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FY20 Funding Bill from the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Includes Robust Funding Increases and Legislative Language to Prevent HUD from Evicting Mixed-Status Immigrant Families
WASHINGTON (May 22, 2019) - In preparation for a subcommittee markup on the morning of May 23, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) today released their FY20 funding bill. According to the subcommittee proposal, the discretionary funding level for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) totals $50.1 billion, an increase of $5.9 billion above the FY19 enacted level, and $13.4 billion above President Trump’s request.
The Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, Sunia Zaterman, issued the following statement in support of the bill:
“In a familiar pattern and reprise of repudiating Trump Administration budget proposals, the House THUD budget reflects Congress’ continuing commitment to fund critically important housing and community development programs the Administration proposed rescinding, cutting, or eliminating in its budget request.
“CLPHA is pleased that under the leadership of THUD Subcommittee Chairman David Price (D-NC) and Ranking Member Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the THUD proposal increases – in several instances substantially increases – or level funds programs critical to communities served by public housing authorities.
“In addition to robust funding increases, such as the doubling of Choice Neighborhoods to $300 million and fully funding the Section 8 account, the proposal includes legislative language to prevent HUD from evicting mixed-status immigrant families from public housing, and to prohibit HUD from unilaterally changing the public housing annual contributions contract without public input and following the administrative procedures act process. Importantly, mandatory rent increases and work requirements were not included in the subcommittee’s bill.
“We applaud the subcommittee for its ongoing commitment to public and affordable housing and look forward to working with the Chair and Ranking Member in support of this bill.”
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 (May 9, 2019) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will formally propose a new rule tomorrow that would disallow undocumented immigrants from living in federally subsidized housing. The proposed rule, which will be published in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period, would impact tens of thousands of immigrant families that include U.S. citizen children and other family members who are eligible for assistance.
The Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, Sunia Zaterman, issued the following statement in response to the proposed rule:
“CLPHA is strongly opposed to HUD’s punitive proposal that would make it harder for public housing authorities (PHAs) to serve their communities.
“The consequences are significant. Well over 10,000 mixed-immigration status family members currently served by one PHA, plus tens of thousands more around the country, would be impacted by the rule, making them more vulnerable to housing instability. HUD’s proposal would create more challenges for an already underfunded homeless services and prevention system.
“This policy is antithetical to the mission of the federal public housing program – to provide housing that is safe, decent and affordable to low- and very low-income families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities, and administer the housing choice voucher program.
“We are housers, not ICE agents, but that is exactly what HUD’s proposed rule is asking public housing authorities (PHAs) to become by requiring PHA staff to determine the immigration status of every household member and report it into a federal database.
“CLPHA will be submitting public comments in opposition to the proposed rule during the comment period.”
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 insect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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Public Housing is as much a part of the national infrastructure as Route 66, the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Hoover Dam.
WASHINGTON (April 30, 2019) - Today the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing entitled “Housing in America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock” to examine the need for investment in affordable housing infrastructure--including public housing—and investigate additional barriers to developing affordable housing.
Sunia Zaterman, the executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement after watching the hearing and reviewing draft legislation circulated by Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) that would authorize funding for several housing infrastructure projects, including $70 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund:
“Public housing is as a much a part of the national infrastructure as Route 66, the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Hoover Dam. Public housing helps communities and families thrive by providing more than one million low- and very-low income families, children, elderly and persons with disabilities with a stable place to live, connecting low-income workers to economic opportunities, and spurring regional job creation and economic growth.
“But, years of chronic underfunding have led to the deterioration of the public housing stock and since 1990, at least 300,000 units have been lost because of the lack of adequate resources to maintain them. The federal disinvestment in public housing has contributed to an untenable shortage of stable housing for low-income households.
“A reinvestment in public housing should include adequate funding to preserve and improve the public housing stock. Equally important is thoughtful consideration about additional tools that public housing authorities can use to modernize and develop affordable housing to meet the needs of residents and local communities. Expanding the Rental Assistance Demonstration program and increasing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations, for example, would support public housing authorities’ recapitalization and redevelopment efforts.
“Housing is infrastructure and we thank the Chairwoman and the Committee for underscoring the importance of public housing during today’s hearing and in the Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2019.”
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 insect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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From The Bronx Daily News:
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the City University of New York (CUNY), in partnership with the Public Housing Community Fund, today announced the award of an unprecedented 79 new scholarships totaling $79,000 through the NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program. The annual program, which aims to help NYCHA residents achieve a higher education, provides $1,000 per recipient for CUNY education-related expenses, including tuition and textbooks. The scholarships offer payments to eligible public housing residents and Section 8 recipients currently pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at CUNY schools with 24 or more credits and a minimum 3.0 grade point average. This year, private donors, including Amazon and New York City Council Members, contributed to the scholarship fund. An award ceremony was held in honor of this year’s recipients on September 29. Since its inception, a total of 415 recipients have been awarded $415,000 through the program.
“Our actions as an administration reflect a deep commitment to the well-being of all our young people and a belief that where you are should not determine who you are and who you could be,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Being able to complete your college education involves more than just the ability to attend classes and study, but whether you can even afford to obtain a higher education. In addition to tuition, students have to buy textbooks and other supplies, as well as pay for transportation. The NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program provides college students in NYCHA the support they need to complete their education and get on the path to prosperity and success.”
“This scholarship program reduces financial barriers to entry that are so often an impediment to those seeking higher degrees,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “We are grateful for the investment made in the education and futures of the 79 NYCHA residents and CUNY students who will benefit from this year’s program.”
“Pursuing higher education is an amazing achievement, but one that can be daunting financially,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “It is our pleasure and privilege to work alongside CUNY and the Public Housing Community Fund to put this generous funding to good work, helping NYCHA residents attain college educations.”
Read The Bronx Daily News' article "Unprecedented 79 New NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships Awarded To NYCHA Residents."
From Northeastern Global News:
Adelia Argueta had multiple options for attending college — and attending college for free.
But when Argueta received that opportunity from Northeastern through the Boston Housing Authority Scholars program, she knew she had found a match.
“God put me here for a reason — this school is for me,” Argueta, a first-year student, says.
The Northeastern Boston Housing Authority Scholars Program provides full-tuition scholarships for BHA public housing residents. The scholarship is available to recent high school graduates looking for a traditional undergraduate bachelor’s degree program, or students of any age interested in a bachelor’s completion program through the College of Professional Studies.
“We’re very lucky to have this partnership that has been going on for so long,” Sahar Lawrence, director of resident leadership and community affairs at the BHA, says. Lawrence says the program has been around for roughly 40 years.
“When residents find out about it, they are very enthusiastic. So it’s quite exciting sometimes,” Lawrence continues. “It’s pretty unique to have this scholarship for a neighborhood school.”
Read Northeastern Global News' article "‘It has been life changing for me.’ Northeastern Boston Housing Authority Scholars Program creates opportunity."
From City of San Diego's press release:
To support ongoing, collaborative efforts to create additional permanent affordable homes with supportive services for people experiencing homelessness in the City of San Diego, the State of California has awarded $20.75 million in Homekey program funds for two San Diego projects. Applications for additional funds for San Diego are still pending a State decision.
“Outreach and shelter are critical components of our efforts to address homelessness, but what truly will solve this crisis is housing. That’s why this Homekey funding is crucial to our progress in meeting our city’s top challenge,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “I’m grateful to Governor Newsom and our partners at the county and state for helping us put a roof over people’s heads with supportive services to permanently end their homelessness.”
The State awarded these Homekey funds to the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) for projects that will produce 75 new affordable rental housing units with supportive services at properties in City Council District 2. All of these units would serve people experiencing homelessness.
“The evidence could not be clearer. Housing ends homelessness — specifically homes with support services that meet the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness,” said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “This Homekey funding will allow us to rapidly transform the lives of 75 of San Diego’s most vulnerable residents. I am deeply appreciative of Governor Newsom’s innovative Homekey initiative, our partnership with the County of San Diego led by Chair Vargas, and for the hard work of Housing Commission staff to develop an application that rose to the top of a very competitive process. This is a huge win for San Diego.”
“We know that housing ends homelessness, and the state’s Homekey program is a solution that works. It’s the collaborative effort between the state, county, and the city that will resolve homelessness in San Diego. The Homekey funds awarded to the San Diego Housing Commission by Governor Gavin Newsom will renovate two properties in District 2 that will give homeless individuals a clean and safe place to live,” said Councilmember Jennifer
Campbell, who represents communities in District 2.
The County of San Diego Board of Supervisors has also approved funding to support these projects.
“San Diego County is committed to supporting equitable and sustainable solutions for our region’s unsheltered population. Through strong and collaborative partnerships with partners like the City of San Diego, and the San Diego Housing Commission, we can continue strategizing viable solutions for our unsheltered community,” said Nora Vargas, Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Prioritizing housing and vital services like mental health and access to food assistance, we can keep our families, seniors, and veterans under a roof.”
The State awarded $16.85 million for SDHC’s proposed purchase and rehabilitation of the Ramada Inn at 3737-3747 Midway Drive in the Midway Community to create 62 affordable single-room occupancy (SRO) units, to be known as Pacific Village. An additional $3.9 million from the State will support SDHC’s collaboration with Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation to rehabilitate a vacant multifamily housing property at 2147 Abbott Street in Ocean Beach to create 13 affordable housing units.
SDHC has committed rental housing vouchers to help residents pay their rent at both properties when they are completed. Residents would receive access to supportive services, such as primary health care, mental and behavioral health care, and other community-based programs to best meet a resident’s individual needs.
Many organizations submitted letters in support of all of SDHC’s Homekey applications, including the Asian Business Association of San Diego; California Restaurant Association’s San Diego County Chapter; East Village Association; Downtown San Diego Partnership; Forever Balboa Park; Little Italy Association; Lucky Duck Foundation; San Diego Black American Policy Association Foundation; San Diego Food Bank; San Diego Padres; and San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
SDHC will request approval from the San Diego City Council, sitting as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego, to accept and expend the funds for the purchase and rehabilitation of these properties before proceeding.
Project Homekey provides an opportunity to bring badly needed housing online faster and cheaper than traditional new-construction affordable housing. Thanks to funding and regulatory streamlining from the Homekey program, San Diego has a unique opportunity to get people out of encampments and shelters and into permanent homes in months rather than years, and for as much as several hundreds of thousands of dollars less, per door. In some cases, the cost of new construction in San Diego has exceeded $675,000 per door. Homekey requires rehabilitation and occupancy to occur by a little more than a year at the latest; new housing can take three or more years to complete.
SDHC also has applied for $63.5 million through a statewide competition for the current round of limited Homekey funding for the proposed purchase and rehabilitation of two additional properties that would produce 266 affordable housing units:
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$28.5 million for 3860 Murphy Canyon Road in Kearny Mesa, which would create 105 affordable SRO units with supportive services, to be known as Willow Canyon.
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$35 million 2087 Hotel Circle South in Mission Valley, which would create 161 affordable SRO units with supportive services, to be known as Presidio Palms.
The State’s decision on those Homekey applications is expected by the end of the year.
San Diego has received more than $49.5 million from the Homekey program in previous rounds of funding to create 372 affordable rental apartments.
From The Virgin Islands Daily News:
Each apartment received new windows, doors, fixtures, flooring, cabinets, ceiling fans, LED lighting and a fresh coat of paint, according to a statement from housing developer MDG Design + Construction. The units are also equipped with new kitchen and bathroom fixtures designed with low water usage in mind as well as electric water heaters and EnergyStar appliances.
The buildings themselves have been updated with new plumbing and electrical systems and several features meant to increase storm resiliency. Last week’s ribbon cutting celebrated the completion of the first of four phases.
Michael Rooney, founding principal of MDG Design + Construction, called the achievement an “incredible example of how thoughtful partnerships and creative financing can create opportunities to support residents, build beautiful places to live, and keep affordable housing affordable.”
“Thanks to our many incredible partners, Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion will be a safe, clean, modern, and storm-resilient place to live for many years to come,” he said.
During the ribbon-cutting, Virgin Islands Housing Authority Executive Director Robert Graham called the completed units the “physical manifestation of our goal to replace all public housing in the territory.”
“We are committed to help every family that lives here build the future they want for their families,” he said later.
Read the Virgin Islands Daily News' article "First set of rehabilitated Walter I.M. Hodge apartments completed."
From the Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority's website:
The Board of Commissioners for the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) has selected Nathan Frank Simms Jr. to lead the organization as Executive Director. Simms will relocate from Fulton County, Georgia, where he most recently served as Manager – Federal Programs for their Department of Community Development.
Simms brings over 20 years of housing and community development experience to NRHA. He has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University.
“We look forward to working with Nathan. He has an impressive track record of success, particularly in process improvement and financial management,” according to Donald Musacchio, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for NRHA.
Early in his career, Simms spent over a decade working for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Following his time at HUD, he was Deputy Director for the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
“I look forward to working with NRHA’s diverse, professional staff. Together, we can positively impact the lives of thousands of people in Norfolk,” says Simms.