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 dgreer@clpha.org.
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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.
Public Housing Authorities, Community Colleges, College Access Partners Collaborate to Eliminate Barriers to Postsecondary Success
New Report and Recommendations from the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Highlight Innovative Cross-Sector Collaborations to Improve Postsecondary Achievement for Public Housing Residents and Housing-Insecure Students
Featuring Partnerships in Chicago, Columbus, Los Angeles, Louisville, Tacoma
WASHINGTON (May 16, 2019) – A new report released today from the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), with support from The Kresge Foundation, showcases the work of five pioneering public housing authorities (PHAs) that are successfully collaborating with postsecondary institutions and local nonprofit organizations to increase college access, retention, and graduation rates for current public housing residents and college students who are experiencing homelessness. “Eliminating Barriers to Postsecondary Success: Cross-Sector Collaborations to Improve Postsecondary Achievement for Students Served by Public Housing Authorities,” identifies key elements of effective cross-sector collaborations and offers a series of recommendations to policy makers, PHAs, and philanthropic foundations seeking to scale, replicate, and invest in partnerships between housing and education organizations.
“The trailblazing public housing authorities featured in our new report, along with their postsecondary partners, are redefining the traditional role of public housing in their communities to reach beyond four walls and a roof,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “With combined expertise from the housing and education sectors, two profoundly siloed systems, the partners are breaking new ground to implement targeted interventions that would not be possible without cross-sector collaboration. By documenting the successes, challenges, and future plans of the five partnerships, “Eliminating Barriers to Postsecondary Success” is an instruction guide to practitioners, policy makers, and philanthropy seeking new cross-sector solutions to serve low-income families.”
The report elevates 11 findings from a November 2018 convening in Washington, D.C., where partners from the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), City Colleges of Chicago, and One Million Degrees, and the Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) and Tacoma Community College discussed their work to provide financial support and housing opportunities for residents and housing insecure college students; the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and partner Southern California College Access Network (SoCal CAN) detailed their program to facilitate the college application and enrollment process among young residents, and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and partner Columbus State Community College, and the Louisville Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA) with partner Family Scholar House explained their dual generation approaches to ensuring young parents can graduate with a degree.
“Housing insecurity and homelessness can create tragic off-campus barriers to student persistence and success,” said Bethany Miller, program officer with the Kresge Foundation’s Education Program. “But solutions-driven partnerships, including those highlighted in CLPHA’s recent analysis, between postsecondary institutions, government agencies and departments, nonprofit social service providers and public housing authorities can tear down those barriers, ease the anxiety of housing insecurity and help more students persist and succeed in college. We support this work because increased educational attainment among students with limited means is the key to breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and increasing socioeconomic mobility.”
To announce the release of “Eliminating Barriers to Postsecondary Success: Cross-Sector Collaborations to Improve Postsecondary Achievement for Students Served by Public Housing Authorities,” CLPHA will host a press conference TODAY, May 16, 2019 at 2:30 PM ET during CLPHA's annual Housing Is Summit in Washington, D.C., a two-day meeting devoted to developing and sustaining cross-sector partnerships. The brief press conference will be followed immediately by an on-the-record panel discussion featuring executives engaging in postsecondary partnerships. See below for more details about the press conference and panel, which will both be webcast live at http://bit.ly/2URfFlK.
“Eliminating Barriers to Postsecondary Success” also includes an overview of the federal policies that support and limit postsecondary achievement for students served by PHAs, and profiles of the five partnerships.
Chicago Housing Authority, City Colleges of Chicago, One Million Degrees
“The Chicago Housing Authority is proud to support thousands of residents through CHA scholarships and the Partners in Education program with City Colleges of Chicago,” said Cassie Brooks, assistant director of education for CHA. “In pairing grant aid with individual counseling and holistic student supports from One Million Degrees, we continue toward the goals of increased academic achievement and, ultimately, self-sufficiency. We thank the Kresge Foundation and CLPHA for collaborating with public housing agencies, highlighting resident successes and bringing resident post-secondary programs to the forefront.”
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Southern California College Access Network
“The increasing complex college-going process requires students and families today to be well versed in the academic requirements, financial options, and application procedures,” said Alison De Lucca, executive director of the Southern California College Access Network. “The Southern California College Access Network is deeply grateful for the partnership we’ve forged with the Housing Authority for the City of Los Angeles to provide one-on-one college advising at the housing sites. For our students, the pathway starts with a conversation, followed by consistent guidance from a skilled college access counselor. As students are admitted to college with solid financial aid packages and the support they need to succeed, a strong message is being sent to all residents that college and career aspirations are within reach. This cross-sector collaboration demonstrates the readiness and need for continued college access support in place-based settings.”
Louisville Metro Housing Authority, Family Scholar House
"The long-standing partnership Louisville Metro Housing Authority has with Family Scholar House has helped hundreds of parents provide a better life and future for their children,” said LMHA Executive Director Lisa Osanka. “More importantly, this partnership is helping to break the generational cycle of poverty and ensuring that more Louisvillians are able to participate in the economic opportunities that exists throughout our community."
“The partnership between Family Scholar House and Louisville Metro Housing Authority has helped make real the dreams of families who have been in need of the stability that is rooted in safe, affordable housing. For our single parents, pursuing dreams of college graduation and new careers begins with a place for them and their children to call home,” said Cathe Dykstra, president and chief executive officer of Family Scholar House. Stronger and more stable families mean stronger and more stable communities.”
Tacoma Housing Authority, Tacoma Community College
“THA’s partnerships with Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington-Tacoma to house homeless or near homeless students is an excellent investment,” said Michael Mirra, executive director of the Tacoma Housing Authority. These students are determined, but without housing their prospects are poor. The degree they seek is a key to their adult prosperity. And since most of them are parents, this is also an investment in the lives and prospects of their children. That makes these partnerships a very good use of scarce housing dollars.”
What: Press Conference and Panel Discussion Announcing CLPHA’s New Report
“Eliminating Barriers to Postsecondary Success: Cross-Sector Collaborations to Improve Postsecondary Achievement for Students Served by Public Housing Authorities”
When: TODAY, May 16, 2019, 2:30 PM ET
Who: CLPHA, The Kresge Foundation, Postsecondary Partners
Press Conference Speakers
Sunia Zaterman, Executive Director, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
Bethany Miller, Education Program Officer, The Kresge Foundation
Michael Mirra, Executive Director, Tacoma Housing Authority
Alison De Lucca, Executive Director, Southern California College Access Network
Additional Panelists
Jennifer Thomas Arthurs, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Cassie Brooks, Assistant Director of Education, Chicago Housing Authority
Erica Walker, Director of Student Development Projects, City Colleges of Chicago
Where: CLPHA's Housing Is Summit
1616 Rhode Island Ave, NW
2nd Floor, Room B
Washington, DC 20009
Webcast Link: http://bit.ly/2URfFlK
RSVP: Jenny Werwa, jwerwa@clpha.org
MEDIA CONTACTS:
CLPHA: Jenny Werwa, jwerwa@clpha.org, 202-638-1300x120 / 301-641-5557
Kresge: Kelly Leon, ksleon@kresge.org, 248-643-9630
CHA: Molly Sullivan, MSullivan@thecha.org, 312-786-3344
Family Scholar House: Cathe Dykstra, dykstra@familyscholarhouse.org
LMHA: Christi Lanier-Robinson, clrobinson@lmha1.org, 502-609-9141
SoCal CAN: Alison De Lucca, alison@socalcollegeaccess.org, 818-742-5583
THA: Brandon Wirth, bwirth@tacomahousing.org, 253-448-2790
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 insect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Renowned Physician Dr. Camara Jones to Present Keynote Remarks
WASHINGTON (May 9, 2019) – Collaborators from the housing, health, and education sectors will convene in Washington, D.C., May 16 and 17 for the fifth national Housing Is Summit hosted by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA). The event, featuring plenary sessions devoted to ending intergenerational poverty and keynote remarks from Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and renowned physician Dr. Camara Jones, will bring together 300 policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and researchers who are committed to developing cross-sector partnerships that improve life outcomes for residents of public and affordable housing.
“Housing is essential, but not sufficient to help low-income families thrive and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “CLPHA, through our Housing Is Initiative, fosters connections between housing providers and health care systems, schools, and community organizations to develop targeted interventions that support families served by public housing authorities. The Housing Is Summit celebrates these partnerships, encourages peer-learning, and highlights the complementary roles local innovation and national advocacy play in developing cross-sector solutions to our greatest collective challenges.”
The Summit opens on May 16 with keynote remarks from Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), a long-time activist and champion of ending childhood poverty. Rep. Lee recently worked to secure funding for the congressionally-commissioned landmark study, A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty, which was published in February by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
During a plenary session following Rep. Lee’s remarks, Christine James Brown, chief executive officer of the Child Welfare League of America and a member of the board of the National Academies will present A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty and the authors’ two packages of policy proposals that would reduce child poverty by 50 percent over the next decade.
Joining James Brown for the plenary, the lead author of the groundbreaking article, A Universal Child Allowance: A Plan to Reduce Poverty and Income Instability Among Children in the United States, Dr. Luke Shafer, associate professor for social work and public policy and director of poverty solutions at the University of Michigan, will discuss the significant impact that a universal child allowance of $250 per month could have on the overall health and well-being of children of all incomes, but especially those living in extreme, $2 per day, poverty.
A second plenary session on Thursday will feature David Williams, policy director of Opportunity Insights, the research group led by Dr. Raj Chetty, who will explore how housing mobility research can guide policy and practice.
The first day of the Summit will also include a press conference at 2:30 PM ET announcing the release of CLPHA’s upcoming report, Eliminating Barriers to Postsecondary Success, which profiles the work of five public housing authorities who are collaborating with college access partners and community colleges to increase postsecondary educational achievement for low-income residents and college students experiencing homelessness. Bethany Miller, education program officer with The Kresge Foundation, will moderate a discussion following the press conference with panelists from public housing authorities and postsecondary partners who are participating in this work.
Additional breakout sessions include presentations from national partners and public housing project leads involved in an innovative multi-state, multi-sector collaboration between public housing authorities and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Medicaid managed care plans. They will discuss their project, Improving Health by Aligning Housing and Health Systems, which is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and uses data and analytics to develop place-based health interventions.
Day two of the conference opens with a keynote presentation from Dr. Camara Jones, a senior fellow at Morehouse School of Medicine and recent past president of the American Public Health Association, who will address the systemic, structural racism and other inequities that underlay health disparities and how the social safety net can be strengthened with this understanding.
Attendees will next participate in their choice of peer-to-peer working roundtable discussions on topics such as data sharing with anchor institutions, educating homeless youth, and using technology to address resident health needs.
Afternoon breakout sessions will feature Dr. Craig Pollack, associate professor of health policy and management at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in a panel discussion with researchers who are evaluating the impact of cross-sector interventions to improve health outcomes; a discussion among representatives from public housing authorities and the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services who are working to support long-term housing stability for people who are particularly vulnerable to homelessness; and a case study of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s early childhood education collaboration with Duquesne University and ABK Learning and Development Center to improve life outcomes for residents.
The conference will conclude with a closing plenary session devoted to the role of philanthropy in forging innovative cross-sector collaboration to create long-term change. Representatives from The Gates Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and Melville Charitable Trust will discuss current projects and impact-investing strategies aimed at expanding opportunity and improving long-term life outcomes for lower-income individuals and communities.
The complete Housing Is Summit agenda is available on CLPHA.org.
Many of the conference sessions will be webcast live at the following links:
May 16: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET, LIVE WEBCAST
May 17: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM ET, LIVE WEBCAST
Registration for the Housing Is Summit is currently closed. Members of the media who would like to attend the Summit should contact Jenny Werwa at jwerwa@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 work to better insect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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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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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(Washington, D.C.) September 14, 2021 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement supporting President Biden’s nomination of Arthur Jemison to be Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) congratulates Arthur Jemison on his nomination to be Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Jemison brings deep experience to the assistant secretary position in community development and public housing, including experience with the Boston Housing Authority, a CLPHA member.
We look forward to working with Mr. Jemison to ensure that the vision of President Biden and Secretary Fudge for improving public housing through recapitalizing the public housing portfolio, expanding the Housing Choice Voucher program, addressing systemic racism, and empowering cross-sector partnerships to improve the outcomes for low-income families becomes a reality. CLPHA will strongly support Mr. Jemison throughout the confirmation process.”
Media Contact: David Greer, CLPHA; dgreer@clpha.org, (202) 550-1381 |
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CLPHA Working with Biden Administration to Speed ERA Fund Distribution (Washington, D.C.) August 27, 2021 -- Statement from CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman on the Supreme Court's blocking of the CDC's eviction moratorium:
“As mission driven organizations public housing authorities believe that keeping residents housed is the most effective policy for the families, communities, and public health safety. Housing authorities continue to take a multitude of steps to keep their residents housed, including connecting residents with legal and relief resources, streamlining the income recertification process, operating rent relief programs, creating partnerships with community service organizations, and so much more. “The most effective lifeline available to tenants and landlords are the significant funds in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program that Congress passed in two tranches late last year and in the first quarter of 2021. CLPHA is working closely with the Biden administration by providing recommendations that will expedite emergency rental assistance as swiftly as possible.” |
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In yesterday's article "Trust in Public Housing at Stake Over Looming Government Shutdown," YES! Magazine quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman and CLPHA members Kurt Wiest, Bremerton Housing Authority Executive Director, and Mark Gillett, Oklahoma City Housing Authority Executive Director, on how another government shutdown could continue to sow mistrust in public housing authorities (PHAs) and HUD.
Zaterman, who noted that landlords could shy away from participating in voucher programs if there is concern that PHAs will not pay them, asked, “Just the prospect of payments not being made will have a very disruptive impact—will the federal government contract be honored?”
Wiest stressed the importance of PHAs maintaining a good rapport with landlords. “We work really, really hard to have good relationships with local landlords. And if there’s the slightest hint that they won’t get their subsidy payments as promised, it erodes trust,” said Wiest. “And this program operates on trust.”
Gillett added that if PHAs cannot pay their landlords, there could be dire consequences for tenants. “There is a provision in the law saying if a housing assistance payment isn’t paid, it shouldn’t be grounds for eviction,” Gillett said. “But it’s never been tested.”
On January 31, HUD, the City of New York, and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced an agreement to address longstanding issues at the housing authority’s properties. The agreement establishes specific requirements and milestones for property improvements and establishes a federal monitor who will be selected by HUD and the Southern District of New York, with input from the city.
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio appointed Kathryn Garcia, the city’s sanitation commissioner, to succeed Stanley Brezenoff as interim chair until a permanent head of the authority is selected.
Brezenoff, who also serves on CLPHA’s Board of Directors, called the job as NYCHA’s interim chair and CEO, “one of the toughest and most rewarding jobs in America.” In Tuesday’s press release announcing his successor, Brezenoff said, “I will leave this interim role knowing that we are putting NYCHA in very capable hands. I am confident that Commissioner Garcia is the right person to continue our efforts to improve the quality of lives for residents, and preserve public housing for generations to come.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman in an article about the government shutdown's impacts on Section 8 Voucher holders if the shutdown continues beyond March 1.
Zaterman said, “Without a guarantee from HUD that funding will be available in March, many [public housing authorities] will need to notify landlords and residents next month that delayed payments are a possibility. Anxious residents and landlords fearful of missed payments, combined with other cascading impacts due to lack of staffing at HUD, including program grants not being renewed and affordable housing development deals not being approved, amount to an unmitigated disaster for millions of low-income families.”
Today, Gray News Bureau published a comprehensive article "SNAP, WIC, Section 8: Separating fact from fiction in the government shutdown" featuring a quote about the shutdown’s effects on HUD programs from CLPHA Executive Sunia Zaterman. Gray News pulled the quote from CLPHA’s January 16 joint press release with the Campaign for Housing & Community Development Funding (CHCDF), of which CLPHA is a member of the Steering Committee.
On the shutdown's effect on housing authorities' future rental assistance payments, Zaterman said, "Without a guarantee from HUD that funding will be available in March, many Public Housing Authorities will need to notify landlords and residents next month that delayed payments are a possibility. Anxious residents and landlords fearful of missed payments, combined with other cascading impacts due to lack of staffing at HUD, including program grants not being renewed and affordable housing development deals not being approved, amount to an unmitigated disaster for millions of low-income families.”
You can read the article via Gray News Bureau TV affiliates:
CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman spoke to the Pew Charitable Trust's Stateline blog about the looming crisis facing public housing authorities (PHAs) if the shutdown continues. In today's article "Cities Scramble as Shutdown Leaves Families in Federal Housing Vulnerable," Zaterman warned that if the shutdown is still in effect by the end of February, many PHAs will not have enough funds to continue rental assistance payments for March and beyond.
“It’s definitely an all-hands-on-deck, high-urgency red alert for agencies that don’t have sufficient reserves for a sufficient amount of time,” Zaterman said. “And most don’t.”
From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:
Seniors with low income, including those who experienced homelessness, will have brand-new affordable rental apartments of their own near public transit and additional community amenities in San Ysidro at Ventana al Sur, a development built in collaboration with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC).
“This project itself is tangible proof of the fact that we are making progress on this key issue of housing affordability and homelessness,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said at a ribbon-cutting event today. “Affordable housing projects like this one help us to address the rising cost of rent, which we know is pricing too many people in our community. It’s one of our direct responses to that kind of challenge to make sure that we create a city that is safe, that is stable and is more affordable for all of us.”
Developed by Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County (MAAC) and Kingdom Development, Ventana al Sur features one- and two-bedroom rental apartments in a four-story building for 100 seniors with low income, including 25 units for seniors who experienced homelessness. These units will remain affordable for 55 years. The development also includes one manager’s unit.
“Having your parent or grandparent be able to be near you as you’re raising kids, it’s an amazing, amazing thing,” California State Assemblymember David Alvarez said. “That’s what this community is about. And that’s what this building and this housing is about because the statistics of San Ysidro are that it’s an older community. Our older community stays here and lives here and wants to be close to their families, and this gives them that opportunity.”
Residents are anticipated to begin moving into Ventana al Sur next month.
“What Ventana al Sur is going to do is address not only our population who had been unsheltered, but it’s going to give people an opportunity to see that the members of this community deserve better,” San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas said.
SDHC awarded 25 rental housing vouchers to Ventana al Sur to help pay rent for seniors who previously experienced homelessness. These residents also will receive on-site supportive services, including case management, life skills and access to mental health services.
“We know a growing number of seniors are experiencing homelessness in our community, and many more are struggling to get by with fixed or limited income in a high housing cost area, creating anxiety about potentially losing a home,” SDHC’s Executive Vice President of Rental Assistance and Workforce Development Azucena Valladolid said. “Ventana al Sur will provide rental homes that are affordable as well as peace of mind for 100 senior households.”
SDHC also awarded a $4.4 million loan toward the development of Ventana al Sur, consisting of funds SDHC administers from the City of San Diego Affordable Housing Fund and the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Local Housing Trust Fund.
The rental units at Ventana al Sur will be affordable for seniors with income ranging from 20 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income (AMI), currently $21,200 per year for a one-person household, to 50 percent of AMI, currently $53,050 per year for a one-person household.
“I’m thrilled that you are here today because this development will serve as a MAAC hub where MAAC and Kingdom will continue to work with our community partners, our residents, and families, and our entire San Ysidro community,” said MAAC President and CEO Arnulfo Manriquez, who grew up in San Ysidro.
“When we called up MAAC and said you guys have 30, 40 years of leadership in this community, caring about these people, this is something that if it’s your project, if this is your investment in the community, I know it’ll be amazing for decades.” Kingdom Development President William Leach said. “There was no question we felt the most blessed to be able to work with MAAC and to be able to help everybody bring this asset to the community.”
Financing for Ventana al Sur also included resources from the State of California and City of San Diego. The City’s “Bridge to Home” program provided $5 million toward the development. The State of California awarded a combined total of approximately $50.4 million from the California State Multifamily Housing and California Housing Accelerator programs to support Ventana al Sur.
Ventana al Sur is in the San Ysidro Historic Village District, close to a portion of San Ysidro where Interstate Freeways 5 and 805 intersect near the U.S.-Mexico International Border.
The property is within walking distance of transit options, including being less than 500 feet from the Beyer Boulevard Trolley Station. Also near the development are healthcare providers, a public library and a local park.
Apartments at Ventana al Sur include Energy Star appliances, including refrigerators and stoves as well as balconies and storage space. Site amenities include a community room, a recreational courtyard and plaza, a laundry room and a walking trail.
From ABC 2 Baltimore:
Wednesday marks a significant milestone.
Phase 2 of Perkins Square, formerly known as Perkins Homes opened, providing brand new mixed-income housing and more.
"I'm looking out here, and I'm seeing a lot of residents that [are] ready to get a key right now to go into their apartment or their house," said Denise Street, who will be moving into Phase 2.
"I lived in Perkins Homes for 45 years and I said I want to return home," said Michele McCall, who is also moving to Phase 2.
The new development includes 156 state-of-the-art mixed-income housing, including townhouses. This adds to the 110 units that were recently completed under Phase 1.
"We had over 100 plus meetings just to make sure the residents were on board. They had 10 different things they wanted. Everything they said they wanted, I promised," said Janet Abrahams, President and CEO of Housing Authority of Baltimore City.
Read ABC 2 Baltimore's article "Phase 2 of Perkins Square redevelopment complete."
From the Housing Authority of the City of Snohomish's press release:
The Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of Snohomish County convened a Special meeting on September 30, 2024, during which they approved the appointment of Laurie Olson as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective December 2, 2024.
Laurie Olson brings nearly 30 years of public service experience and a wealth of leadership to the organization. In her role as a public funder, Olson facilitated the development of affordable housing by coordinating project financing and supporting initiatives that expanded access to affordable units. She directed efforts to implement policies that enhanced affordable housing options, working closely with staff and stakeholders to ensure resources were effectively allocated and projects were successfully realized. Olson has direct experience in managing financing the development of affordable housing, securing project financing, acquiring land and units to enhance affordable housing options, and directing policy implementation alongside staff.
“I’m excited to return to the Snohomish County community, known for its strong spirit of collaboration and commitment to solving complex challenges together. It’s an honor to succeed Duane Leonard, whose leadership has left a lasting impact on affordable housing in our community. As HASCO steps into this pivotal moment, we have a responsibility to address the housing needs of today while shaping a more affordable future for tomorrow. I look forward to partnering with our dedicated staff, residents, community leaders, and elected officials to expand access to affordable homes and create lasting opportunities for all in Snohomish County.”
Her appointment as CEO represents her return to the Snohomish County community, where she worked at the Snohomish County Office of Housing and Community Development. While there, she led the Affordable Housing Production Plan, identifying needs and effective strategies for Snohomish County.
Most recently, Laurie has served as the Director of Capital Investments for the City of Seattle, managing a capital investments budget, leveraging $2 billion in assets. In this role, she oversaw the development of over 4,000 housing units, collaborated with the Seattle Housing Authority to strategically allocate and direct hundreds of vouchers throughout the city, and successfully acquired more than 1,000 market-rate units within three years.
“Laurie brings the experience and leadership needed to guide HASCO into its next phase of growth. We look forward to continuing our work with community partners to expand affordable housing opportunities throughout Snohomish County.,” stated Commissioner Chairperson Luke Distelhorst.
Olson has also been an active committee member of the ULI Affordable and Workforce Housing Product Council and has advocated for housing issues on various boards and advisory committees. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Seattle Pacific University.
She will succeed Duane Leonard, who is retiring from HASCO at the end of 2024. Leonard has been instrumental in shaping the agency's direction since 1994, contributing to a significant increase in affordable housing throughout the county.
From the New Haven Independent:
Shenae Draughn will once again step in as the interim head of the Housing Authority of New Haven and its affiliate organizations, after Karen Dubois-Walton steps down in November.
Starting Nov. 2, Draughn will fill in for current president DuBois-Walton, who is taking on a new role as the head of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven beginning next month.
The Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Draughn to helm, at least for now, the public housing agency and its nonprofit affordable housing development and management arms (known collectively as Elm City Communities) at the board’s October meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Amid applause and congratulations, the board also unanimously voted to create a subcommittee focused on finding a permanent director. “We hopefully should be able to do that in a short period of time,” said Board Chair William Kilpatrick.
Draughn has served as the executive vice president of Elm City Communities and the Glendower Group (the agency’s affordable housing development arm). She started at the organization in 2009 and in recent years has filled an interim president role during DuBois-Walton’s mayoral and state treasurer campaigns.
Draughn has played a key role in the agency’s efforts to renovate existing units and, increasingly, build new mixed-income housing across the city. (According to a press release from Elm City Communities, Draughn has “facilitated over $800 million in real estate development in the Greater New Haven area.”) She has also overseen the agency’s Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher administration.
Draughn “could not be more qualified,” said DuBois-Walton as she introduced the motion to appoint Draughn.
“I’m most grateful to the board for the opportunity,” Draughn said after Tuesday’s meeting. “I’m excited about it and don’t take it lightly.”
Read the New Haven Independent's article "Draughn To Lead Housing Authority, For Now."
From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) Board of Commissioners today announced that Lourdes Castro Ramirez will be the Agency’s next President and CEO. In this role, she will lead and deepen HACLA’s commitment to people, place and pathways and bolster the agency’s collaborative efforts to increase access to affordable housing, services and community development.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lourdes back to the HACLA family at this critical time for our agency,” said HACLA Board Chair Cielo Castro. “Her experience at the Federal, State and local level, coupled with her commitment to reducing poverty, expanding housing and building resilient communities, makes her the perfect person to lead our agency. The Board of Commissioners looks forward to partnering with Lourdes to build trust with our residents and communities, innovate and collaborate with our government and nonprofit partners to prevent and end homelessness, and support the talented team at HACLA, as we work together to produce the best results for the people we serve.”
Having held prominent leadership roles at the federal, state and local levels, Ms. Castro Ramirez is a transformative nationally recognized leader in housing, programs to reduce poverty and disparity, and community building solutions. She brings a wealth of experience to HACLA, where she previously worked early in her career, and has a proven record of developing and increasing access to affordable housing and expanding socio-economic opportunities to residents and communities.
Ms. Castro Ramirez joins HACLA from the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, where she was appointed by the Mayor to serve as the Chief Housing and Homelessness Officer for Los Angeles. During her tenure, she worked closely with local, regional, state, and federal leaders to fast-track affordable housing, advance homelessness initiatives and implement tenant protections. In 2024, Los Angeles saw a 10% decrease in unsheltered homelessness in the city.
“There’s no one better prepared to lead HACLA than Lourdes Castro Ramírez. She has been an invaluable member of my executive team as we brought thousands of Angelenos safely inside, cut through red tape to accelerate more than 20,000 units of affordable housing, secured policy changes to bring more Veterans into housing and locked arms with all levels of government to make change for the people of Los Angeles,” said Mayor Bass. “I look forward to a new approach where the City and HACLA can work much more closely together to advance our shared goals of fully utilizing federal housing vouchers, housing more Veterans, modernizing HACLA’s housing sites and building trust with its residents. I thank her for all that she has done for the Angelenos and all that she will continue to do.”
“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to lead HACLA and eager to work together with the Board, staff, residents and partners. I returned to Los Angeles to deliver on Mayor Bass’ vision for urgent change that breaks with the old ways of doing things and that is the approach that I will continue to lead with as HACLA’s next President and CEO,” said Lourdes Castro Ramirez. “We’ve made progress in keeping people housed, bringing more people inside and fundamentally changing how City Hall approaches the housing and homelessness crisis. That’s the energy and intention that I intend to bring to HACLA – all of us, working together to break through the status quo for Angelenos.”
Before returning to Los Angeles, Ms. Castro Ramirez served as a member of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Cabinet as Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. As Agency Secretary, she led 12 state departments with 7,500 staff members, oversaw an annual budget of $10 Billion, and implemented statewide policies and programs to preserve and expand affordable housing, protect consumers, guard civil rights and promote homeownership and economic opportunities.
President Barack Obama appointed Ms. Castro Ramirez in 2015 to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Public Housing and Native American Office with oversight of all public housing authorities, responsibility for implementing HUD’s Choice Neighborhood grants, and self-sufficiency programs to advance the HUD Secretary’s opportunity agenda.
Prior to her Presidential appointment, Ms. Castro Ramirez spent six years working in the San Antonio community as the President & CEO of the Housing Authority in Texas. Early in her career, Castro Ramirez worked for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) in various roles and capacities, including the Director of the Section 8 Department. Ms. Castro Ramirez received her BA in Political Science and Chicana/o Studies, as well as an MA in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
“The Board would also like to thank Marlene Garza for serving as Interim CEO. Marlene’s commitment to HACLA’s mission, and steadfast stewardship of the agency have ensured continuity and stability throughout this transition.” Chair Castro shared. Garza will return to her role as Chief Administrative Officer.
Ms. Castro Ramirez will begin serving as President and CEO effective December 2, 2024.