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 [email protected].
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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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WASHINGTON (September 20, 2019) – Sunia Zaterman, the Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carson’s recent comments on the crisis of homelessness in America:
“It is astounding that this administration is calling for an end to homelessness while refusing to reinvest in public and affordable housing. People without a place to live need stable housing, not just campaign rally rhetoric or politically driven economic reporting based on cherry-picked research to manufacture a root cause of homelessness.
“The reasons for homelessness vary and no single solution will end the crisis, but there is no question that the lack of affordable housing opportunities exacerbates the problem for families, people with disabilities, and veterans.
“The Housing First model, recognized by HUD as recently as December as the most effective way to end homelessness, treats stable housing as a platform for supportive services that meet immediate and long-term needs for individuals and families.
“Meanwhile, this Administration has tried to gut funding for HUD and for public housing authorities, which are essential partners in local efforts to provide safe, stable housing to low and very-low income families, and those most vulnerable to homelessness.
“PHAs work with their Continuums of Care to provide transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and vouchers to households exiting homelessness. They also coordinate with a variety of local service providers to offer supportive services to ensure housing stability, and work with health and education partners to promote access to services that are essential for family well-being and self-sufficiency.
“The hundreds of thousands of unsheltered people living on the streets in our country need real solutions, not campaign speeches.”
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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New White Paper Shows Only 24 Affordable and Available Rental Units for Every 100 Extremely Low-Income Households in Chicago
The Chicago Housing Authority Research Lab (CHARL) has published its first white paper, "No Room to Rent: Chicago’s Affordable Housing Crisis for Extremely Low-Income Families." This paper analyzes Chicago’s private rental market by using Census data to estimate the affordability gap (a metric that quantifies the differences between the supply of affordable rental units and the number of households that need them) for extremely-low income (ELI) households that earn 30% or less of the city’s area median income.
According to the CHARL study, ELI families in Chicago are competing in a rental market with only 24 affordable and available units for every 100 ELI households, totaling a deficit of 127,786 affordable rental units for these ELI households. CHARL finds that while very low-income and low-income groups face smaller deficits or even surpluses of units, no neighborhoods in Chicago have a surplus of affordable units for ELI households. Alarmingly, nearly 44% of Census tracts in Chicago have no affordable units available to them at all. At the current pace of unit delivery, it would take the CHA over 91 years to fill the current unit deficit.
Just as the 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability outlines in its recent interim report and preservation cost estimate, the CHARL paper argues that market forces alone will not close this gap. The CHARL paper calls for a comprehensive, multi-level government response to better serve ELI households, including increased investment to expand supply, policy and regulatory reforms to speed development of CHA’s vacant land, utilization of innovative programs like Restore-Rebuild, reallocation of tax credits like LIHTC, and adoption of evidence-based models of unit delivery from around the country.
Lowel Krueger, executive director of the Yakima Housing Authority, is featured on the latest episode of The Road Home, a podcast from the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans.
The episode examines federal property disposal programs and how they can be leveraged to create affordable housing for veterans. Lowel walks through the process, partnerships, and compliance considerations involvedin transforming surplus federal properties into housing opportunities, including insights from the Chuck Austin Place project in Yakima, WA. Listeners will gain practical guidance on navigating HUD Title V, maximizing low-cost development opportunities, and overcoming complex challenges in veteran-focused housing initiatives.
From the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority's (MPHA) website:
An ongoing study by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) measuring the long-term impacts of low-income families living in “opportunity areas” has reached a new milestone in the Twin Cities of 100 participating families. Of those families, 61 are families in MPHA’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.
The Community Choice Demonstration (CCD) is multi-year study tracking the long-term impacts of families moving to and living in “opportunity areas” with varying levels of housing mobility-related services. The CCD is a joint effort between MPHA, the Metropolitan Council’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA), and HUD.
Opportunity areas are neighborhoods, defined by HUD and determined by census data, where children are most likely to thrive because of better schools and lower poverty rates. Previous studies have shown that when HCV families move to these opportunity areas, children are more likely to achieve upward economic mobility later in life. In fact, studies show that every year a child lives in an opportunity area, their earned income as working adults increases.
Historically, HCV families have found it difficult to access opportunity areas. Lack of affordable housing options and few property owners willing to accept vouchers make moving challenging for voucher-holders. The CCD program is working to study how voucher-holders might be able to better overcome these barriers. The CCD program provides selected families additional assistance in the rental process to understand what solutions are most effective to overcoming the barriers to living in opportunity areas.
Half of the families in CCD receive comprehensive support services, including pre- and post-move coaching, housing search assistance, and financial assistance to help cover moving-related expenses like security deposits and application fees. To determine the impact of these services, outcomes for these families are compared to those of families who receive only baseline services that are part of the usual housing choice voucher process. An initial evaluation of the study showed those wraparound services as impactful, with 24 percent of families receiving the additional services moving to opportunity areas versus only four percent of families that did not receive services.
The MPHA and Metro HRA Twin Cities regional partnership is one of eight sites nationwide participating in the study. The program is scheduled to run through 2028, with the hopes of gaining an understanding of the most effective tools to help voucher-holders access opportunity areas in their community. With enrollment ending in June 2026, MPHA and Metro HRA intend to enroll another 120 families, with 22 of these being MPHA waitlist families.
From the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's (CMHA) newsletter:
For the past 20 years, CMHA has partnered with Sherwin-Williams to provide the Home Work Paint Program directly to residents. This biannual training program provides participants with the tools and training necessary to launch their own painting career. Over the course of the week, residents learn brush techniques, masking and preparation, paint mixing, and contamination protocols — all while gaining valuable hands-on experience.
In October, 14 more residents graduated from the program, joining a growing network of past participants who are now equipped with the skills to pursue professional opportunities in painting
From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:
Nearly 500 Watts residents recently joined the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), along with local leaders and development partners BRIDGE Housing, The Michaels Organization and Primestor to celebrate "10 Years of Revitalization" at Jordan Downs, culminating in a vibrant community block party.
“Jordan Downs is a powerful example of what’s possible when we meet a housing crisis with hope, vision, and partnership,” said former HUD Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Community Partners Shaun Donvan. “Jordan Downs is transformational, creating affordable homes, opportunity, and a model for what neighborhood resurgence can look like across the country. What LA has accomplished through Jordan Downs reminds us that investing in our communities is how we build lasting progress and a strong foundation for the future.”
The celebration marks a decade of transformative development that has delivered $664 million in new investment to the Watts neighborhood, resulting in the construction of 787 new affordable homes, 120,000 square feet of new retail space, and four new parks.
“The revitalization of Jordan Downs from an outdated public housing site into a thriving and well-connected housing community with affordable homes, retail shops, and parks where children can play is far more than a construction project; it is a decade-long promise kept to the residents of Watts,” said Lourdes Castro Ramirez, HACLA President & CEO. “In a high-cost city where land is scarce, inclusive redevelopment that expands housing and promotes family stability and economic opportunity is the way to go. We celebrate Watts and renew our commitment to working in partnership to deliver on this historic vision.”
The block party concluded a series of events showcasing the revitalization's impact. Last month, HACLA and its development partners—The Michaels Organization, BRIDGE Housing, and Primestor—hosted a walking tour of the new housing, parks, and retail that are creating stability, job opportunities, and strengthening the local economy.
"We were delighted to celebrate 10 years of progress with our residents and look forward to more celebrations with them and our partners in the coming years," said John Mimms, Vice President of Development at The Michaels Organization. "We are confident that the unprecedented collaborative efforts of HACLA, residents and community stakeholders with strong leadership of political officials at the local, state, and federal level will continue to drive the success of this historic neighborhood revitalization."
The tour was followed by a high-level roundtable discussion attended by residents, along with federal, state, civic, business, and philanthropic leaders, to strategize the final phase of development.
“The transformation of Jordan Downs shows what’s possible when residents, community leaders, and partners like HACLA and BRIDGE Housing work together toward a shared vision for a brighter future,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard. “We’re proud to have delivered four new communities at the reimagined Jordan Downs -- with more on the way -- as part of our mission to empower all people, regardless of background, to live in a place they’re proud to call home.”
The input gathered from residents and leaders at the recent strategy session will be compiled into a report that will help guide the final crucial steps, ensuring the Watts community remains a place of opportunity for generations to come.
“I enjoyed the event with everyone coming to celebrate Jordan Downs 10-year celebration,” said Darlene Allen, Jordan Downs Resident and Community Coach. “[This redevelopment] is a long time coming. I look back in time and remember all the doubts residents had and now I am in my new house living so blessed.”
Other notable attendees at the celebration included Councilmember Tim McOsker (CD-15); Hollie Frey, Associate Director of Community Engagement at BRIDGE Housing; John Mimms, Vice President at The Michaels Organization; and Shajira Hope, Marketing Director at Primestor Development Inc.
“As a company deeply rooted in community, we’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside the residents, partners, and leaders who have helped bring this vision to life,” said Shajira Hope, Director of Marketing, Primestor. “Freedom Plaza was built with and for the community, and over the past decade, it’s become more than just a retail center. It’s a gathering place, a source of jobs, and a space that reflects the strength and spirit of Watts.”