Welcome to CLPHA's Press Room
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David Greer
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Statement From Council of Large Public Housing
Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman
Washington, DC – “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), representing more than 70 of the country’s largest and most innovative housing authorities, is calling on Congress to reject the Trump Administration’s FY18 budget, which proposes to slash $6.2 billion in funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including $2 billion in cuts to public housing. If realized, the draconian cuts included in this budget would not only have severe and cumulative effects on public and affordable housing programs across the country, but it would also shred the safety net of other public assistance programs on which many low-income Americans rely.
“The Trump Administration’s full FY18 budget proposal, released today, Tuesday, May 23, would devastate HUD programs that are currently helping over 1.2 million households that reside in public housing, including families, seniors, persons with disabilities, and close to 800,000 children. The budget targets America’s most vulnerable citizens with drastic cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), while also slashing disability benefits and student loan and education programs, thereby crippling essential support systems affecting many of the residents we serve in low-income housing.
“The Administration’s dramatic HUD reductions come at a time when the federal government should actually be investing in public housing as part of the nation’s infrastructure, as such investment generates economic growth, creates jobs, bolsters productivity, and generates tax revenue for localities.
“The budget proposes $628 million for the Public Housing Capital Fund compared to $1.942 billion in FY17; $3.9 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund compared to $4.4 billion in FY17; $17.584 billion for Section 8 voucher renewals compared to $18.355 billion in FY17; and $1.55 billion for administrative fees compared to $1.65 billion in FY17.
“Everyone should be alarmed by the magnitude of these proposed cuts -- the Public Housing Capital Fund alone sustains a cut of over 67 percent. The irony of this particular cut is that it not only undermines basic health and safety improvements, it also makes it virtually impossible to leverage private investment, which HUD claims is a major policy priority.
“Another example is the proposed $771 million reduction to the Housing Choice Voucher program, which provides housing vouchers to needy families. These budget reductions, coupled with rising rents and inflation, will result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of vouchers and threaten currently-housed families with homelessness.
“CLPHA and the nation’s largest public housing authorities are asking members of Congress to reject the cuts proposed by the Trump Administration, as they will significantly harm our most vulnerable citizens and undermine our already significant public investment in this affordable housing stock.”
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), representing more than 70 of the country’s largest and most innovative housing authorities, calls on the Administration and Congress to reject the draconian proposal to slash more than $6 billion in funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including $2 billion in cuts to public housing.
There are over 1.2 million households currently residing in public housing. Seniors and persons with disabilities constitute over half of all residents, and there are over 600,000 children residing in public housing. Public housing cuts will fall directly on the shoulders of residents currently residing in public housing and reduce opportunities for millions of families languishing on waiting lists across the country.
The public housing capital fund provides modernization and rehabilitation funding for the 1.2 million unit public housing portfolio. The reported cut to the capital fund of $1.3 billion represents close to a 70% reduction from last year’s funding level. These proposed cuts will dramatically accelerate the current estimated loss of 10,000 to 12,000 public housing units already lost annually due to chronic underfunding.
The public housing operating fund covers day-to-day operational and maintenance expenses not covered by resident rents. The reported cut to the operating fund of $600 million is a 13% percent reduction from last year, and approximately 72% of what is needed. This funding level will have a devastating impact on the ability to operate and maintain this housing and severely endanger the health, wellbeing, and safety of our most vulnerable children, families, and seniors reliant on housing assistance.
These cuts directly contradict the findings of the congressionally-mandated 2010 HUD study on the backlog of public housing capital repair needs estimated at $26 billion and annual accruing capital needs estimated at $3.4 billion. HUD’s budget does not come close to meeting the annual need and contributes to the growing backlog need.
The tenant based rental assistance program which provides housing vouchers to needy families will also experience a $300 million reduction according to the reports on the budget. This cut coupled with rising rents and inflation will result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of vouchers and threaten currently housed families with homelessness.
We call on the Administration and Congress to reject these draconian cuts that will harm our most vulnerable citizens and undermine our already significant public investment in this affordable housing stock.
Statement From Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, which represents 70 of the nation’s largest public housing authorities (PHAs) in cities across the United States, congratulates Dr. Ben Carson on his nomination as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Housing stability is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty for families, and our nation’s PHAs have been on the front lines of this fight, helping to develop creative solutions to our housing crisis, and implementing these ideas in their communities.
CLPHA looks to Dr. Carson to advocate for adequate funding for housing programs, to support implementation of innovative programs on the local level, including the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and Moving to Work (MTW), and to provide PHAs with the tools to promote the cross-sector partnerships that connect housing to health, education and other sectors to lift families out of poverty.
As someone who spent part of his upbringing in public housing, Dr. Carson represents the promise to create opportunity and lift people out of poverty. We look forward to working with him and HUD to provide safe, decent, and affordable rental housing to low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
From the Tacoma Housing Authority's press release:
The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) has secured new funding to rehabilitate over 300 of its existing affordable housing units. 316 households representing over 1,000 residents of northwest Salishan and Hillside Terrace 2300 will see their units updated over a two-year period. This $150 million effort will bring much needed upgrades and renovations to these decades-old properties.
Resyndication is a feature of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program in which affordable housing providers seek to secure a new allocation of tax credits for the purpose of preservation, rehabilitation, and/or sustainable development. This critical tool ensures that THA has financial backing to update and renovate hundreds of units and improve the quality of life for tenants at THA family properties. This program was recently expanded by Congress and championed by Senator Maria Cantwell.
The rehabilitation project is expected to span two years, with improvements designed to enhance comfort, safety, and sustainability for families. THA is taking a strategic, staggered approach in which households will be temporarily moved to different units in their community while their home undergoes construction. The scope of work includes:
• New roofs, windows, and heat pumps
• Upgraded appliances, flooring, cabinets, and countertops
• Interior and exterior painting
• Modernized plumbing and electrical fixtures
• Comprehensive site improvements
“Salishan and Hillside Terrace are family properties at their core,” said Director of Asset Management and Real Estate Development Ken Short. “This resyndication is more than a construction project—it’s an investment in children, parents, and neighbors who deserve high-quality, safe, and sustainable housing.”
55% of households whose homes will be rehabilitated include children, and 73% are extremely low-income, earning less than 30% of Area Median Income (AMI). The average annual income of these households is $28,918.
The resyndication is backed by over $150 million in funding from multiple sources, including a $10 million award from the Washington State Department of Commerce, dedicated to energy efficiency upgrades including new windows and heat pumps with air conditioning. Citi Bank is serving as the lender for this effort, underscoring the strong financial partnerships that make this ambitious rehabilitation possible.
THA has engaged LMC as the general contractor, who will partner with local development group 1DROP to facilitate outreach and opportunities for local, community-minded small businesses to work on the project.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' newsletter:
Two new Panda Cares Centers of Hope are opening doors to education and opportunity for youth across HACLA communities. We celebrated the openings with ribbon cuttings at Pueblo del Sol and William Mead Homes, highlighting a major investment in youth empowerment. At Pueblo del Sol, Panda Cares and Panda Associates partnered with the Variety Boys & Girls Club to establish a new Center of Hope, creating a dedicated learning space that supports academic success, skill-building, and college and career readiness.
At William Mead, we welcomed the transformation of the community center into a Panda Cares Center of Hope through its long-standing partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside. Since 2018, this collaboration has provided residents at William Mead, Ramona Gardens, and Estrada Courts with educational support, leadership development, recreational programming, and digital literacy skills.
From the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority's press release:
Wesley Housing, The Lamb Center, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), Fairfax County, and City of Fairfax officials, and other development project partners gathered on November 3rd to break ground on Beacon Landing in Fairfax, VA. The innovative rental apartment community will provide 54 new Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units with wraparound supportive services to people experiencing or at-risk of chronic homelessness.
Beacon Landing is the result of a thoughtful partnership between Wesley Housing and The Lamb Center, leveraging both organizations’ complementary missions, expertise, and long histories of community service to deliver Northern Virginia’s largest permanent supportive housing community. Located in the northeast portion of Fairfax City, on the same street as The Lamb Center’s existing daytime drop-in shelter for people experiencing homelessness, the community will replace the former Hy-Way Motel site (9640 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA), which was demolished in 2024.
Once complete, Beacon Landing will offer primarily studio-style apartments tailored for single individuals with very low incomes. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) awarded 48 project-based vouchers for the development. The community will feature 42 studio, 10 one-bedroom, and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The building is designed as 100% universal design and nine units will meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Type A requirements to address resident accessibility needs. The new apartment building will feature an innovative, trauma-informed, energy-efficient design and will meet National Green Building Standards (NGBS) and Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) requirements.
Once complete, Beacon Landing will offer primarily studio-style apartments tailored for single individuals with very low incomes. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) awarded 48 project-based vouchers for the development. The community will feature 42 studio, 10 one-bedroom, and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The building is designed as 100% universal design and nine units will meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Type A requirements to address resident accessibility needs. The new apartment building will feature an innovative, trauma-informed, energy-efficient design and will meet National Green Building Standards (NGBS) and Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) requirements.
“This is not just a building; it’s a bold response to a growing need,” said Wesley Housing President and CEO Kamilah McAfee. “Beacon Landing shows what’s possible when communities like Fairfax County and City of Fairfax come together cross-jurisdictionally to invest substantial resources in housing solutions that are compassionate, coordinated, and lasting.”
The five-story, mixed-use development will include structured parking, a community space, an outdoor terrace, and office space on the ground floor, enabling an expansion of The Lamb Center’s job readiness programs to help individuals find and sustain employment. Residents will also benefit from case management and wrap-around services to support their health, stability, and independence, ranging from income and benefit navigation to life skills training and mental health support.
“Nine years ago, grounded in faith, The Lamb Center asked a simple question: ‘What is the greatest unmet need of our homeless neighbors?’ That question brought us to this moment. Beacon Landing shows what’s possible when boundaries fade and communities unite around a shared conviction — that housing is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right,” said The Lamb Center Executive Director Tara Ruszkowski.
“At the FCRHA, we are committed to removing barriers and creating access for everyone in their quest to find opportunities. Beacon Landing does just that, by providing people experiencing homelessness with homes and supportive services to help them thrive,” said Lenore Stanton, Chair, FCRHA.
From the Los Angeles Sentinel:
In honor of Veterans Day, Mayor Karen Bass welcomed servicemembers from across Los Angeles to Getty House for a luncheon recognizing their service and celebrating the early success of her “House Our Vets” initiative, a program launched in January to end Veteran homelessness in the city. The event brought together Veterans who recently secured permanent housing, property owners contributing units to the effort, and civic leaders partnering with the city to accelerate placements.
Since the program’s launch, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) reports that nearly 400 Veterans have been housed through the HUD-VASH program, with a retention rate of 99 percent. The progress reflects major policy changes Mayor Bass championed in Washington, D.C. last year, where she led a delegation of more than 50 bipartisan mayors in pushing for the removal of federal barriers preventing Veterans from receiving both disability benefits and housing vouchers simultaneously.
“For years, federal policies forced Veterans to choose between healthcare and housing,” Bass said, addressing the crowd gathered inside the Getty House courtyard.
“No one who served our country should ever have had to make that choice. When I learned these policies left thousands of vouchers unused, I knew we had to act.”
The mayor reflected on her experience chairing the U.S. Conference of Mayors Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness, where her advocacy helped secure HUD waivers and regulatory changes that now allow Veterans to retain their earned benefits while accessing permanent housing assistance.
Read the Loa Angeles Sentinel's article "Mayor Bass Celebrates Veterans, Highlights Progress Toward Ending Veteran Homelessness."
From the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino's website:
On November 4, HACSB and its partners celebrated another milestone in the transformation of the Arrowhead Grove community: the groundbreaking of Alder Square, the fourth phase of redevelopment at the site. Previous phases of redevelopment added 322 new homes to the community, replacing 252 original 1940’s Public Housing units beginning in 2016. Alder Square will add 92 new apartment homes, including 14 mobility-accessible and 10 hearing-accessible units, and an on-site manager’s unit, for individuals and families earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Like previous phases, Alder Square is developed in partnership with its development partner, National CORE. HACSB’s Executive Director, Maria Razo, is proud of the enduring partnership between the Housing Authority and National CORE. “Our partnership has grown into a truly collaborative relationship, and we are united by our shared commitment to create high-quality affordable housing and thriving communities for the residents we serve. Together, we’re proving that affordable housing can be transformative,” Razo said.
HACSB would like to thank the many partners who have supported this project, including National CORE, San Bernardino County, the City of San Bernardino, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Congressman Pete Aguilar, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Strategic Growth Council, the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, Hudson Housing Capital, California Climate Investments, and Capital One.
Construction of Alder Square is expected to finish in late 2027.
