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David Greer
Director of Communications
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New Funds Will Develop and Sustain Public Housing Authority Initiatives to Improve Postsecondary Achievement for Low-Income Households
WASHINGTON (November 25, 2019) – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, a housing advocacy organization and leader in efforts to improve life outcomes for low-income individuals and families, announced today that it has been awarded $300,000 from The Kresge Foundation to deepen connections between public housing authorities and their postsecondary education partners.
The three-year grant enables CLPHA to build on work that began last year, in partnership with The Kresge Foundation, to convene cross-sector housing and education partners who are collaborating to improve postsecondary achievement for students served by public housing authorities, including residents and housing insecure college students.
“Last year we showcased how these two sectors are working together to improve educational outcomes for low-income households. With generous funding from The Kresge Foundation, we will help more cross-sector partners develop and sustain their work,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “As a national organization representing 70 of the largest public housing authorities in the country, CLPHA is well-positioned to identify promising innovations and facilitate peer-learning among those doing the work with the goal to scale successful initiatives that can be replicated nationally. We are very grateful to The Kresge Foundation for its multi-year support of our work.”
With the funds, CLPHA, through its Housing Is Initiative, will establish a leadership institute for a cohort of public housing authority staff and their partners who demonstrate the experience and capacity for postsecondary collaboration. In addition to virtual meetings aimed at institutionalizing their cross-sector work, members of the cohort will travel for in-person site visits to learn about the different projects in the field.
“By supporting stronger partnerships between housing authorities and postsecondary stakeholders, CLPHA’s leadership institute will help increase college access and success for both public housing residents who have postsecondary aspirations but need support to realize their dreams, and current college students, whose housing insecurity threatens to derail their educational progress," said Bethany Miller, program officer with the Kresge Education Program.
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.
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative
The Housing Is Initiative, led by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, helps build a future where sectors work together to improve life outcomes. Housing stability is a critical first step to improve life outcomes for low-income children, families, and seniors; CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative is based on the premise that sectors can better meet needs when they work together. Housing Is establishes, broadens, and deepens efforts to align affordable housing, education, and health systems to produce positive, long-term results. Learn more at housingis.org and on Twitter @housing_is.
About The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation was founded in 1924 to promote human progress. Today, Kresge fulfills that mission by building and strengthening pathways to opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Using a full array of grant, loan, and other investment tools, Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. For more information visit kresge.org.
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CLPHA Submits Public Comments Opposing HUD’s Dangerous Non-Citizen Proposal
HUD’s cruel proposal would force mixed-status families to decide between a roof for some, or homelessness for all.
WASHINGTON (July 9, 2019) – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) today submitted public comments strongly opposing a proposal from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that seeks to eliminate mixed-status immigrant families from HUD-assisted housing, including 55,000 children who are either U.S. citizens or otherwise eligible for HUD assistance.
HUD’s proposal, published in the Federal Register on May 10 for a 60-day comment period, would reinterpret Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act to disallow anyone who cannot verify their immigration status from living in public housing or living in a market-rate apartment with a federal rental subsidy, even if their child or other family members are eligible for assistance. Under current law, rental assistance to these households is prorated and those ineligible for a subsidy pay their portion of the rent unassisted, often at market rates.
“HUD’s cruel proposal would force mixed-status families to decide between a roof for some, or homelessness for all,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “This reversal of long-standing policy is antithetical to the mission of public housing, which is to provide safe, affordable housing to very low-income families.”
“We know that stable housing is a platform for improving life outcomes and a foundation for healthy communities. Yet, this proposal instills fear and distrust, and would divert scarce resources, exacerbate the already crisis levels of homelessness, and, in the end, would do nothing to make our communities safer or better off,” said Zaterman.
“HUD’s proposal is contrary to our mission. Our members feel strongly that this re-interpreted regulation is bad public policy and our comments on the proposed rule reflect this,” said Zaterman.
Read CLPHA’s public comments and previous statements on HUD’s non-citizen rule on the CLPHA website, clpha.org.
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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For Immediate Release: July 2, 2019
CLPHA, Housing Experts Discuss Potential Dangers of HUD’s Proposed Housing Assistance Family Rule
A recording of the call is available HERE.
Washington, DC - Earlier today, immigration and housing experts gathered to address concerns regarding a recently proposed rule by the Trump administration that cruelly targets immigrant families to prevent them from receiving federal housing assistance. Experts discussed how the rule, which would affect about 25,000 households, would cruelly impact families of mixed-status.
The rule, the experts noted, would force families apart as they struggled to keep their current housing threatening many with homelessness, including the 55,000 children who are either U.S. citizens or otherwise eligible for housing benefits and who would be separated from their families
Below are quotes from today’s speakers.
Doug Guthrie, President and CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, said, “If this proposed rule change were to go through it would be devastating for Los Angeles families with mixed immigration status. It would impact as many as 11,600 individuals in assisted housing the majority of whom are young children who are American citizens and it would cost the housing authority millions of dollars. This would likely result in thousands of people becoming homeless at a time when homelessness is already a crisis in Los Angeles.”
Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, noted, “HUD’s proposal would force mixed status families to decide between a roof for some, or homelessness for all. This is antithetical to the mission of public housing, which is to provide safe, affordable housing to very low-income families. Instead, this proposal would exacerbate crisis levels of homelessness, divert scarce resources from already underfunded public housing authorities, and instill fear and distrust while doing nothing to make our communities safer or better off.”
Diane Yentel, President and CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition, added, “The cruelty of Secretary Carson’s proposal is breathtaking, and the harm it would inflict on children, families and communities is severe,” said National Low Income Housing Coalition President and CEO Diane Yentel. “Tens of thousands of deeply poor kids, mostly US citizens, could be evicted and made homeless by this proposal, and – by HUD’s own admission – there would be zero benefit to families on waiting lists. This proposal is another in a long line of attempts by the administration to instill fear in immigrants throughout the country. We will not stand for it.”
Arianna Cook-Thajudeen, Bank of America Legal Fellow, National Housing Law Project, said, “The National Housing Law Project opposes this proposed rule because it would have a detrimental impact on the housing stability of millions of families. The federal housing programs in particular serve as a lifeline for many families who are one step away from homelessness. What the Administration is doing is through this proposal is ruthless and reckless. We urge everyone to submit comments to HUD to oppose this rule by July 9th.”
Tory Gunsolley, President and CEO, Houston Housing Authority, remarked, “The current system works. Undocumented occupants are not receiving federal subsidies. The proposed regulations, on the other hand, would cause a needless increase in homelessness and cost the federal government more money. The proposed regulation would force HHA to be an extension of immigration enforcement, a role that does align with our mission to provide safe, affordable housing. It simply doesn't make sense to implement.”
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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.
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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(Washington, D.C.) November 19, 2021 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement after the House passage of the Build Back Better Act today:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the $1.9 trillion Build Back Better Act. The $150 billion targeted to affordable housing is the single largest investment in public housing ever.
“Today represents a fundamental change in America’s approach to public and affordable housing. The Build Back Better Act is historic legislation that seeks to remedy two generations of chronic disinvestment that has left millions of public housing residents suffering and exacerbated health, safety, climate risks, and racial inequities. These long-term investments to public housing, along with significant expansion of rental and homeownership assistance, will increase housing stability, reduce poverty, provide substantial climate benefits, and spur economic activity that strengthens local communities.
“CLPHA is thankful the House continued to listen to housing advocates by re-inserting provisions that will strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit’s ability to better leverage the capital required to develop and redevelop aging public housing infrastructure.
“As the Act moves to the Senate, CLPHA will continue its work with Senators to ensure that the public and affordable housing funding levels remain intact in the Senate version.”
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(Washington, D.C.) October 28, 2021 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement applauding President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better announcement this morning: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds President Biden’s announcement of a $1.85 trillion reconciliation framework with $150 billion targeted to affordable housing, the single largest investment in public housing ever. “For decades, millions of public housing residents have suffered from chronic disinvestment in their neighborhoods, exacerbating health, safety, climate risks, and racial inequities. The Build Back Better Act is historic and transformational in its comprehensive long-term approach by making public housing safe and sustainable for generations to come and significantly expanding rental and homeownership assistance. Stable, affordable housing is foundational to the health and economic well-being of all Americans and to our nation as a whole. This unprecedented and long overdue investment in the preservation and expansion of affordable housing, coupled with the Build Back Better Act’s other investments such as universal prekindergarten, the child tax credit, and climate change remediation, will have an historic impact on reducing poverty and improving the climate. “The Biden administration is delivering on a promise that has been decades in the making. CLPHA strongly supports the Building Back Better Act as a history-making investment in public housing and expanding housing opportunities.”
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
October 28, 2021 |
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About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(Washington, D.C.) October 1, 2021 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement urging Congress not to cut proposed funding for public housing and rental assistance in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill:
“The transformational Build Back Better Act, proposed by President Biden and currently moving through Congress, will significantly expand the nation’s social safety net by providing safe, quality, and affordable housing to millions of low-income and marginalized families. The $90 billion in expanded rental assistance, $80 billion to preserve public housing, and $37 billion investment in the national Housing Trust Fund that passed the House Financial Services Committee in mid-September represents a significant step forward in federal funding for public and affordable housing. These funding levels are appropriate and justified as they finally make up for generations of chronic neglect and underfunding. For this reason, as negotiations about the size of the reconciliation bill move forward, CLPHA urges Congress to retain the funding levels for expanding rental assistance, preserving public housing, and investing in the nation’s Housing Trust Fund.
“Public and affordable housing has suffered under persistent disinvestment for decades. This has left public housing authorities unable to complete capital improvements, which has helped contribute to the loss of 400,000 affordable homes since 1990. Currently only 1 out of every 4 families who are eligible to receive a Housing Choice Voucher are able to access the program because of a lack of funding. This inadequacy of federal resources not only perpetuates the cycle of poverty, but also costs the American economy about $2 trillion every year in lower wages and productivity because of a shortage of affordable housing in major metropolitan areas.
“CLPHA thanks Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, and Senate Housing, Banking, and Urban Chair Sherrod Brown for championing housing throughout their careers and during the negotiations over the Build Back Better reconciliation process. Now Congress must commit to fully funding public and affordable housing at the levels in the House Financial Services Committee bill.”
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On May 21, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson, testified before the House Financial Services Committee at a hearing entitled “Housing in America: Oversight of the U.S. Department of Housing and Development” where he received pointed questions from the committee Democrats on recent HUD proposals such as rent reform, the non-citizen rule, and HUD’s FY20 budget request which would slash funding for public housing.
In her opening remarks, Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) expressed her disappointment in the Secretary’s leadership at HUD, referring to his rent reform proposal as an “outrageous plan” that would “triple rent for the lowest income households and put 1.7 million Americans at risk of eviction and homelessness at a time when we are in the midst of a national homelessness and housing affordability crisis.”
Waters also admonished the Secretary for the Department’s budget proposal that would cut its budget by 18 percent and eliminate new funding for the capital fund and housing trust fund, halt the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule implementation, and delay disaster recovery funding for Puerto Rico. Referring to the proposed non-citizen rule as “cruel” and one that, “puts mixed immigration status families at risk of being evicted, separated, and left homeless,” Waters concluded that these actions are inconsistent with the Department’s mission.
Continuing the focus on recent HUD proposals, several Democrats expressed their outrage to Carson over the rent reform and non-citizen proposals. Reps. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), were among those who challenged the Department’s assertion that removing mixed-status families from HUD-assisted housing would reduce waiting lists and help address the lack of affordable housing.
Carson defended the proposed rule by stating that the current interpretation of the statute unfairly allows undocumented immigrants to live in federally assisted housing at the expense of U.S. citizens. “It’s not that we’re cruel or mean-hearted, it’s that we’re logical,” he said. “This is common sense. You take care of your own first.”
Velazquez also reproved Carson for acknowledging the affordable housing crisis while at the same time eliminating the capital fund, referring to HUD’s budget proposal as “shameful and immoral.”
In contrast to the frustrated tone of their colleagues, Republican committee members generally expressed support for Carson’s proposals and asked about issues such as impediments to affordable housing construction, opportunity zones, recent changes to FHA loan program rules, and disaster recovery.
When discussing options for increasing affordable housing production, Secretary Carson touted LIHTC, RAD, and the potential for combining those programs with opportunity zone tax incentives to engage in unprecedented opportunities to build affordable housing and create economic opportunities. Calling RAD one of the most spectacular HUD programs, he said that lifting the RAD cap would be tremendously helpful.
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Rep. Al Green (D-TX) both raised concerns with the cumbersome CDBG-DR disbursement process and asked the Secretary what could be done to provide, or codify, a framework that would speed delivery of aid to areas impacted by natural disasters. In his response, the Secretary expressed concerns with the duplicative requirements across HUD and FEMA and said that there are ways to streamline the process that can, and should, be codified to ensure grant dollars can be disbursed more expediently.
Several committee members focused their questions on Housing Choice Vouchers and landlords’ unwillingness to consider applicants who use them. Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) asked the Secretary whether a federal law prohibiting source of income discrimination is needed to increase lease-up rates and ensure that families can put their voucher to use. Carson responded that the Department is looking at impediments to people accepting vouchers, and if after going through that evaluation process the problem continues, then a federal source of income discrimination law may be needed.
When asked about his legacy at HUD, Secretary Carson said that he hoped the Department would be known for putting people on a positive trajectory. And, if given a magic wand to implement any policy possible, Carson said he would “make this country stop hating each other. We’d get a whole lot done.”
In Affordable Housing Finance's (AHF) article discussing Rep. Maxine Waters' (D-CA) draft legislation of her Housing is Infrastructure bill, CLPHA's Sunia Zaterman told reporter Donna Kimura that Waters' bill, which would allocate $70 billion for the public housing capital fund, is attempting to get the public housing industry "on an even keel."
Zaterman told Kimura, “We do have challenges moving forward in the appropriations process on the annual funding levels for public housing operating and capital funds, but what Ms. Waters is saying in this bill is that we can no longer stand by idly and watch this public investment start to crumble when we need it the most.”
Zaterman added that Congress must also consider expanding additional tools that PHAs can employ in their public housing development and renovation efforts, such as the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs).
AHF also quoted Zaterman's April 30 press statement on Waters' draft legislation and the House Committee on Financial Services April 30 hearing “Housing in America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock":
“Public housing is as a much a part of the national infrastructure as Route 66, the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Hoover Dam,” said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. “Public housing helps communities and families thrive by providing more than 1 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,” Zaterman added.
In Affordable Housing Finance's article "Turning Point for Public Housing," CLPHA' Executive Director Sunia Zaterman says of the massive capital needs backlog facing public housing authorities that “[t]he handwriting has been on the wall. The funding levels were not sustainable."
Zaterman adds, "We have lost about 10,000 units a year from underfunding," but that "[t]he number of public housing units lost may have slowed to about 8,000 a year, thanks to RAD, in the last couple of years.”
With RAD, says Zaterman, “[w]e have achieved proof of concept,... We could have the portfolio totally recapitalized in 10 years.”
Read Affordable Housing Finance's article here.
Vancouver, WA newspaper The Columbian quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman about the disastrous effect President Trump's budget proposal would have on pubic and affordable housing in their article "Trump’s budget would cut social safety nets:"
"The administration wants us to think beyond investing in bricks and mortar, and instead think about investing in people. This budget does neither of those things. The disinvestment in housing and supportive services is a disinvestment in our nation’s most vulnerable populations, including the 2.2 million low- and very low-income families, children, elderly and persons with disabilities who are served by public housing. Congress has previously rejected draconian budgets that shred our safety net, and we call on them to do so again."
Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) Executive Director Roy Johnson, who contributed comment for the story, explained how Trump's proposed budget would negatively impact the individuals and families served by VHA. Johnson told the paper that losing public housing funding would result in 114 planned units losing subsidy, including Caples Terrace, an under-construction project in Vancouver for homeless youth and youth aging out of foster care slated to open in July, and two other public housing projects the housing authority hopes to start at the end of 2019.
Read Zaterman's full statement on Trump's proposed 2020 budget
Scotsman Guide, a resource for mortgage originators, quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman about how President Donald Trump's proposed FY 2020 budget will affect affordable housing in their article "2020 budget: How does it affect the mortgage industry?":
“The administration wants us to think beyond investing in bricks and mortar, and instead think about investing in people. This budget does neither of those things,” said Sunia Zaterman..."The disinvestment in housing and supportive services is a disinvestment in our nation’s most vulnerable populations, including the 2.2 million low- and very low-income families, children, elderly and persons with disabilities who are served by public housing."
Read Zaterman's full statement on Trump's proposed 2020 budget
From the Cambridge Housing Authority's press release:
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA), along with its partners, employees, and residents, will gather on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, celebrated the groundbreaking of the Revitalization of Jefferson Park Federal. This project marks a significant redevelopment milestone for a 278-unit, deeply affordable, housing community for families in North Cambridge.
Acting U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Adrianne Todman, Deputy Secretary at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Jennifer Maddox, and Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons are scheduled attended and shared remarks at the ceremony alongside CHA Executive Director Michael J. Johnston, local leaders, and key partners.
The redevelopment of Jefferson Park is being completed in two phases. Phase 1, consisting of 195 units, closed on $170 million in financing in July 2024, and Phase 2, consisting of 83 units, is anticipated to close on financing next year.
The CHA has funded this new development through the unique partnership among federal, state, and local governments. Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and public housing operating subsidy form the underpinning of the project’s overall financing. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is also providing over $7 million of soft loans—in addition to state low-income housing tax credits—through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. MassHousing is providing $85 million in tax-exempt private activity bonds for Phase 1, along with permanent financing and bridge financing. The City of Cambridge, through its Affordable Housing Trust, is contributing an additional $43 million over the project’s two phases.
The combination of these public resources, private partnerships with The Richman Group, TD Bank, and Santander for tax credit equity and construction financing, and the cooperation of all levels of government, is allowing the CHA to develop some of the first new public housing units in Cambridge since 1997. This project was the second to be approved under the City of Cambridge’s Affordable Housing Overlay zoning.
The Revitalization of Jefferson Park is the culmination of an over eight-year effort to redevelop and revitalize the living community for a 1950’s era public housing development in very poor condition. The original buildings had substantial problems with water infiltration from ground water, as well as a failing sewer system which was causing mildew and poor air quality in many apartments. Additional issues with the masonry of the building and site infrastructure included collapsed piping and failing waterlines. Deteriorated condition of interior finishes were also documented.
New construction is not only enabling the CHA to remedy these deficiencies, but is also allowing the agency to create an additional 103 new family units for the site. Nearly 48% of units will have three or more bedrooms, with 85% of the units having two or more bedrooms.
“Moving forward with a project of this magnitude and scope is incredibly exciting for many reasons,” said Executive Director Michael J. Johnston. “I am proud of our commitment to putting the needs of our residents first every step of the way, and what truly stands out is that we’re not just replacing the original 175 obsolete public housing units, but we are also adding 103 family-sized units. All while ensuring the 278 total units remain deeply affordable and available to the thousands of applicants sitting stagnate on our waiting lists.”
The project is being built by Consigli Construction Co. and is designed by BWA Architecture.
“The Revitalization of Jefferson Park Federal will create a safe and sustainable environment for the residents and families served by the Cambridge Housing Authority to call home,” said CEO of Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Anthony Consigli. “Consigli is proud to be part of the team delivering a project that puts the community first, as well as addresses urgent local affordable housing needs.”
The design includes six new buildings featuring private entries on the first floor with a mix of private patios and shared courtyards. Each building is designed to meet Passive House and Enterprise Green Communities standards. The placement of the new buildings and roads will allow the property to better connect to the neighborhood’s street grid and provide residents with safer and more accessible access to their homes compared to the previous site. The redevelopment will also include two new Head Start classrooms, playgrounds, a park, bike-sharing stations, and a Food Pantry. Residents will move into the first phase of completed homes in early 2026, with the final units completed by the end of 2026.
In addition to its federal, state, and local partners, the CHA joined with a number of financial partners to make this transformation possible including The Richman Group, TD Bank, Santander, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), and MassHousing.
From the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's press release:
The City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), and The Community Builders (TCB) celebrated the grand opening of Phase II of the six phase Woodhill Homes transformation. Woodhill Center East, 61 quality affordable apartments and 16 townhomes for individuals and families to help revitalize the Buckeye-Woodhill community. This $35.2 million development is located at 11305 Woodland Ave and features a community room, fitness center, landscaped greenspace, a playground, and an outdoor patio.
“It’s exhilarating to celebrate the completion of Phase II and the groundbreaking of Phase III! I want to thank our partners, and I know residents share my excitement for the neighborhood's future,” said Council President Blaine Griffin of Ward 6. “The transformation of Buckeye-Woodhill will drive economic growth and strengthen our multigenerational community with vibrant spaces like community rooms, fitness centers, landscaped greens, playgrounds, and outdoor patios.”
The development team is also proud to break ground on the $34.6 Million Phase III, Woodhill Station East. This new apartment building is being constructed immediately to the east of the Phase I development at the corner of Buckeye Road and Woodhill Road. The development will include 64 new apartment units at varying levels of affordability, as well as an onsite early childhood education center. Woodhill Station East also features a community room, fitness center, and patio space for residents to come together as well as hold community events.
“The Buckeye/Woodhill Choice Neighborhood’s completion of the second phase, as well as the breaking ground on the third phase represents a significant milestone for this transformative neighborhood revitalization effort,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, Chief Executive Officer for the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. “We are grateful to all of the residents, community partners, and stakeholders that have committed to keeping this project moving forward to provide quality housing opportunities for this community.”
“The Community Builders are thrilled to be here today to open the doors at Woodhill Center East and mark the completion of the second phase of the Woodhill Homes transformation – with the next phase just beginning. Today’s ribbon cutting is a milestone that brings 77 quality homes to individuals and families, making Cleveland’s Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood even stronger,” said George Tabit, regional vice president of real estate development for The Community Builders. “On behalf of our organization, I want to extend my deepest thanks and a well-earned congratulations to the many partners and leaders who have made this development possible, including CMHA, the City of Cleveland, Council President Blaine Griffin, Councilwoman Deborah Gray and our funders. And of course, we welcome home the residents of Woodhill Center East
From the Housing Authority of the City of Austin's (HACA) press release:
An 8-year, resident-focused redevelopment of the Pathways at Chalmers Courts neighborhood in East Austin culminated Friday with a celebration to mark the completion of one of the largest projects to date for the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA).
The third – and final – phase, the 156-unit Pathways at Chalmers Courts West, was recently completed. Earlier phases – the 86-unit Pathways at Chalmers Courts South and the 156-unit Pathways at Chalmers Courts East – debuted in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
Completing the project in phases minimized resident displacement during the construction process. Combined, the three phases offer 398 mixed-income units. Unit sizes range from 1-bedroom to 4-bedrooms, allowing HACA to serve more families with children who enjoy convenient access to neighborhood schools.
The new Pathways at Chalmers Courts replaces a former HACA office building dating back to the 1980s, as well as the original, 158-unit Chalmers Courts public housing community, which was initially built between 1938 and 1942 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.
“This is a tremendous day for HACA – and for the entire community,” HACA President and CEO Michael Gerber said. “We have more than doubled the total number of units, making it possible to house more of Austin’s families most in need."
“We’ve never rebuilt an entire neighborhood before. HACA worked incredibly hard to get to this point and we’re proud to be able to provide Chalmers Courts residents with beautiful new homes with energy efficient appliances, central air, washer/dryer hookups, free Google Fiber internet and a number of other amenities."
Community features include a first-of-its-kind on-site CommUnity Care medical and dental clinic, expanded Boys & Girls Club, rooftop solar panels, a splash pad and basketball court.
Local and federal officials were on hand for the celebration, including U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and District 3 Austin City Councilmember José Velásquez.
Pathways at Chalmers Courts is located in Velásquez’s Council district.
“Affordability is the most pressing issue facing the City of Austin – the urgency cannot be minimized,” Velásquez said. “I’m grateful to see Pathways at Chalmers Courts going up in District 3, helping the Austinites I serve each day by offering 300-plus units of affordable housing. We need more of it! And that’s what I’m fighting for.”
Other officials on hand include new Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator Candace Valenzuela and HACA Board of Commissioners Chairman Carl S. Richie Jr. and Board Member Mary Apostolou.
“It has been an honor and a pleasure to watch the transformation of Chalmers Courts,” Richie said. “We’re not stopping here though. We’re committed to East Austin. We’ve got the Rosewoood Courts redevelopment already under way, with Santa Rita Courts set to follow soon after."
Innovative federal housing programs made it possible to expand and modernize Chalmers Courts. Texas-based Carleton Companies was HACA’s development partner for all three Pathways at Chalmers Courts phases. Austin-based Nelsen Partners served as architect for the Chalmers Courts redevelopment.
“The new construction at Chalmers Courts substantially improves overall living conditions, making it possible for children to continue attending their neighborhood schools, and further helps strengthen the community ties among all the residents,” said Printice Gary, Managing Partner for Carleton Companies. “Carleton Companies couldn’t be happier to be a part of the neighborhood renaissance at Chalmers Courts.”
From WTKR 3 News Norfolk:
If you live in neighborhoods like Huntersville, Franklin Arms or Calvert’s Square, running basic every day errands can be a real challenge, with the closest grocery store in some of these communities sitting multiple miles away. This is even more of an issue for seniors and for residents who can’t drive. Luckily, the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority is stepping in to help.
On Wednesday, a bus of more than 100 people pulled up to the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Senior Fest at the Chartway Arena, with some coming from these neighborhoods.
“It was good and I got to see sections of the town that I’ve never scene before,” said one Norfolk resident, Geraldine Jennings, when talking about the bus ride.
Jennings says she finds it hard to run some errands in her community because she can’t drive and has trouble walking.
“We can’t walk to the store and then our scooters don’t hold that much,” she told News 3.
To combat the problem, the NRHA teamed up with Agape tours to bus residents for free to the supermarket and to certain special events like the senior expo.
“There’s not a lot of food, healthy foods, for them to be able to access in that immediate area. So having the transportation, it provides them the opportunity to get the things they need,” said NRHA’s Community Relations Manager, Corey Brooks.
Brooks says these trips aren’t just vital for the physical health for the people in these communities, but also their mental health, as seniors tend to live more isolated lives.
From WTKR News Norfolk's article "NRHA offering free rides to residents in Norfolk food deserts."
From WAVY 10 News Norfolk:
Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) partnered with the United Way of South Hampton Roads and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Virginia for a Born Learning Trail in Grandy Village.
Serving as an educational resource and an opportunity for community engagement, the Born Learning Trail is set to promote early childhood literacy, education and parental involvement.
Residents of all ages will notice colorful shapes, images and numbers painted on the sidewalk while walking the Born Learning Trail. There’s also a series of 10 signs that encourage specific learning activities like counting, identifying colors or learning about nature.
“The Born Learning Trail will give the Grandy Village’s families and children opportunities to connect and learn about nature,” said Raytron White, president of the Grandy Village Tenant Management Council. “It’s a perfect opportunity to have fun learning while improving health.”
Read WAVY 10 News' article "Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority to Unveil Born Learning Trail in Grandy Village."