have been part of the broad civic collaboration for this project. It took the leadership of St. John’s Neighborhood residents, the responsiveness of city leaders, the commitments of community groups and agencies, and a partnership with Greystar Development to achieve this design for affordable housing,” said Michael Gerber, President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin.
“I want to extend my particular gratitude to Congressman Greg Casar and council member José “Chito” Vela for their tireless and dedicated work to making today possible,” Gerber said.
The groundbreaking signals the start of a year of demolition of current structures on the site, with construction expected to start in the summer of 2024, with occupancy ready by late 2025.