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.
For media inquiries, please contact:
David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or [email protected].
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
November 20, 2020
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 Center for Disaster Philanthropy
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s mission is to leverage the power of philanthropy to mobilize a full range of resources that strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. CDP manages domestic and international Disaster Funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. For more information, visit: disasterphilanthropy.org, call (202) 464-2018 or tweet us @funds4disaster.
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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(Washington, D.C.) August 5, 2022 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission’s adoption of the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program and the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program:
"The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) applauds the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) adoption of the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program and the one-year Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program at its Open Commission Meeting today. CLPHA has worked closely with the FCC to help shape these programs through direct dialogue with members of Congress, the FCC, and submitted comments throughout the regulatory process. CLPHA has also been a long-time proponent for digital equity through working with partners, disseminating information via webinars, spotlighting promising practices at conferences, and conducting outreach on opportunities. Today is a strong step forward for serving low-income families living in assisted housing with improved access to high-quality, affordable broadband and devices.
"These initiatives will improve the Biden administration’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a $14 billion long-term initiative that offers up to $30 a month for the costs of internet service for eligible households and builds on the Emergency Broadband Benefit in order to provide more permanent assistance. Public housing authorities have long understood that digital access is critical to improve life outcomes for low-income families living in assisted housing and we are excited for additional support to get more assisted households connected.
"Public housing authorities offer the most effective avenue to connect the highest number of low-income families to broadband access and accomplish the goals of the Affordable Connectivity Program. At CLPHA’s 8th Annual Housing Is Summit in May, Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Geoffrey Starks noted this point in his keynote speech, 'When I look at the data where we can reach more vulnerable households…, I consistently come back to housing. I see a clear synergy between housing and connectivity; if we are helping a family secure housing, we should be able to help them secure an internet connection as well.'
"In May 2022 Commissioner Starks also visited Nickerson Gardens, a property of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), a CLPHA member. With 1,000 units, Nickerson Gardens is the largest public housing community west of the Mississippi River. He reported that the ACP Pilot Program had connected 78 percent of the Nickerson Garden units to the internet.
"During today’s open meeting, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel also named CLPHA member the Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) and its executive director Vivian Brady-Phillips as an exemplary PHA working on digital inclusion. CLPHA highlighted both HACLA and JCHA during this year’s Housing Is Summit.
"The Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program will provide eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with funding to conduct outreach to eligible low-income households in order to increase awareness of and encourage participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program. The one-year Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program aims to increase awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program among recipients of federal housing assistance and facilitate enrollment in the ACP by providing targeted assistance with the ACP application.
"CLPHA will work with its members to ensure they are taking advantage of these programs to help residents access not only to affordable, high-quality broadband and devices, but also digital literacy to utilize these resources."
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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.) March 9, 2022 -- Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman released the following statement about the HUD budget in fiscal year 2022 spending omnibus package:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the $4 billion increase in funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over last year in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill released last night. The increase amounts to $53.7 billion for HUD in this omnibus bill. "Subcommittee Chairman David Price and the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee recognized the critical role that public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers play with several funding increases. First, an expansion of up to 25,000 new incremental vouchers for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence and veterans as part of the $200 million increase in the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program. Second, the Project-Based Rental Assistance budget increase of $475 million over the FY 2021 budget will continue to safely house 1.2 million very low- and low-income households.
“For public housing a $645.5 million increase over FY 2021, including $3.2 billion to meet the full annual capital accrual need in order to improve the quality and safety of public housing for more than 2 million residents. Finally, the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative received an increase of $150 million above FY 2021, which represents a 75 percent increase. While America’s housing crisis continues, these funding increases recognize that public and affordable housing programs are the most effective way to keep low-income families housed.”
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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.) 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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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.”
Pacific Standard quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman in today's article "The Government Shutdown Could Decimate America's Subsidized Housing Programs." Of the partial government shutdown's impact on the housing market, Zaterman said, "Owners in many cities will be faced with financial disruption, foreclosure, or bankruptcy if they're not able to pay their mortgage or meet the other costs of the property... This really is going to ripple through the whole housing market system."
Zaterman added that the shutdown is likely to negatively impact landlords' perceptions of the HCV program and other federally funded rental assistance programs, observing that in light of the shutdown landlords may be discouraged from participating in the HCV program because now "[funding] is something an owner would have to calculate as a risk now that was previously not seen as a risk."
CLPHA’ Executive Director Sunia Zaterman spoke to Multi-Housing News about the disastrous effect the shutdown will have on not only on Housing Choice Voucher funding and other rental assistance programs, but also affordable housing projects, if it continues beyond February. Zaterman added that if the shutdown continues into March, for smaller landlords and property owners especially “there is a huge concern about the ripple effect and concerns about bankruptcy and foreclosure.”
However, as Zaterman noted in a January 16, 2019, joint press release accompanying a national conference call about the effects of the partial government shutdown on low-income people and communities and the affordable housing programs that serve them, the shutdown is already a catastrophe for millions who rely on HUD funding. “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,” said Zaterman.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's press release:
This school year marks a major milestone for the Clean Slate E3 Scholarship Program and our valued partners at NEED. Scholarship investments in HACP youth have now exceeded $1 million since the program’s 2009 inception.
Clean Slate and NEED have awarded funds to 24 new Clean Slate E3 Scholarship recipients (which equals up to $480,000 over four years), and 14 returning students for the 2026-27 school year. This school year’s total contributions for the 38 scholarships is $187,500.
Clean Slate awards up to $4,000 and NEED awards up to $1,000 a year for four years to each recipient, with total awards of up to $20,000 to recipients who are chosen by representatives at NEED.
Monies from the scholarship fund come from HACP employee donations and other contributions; it is not funded with federal dollars.
“The HACP is committed to investing in its youth,” HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion said. “This commitment is evident by the ongoing efforts of the Clean Slate E3 Scholarship Program, and our own employee donations and other contributions that have helped us to surpass such a monumental milestone with more than $1 million in funding since 2009. We are proud of our youth who are putting in this hard work to secure bright futures, and are happy to help them by being a place to live and a path to launch.”
HACP residents — in both Low-Income Public Housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program — who are either graduating high school or continuing their college education with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher — are eligible to apply.
“We’ve reached two milestones this year. This is the largest group of scholarship recipients that we’ve had since the inception of the scholarship program in 2009 and we’ve surpassed the $1 million dollar mark in scholarships funded to HACP youth!” Susan Lofaro, Clean Slate E3 program manager, said. “I’m excited by the momentum that this Clean Slate E3 program has made in the past year and we’ll continue our outreach efforts.”
She added Clean Slate wants families to know scholarships are given to students attending traditional four-year institutions, as well as those wishing to attend trade or technical schools.
“We continue to be grateful for our partnership with NEED to ensure a seamless process when working with both the students and schools,” she said.
“Receiving this 20,000 scholarship would help me pay for my education and reduce the stress of paying for college,” Housing Choice Voucher resident Heaven-Marie Green said. “It would allow me to focus more on my classes, learning and reaching my goals instead of worrying about money. This scholarship would also help me buy books, supplies and cover other school-related expenses, making it easier for me to succeed.” Heaven-Marie is majoring in education at Duquesne University.
“This scholarship would help with books and any supplies needed for my education, which would greatly ease my family’s financial burden, allowing them to focus on my siblings while I continue studying,” Samara Freeman. Samara, a Low-Income Public Housing resident, is majoring in psychology at Cheyney University.
From The Journal Record:
Oklahoma City is making progress on six major developments that will add hundreds of affordable housing units across the area.
Funded partly through the MAPS 4 initiative, the plan combines permanent supportive housing, public housing remodels, and workforce accommodations for families. Assistant Executive Director Greg Shinn updated the City Council on Tuesday.
“These projects are intended to intentionally target those parts of the housing need for different sectors of our population,” Shinn said. “Keep homelessness in check, try to reduce homelessness, try to have family workforce housing.”
Oklahoma City faces an estimated shortfall of 45,000 affordable housing units, according to Oklahoma City’s Key to Home Strategy Implementation Manager Jamie Caves. To tackle the deficit, the MAPS 4 Homelessness Program is investing $55.7 million in taxpayer funds. Officials expect to leverage more than $400 million in additional housing funds over the next decade.
From Lincoln Avenue Communities' press release:
Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, and the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City (HASLC), the largest affordable housing provider in Salt Lake Valley, broke ground on the future site of Erma’s at Fairmont, a 110-unit affordable senior housing development in Salt Lake City, during a ceremony with community leaders and public partners.
“LAC is proud to break ground on Erma’s at Fairmont, which will bring high-quality, affordable housing to seniors in the heart of Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood,” said Rusty Snow, LAC Vice President and Regional Project Partner. “This project reflects our commitment to providing high-quality in communities most impacted by the affordability crisis.”
Erma’s at Fairmont will feature a mix of one and two- bedroom apartments. The community will lease its units to seniors earning between 20% to 80% of the area median income (AMI). The development will set aside five units for residents with a history of homelessness, six units for residents with disabilities and eight units for residents with mobility impairments.
The apartments, uniquely located directly on Fairmont Park in the Sugarhouse neighborhood, will offer a picturesque view and be conveniently situated near medical facilities, shopping centers, entertainment venues, recreational areas, transportation hubs, and outdoor amenities. Communal amenities include a fitness center, community room, bicycle park with permanently installed racks, elevator service and structured parking. A second phase of housing is planned on the southern portion of the site, which will add a second tower with additional affordable units.
“This is a very unusual new project,” said Daniel Nackerman, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City and President of HAME, the non-profit developer. “It is located on some of the most expensive land in Utah yet it is 100% affordable and is in the epicenter of surrounding elements for the quality of life of our seniors. It also helps with our mayor’s goal of lessening gentrification in a very booming neighborhood – where seniors can now stay close to all…”
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
From the Housing Authority of Baltimore City's press release:
In recognition of National Homeownership Month, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) and the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) today highlighted their continued partnership to help Baltimore residents achieve the dream of homeownership.
Through HABC’s Homeownership Program and Services and DHCD’s First-Time Homebuyer Incentive Program, the two agencies combine resources to provide residents with the support needed to purchase homes. Through HABC’s program, 120 Baltimore residents became homeowners over the last eight years, generating nearly $25 million in property sales — an average of approximately $200,000 per home — supported by more than $4 million in down payment and closing cost assistance.
HABC currently has 26 families with mortgages approved under contract or searching for a home. The agency plans to help at least 50 families purchase a home in 2026.
“We create opportunities to self-sufficiency and invest in programs that encourage economic mobility,” said Janet Abrahams, HABC’s President and CEO. “Homeownership can serve as a pathway to increased financial independence by helping families establish credit, build savings, and invest in their communities.”
Over the past fiscal year, DHCD invested $2.7 million and assisted more than 240 families on their path to homeownership through its various programs.
“We are expanding opportunities for Baltimore residents to achieve the dream of owning a home by supporting not only first-time homebuyers, but also City employees, and workforce housing initiatives,” said Acting Housing Commissioner Tim Keane. “Our partnership with HABC has been especially impactful, helping Housing Choice Voucher participants and Public Housing Residents move from renting to owning and build generational wealth through homeownership in the private market.”
Together, HABC and DHCD administer a range of programs that support residents at every stage of the homebuying journey, including:
- Homebuyer education programs that prepare residents for the homeownership process
- One-on-one homeownership counseling and financial readiness support
- Down payment and closing cost assistance programs for eligible homebuyers
- Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program supporting rental-to-ownership transitions
- City-supported housing programs designed to expand equitable access to ownership
Resident Jenise Coney recently completed HABC’s Homeownership Program and will close on her first home at the end of June.
“I always wanted to have my own home and to be able to say that it is mine,” said Coney. “HABC’s Homeownership Program is excellent and allows people to move forward, buy a house, and become their own landlords. It’s a blessing to be able to leave a legacy to your kids, grandkids, or a family member.”
Along with the programming the agencies provide year-round, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City along with partners will host Keys to the City – Homeownership and Development Showcase on June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pleasant View Gardens, 201 Aisquith Street. The event will serve as a central access point for residents to engage directly with housing counselors, lenders, developers and program representatives offering guidance on homebuying opportunities and financial assistance.
Residents can sign up for the June 27 Homeownership program at [email protected] or call 410-396-4171.
Throughout National Homeownership Month, HABC is also highlighting Baltimore residents like Conyer who have successfully purchased homes through City-supported programs, showcasing real stories that demonstrate what is possible when residents are connected to the right resources.
“Homebuyer programs provide residents with more than financial assistance—they offer education, guidance, and pathways to wealth-building,” said Abrahams. “These programs help public housing residents turn the dream of owning a home into a sustainable reality.”
From Atlanta Housing:
Some honors recognize achievement. Others recognize a legacy of service.
Congratulations to our CEO Terri M. Lee on being named a 2026 Diamond Award Laureate by The Not Alone Foundation during The Academy of the Diamond Awards.
Terri received The Crown Jewel: Presidential Diamond Award for Transformational Housing Leadership, Community Development, Economic Empowerment, Humanitarian Service & Civic Impact, recognizing her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and improving lives through affordable housing.
She was also honored with the inaugural Xernona Clayton Humanitarian Honor, established to preserve the extraordinary legacy of civil rights icon Xernona Clayton and to recognize leaders whose courage, compassion, and servant leadership have made a lasting impact on the communities they serve.
Reserved for extraordinary women and men whose lives have become instruments of hope, justice, compassion, and transformational service, The Xernona Clayton Humanitarian Honor stands among the Academy's highest distinctions. Established in perpetuity to preserve the enduring legacy of civil rights icon, humanitarian, and global bridge-builder Ms. Xernona Clayton, this honor recognizes individuals whose leadership transcends profession to restore dignity, expand opportunity, uplift humanity, and leave an indelible imprint upon the world. It celebrates those who do not simply witness history—they change its course through courage, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to the human spirit.
Like a diamond, transformational leadership is forged through resilience, vision, integrity, and service. Through her leadership at Atlanta Housing, Terri continues to help build stronger communities, expand economic opportunity, and create pathways to a brighter future for thousands of families across metro Atlanta.