CLPHA Press Room

From MyNorthwest.com:

From April through June 2025, 175 randomly selected Tacoma families will be awarded $500 each month with no strings attached — as long as they meet certain criteria.

Originally announced in 2020 by Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, the city’s idea — “Growing Resilience in Tacoma” (GRIT) — works with United Way of Pierce County, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, the Urban League, Sound Outreach and the Tacoma Housing Authority to create a universal basic income pilot program within Tacoma.

“To restore truth to the idea of the American dream for working families, we must give people what they need to be successful,” Woodards said on the GRIT program in a prepared statement. “If we are going to effectively eradicate inequity in Tacoma or in any city across America, then we must look at all of the conditions that impact our residents. This includes economic conditions. That is why I am excited to join this group in exploring options for providing guaranteed income locally.”

More than 100 lower-income households in Tacoma received $500 a month for 12 months as part of GRIT in 2022. According to The Seattle Times, 23% of the monthly fund was spent on food and groceries while 12% was spent on housing and utilities. Now the city wants to expand this program with GRIT 2.0.

“These dollars are unconditional and unrestricted,” United Way of Pierce County stated on its website for GRIT applications. “This project is designed to demonstrate that this type of cash investment can reduce feelings of overwhelm and toxic stress, improve economic stability, increase housing security and improve health and well-being while reducing poverty in our community.”

Read MyNorthwest.com's article "Eligible Tacoma residents to earn $500/month through GRIT program."

From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's newsletter:

HACP’s Virtual Parenting Program has given another group of parents, guardians and caregivers the tools to tackle the challenges associated with raising children.

Twenty-three graduates were recognized during a graduation ceremony in November 2023 after completing the six-week virtual course that teaches participants everything from positive parenting, trauma and healing, financial literacy and eating healthy on a budget.

International parenting coach, educator and psychotherapist Dr. Carol Chakua was a new speaker added to the lineup, and her program was very well received.

“Everyone really enjoyed what she taught them,” Mungereza Mayende, clinical coordinator and referral manager in HACP’s Residential Self-Sufficiency department, said. “She brought a whole new element to the program in helping parents to believe in themselves, and to parent differently from the way they were parented, especially where there was trauma involved.”

Mayende developed the program for HACP’s Low-Income Public Housing residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. With financial support from Highmark Wholecare, classes began in August 2022.

“The success of this program means a lot to me,” she said. “I have seen our graduates grow into a resource for their children and become someone they can depend on, and parent them without the trauma. It’s helping to heal the world, one child at a time.”

Participating LIPH residents are also given a stipend, books on parenting and other goodies for completing the course, such as Giant Eagle gift cards for purchasing healthy foods.

Participants are also encouraged to share feedback to let HACP know which topics they are most interested in learning more about. They have expressed interest in learning ways to respond to their children without yelling and budgeting as a single parent, among other topics.

Mayende is excited to see what the future will bring to the program, and hopes to see it continue to grow. She added it’s encouraging to see more single fathers enrolling in the class, noting the first cohort welcomed one single father and the November class enrolled seven.

“I’m hoping to introduce new subjects, including one portion that focuses on single parenting and parenting in a blended family,” she said. “I would also like one class to focus specifically on trauma, whether it’s to help parents who have lost another child be present for their other children or helping children who have experienced trauma in their lives.” 

The next Virtual Parenting Program cohort is planned for mid-March 2024, and 16 residents are already signed up. The class can now accommodate 30 participants, which has doubled since its inception.

Karen Rollins-Fitch, Highmark’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, said Highmark Wholecare is proud to support HACP’s Virtual Parenting Program.

“Highmark Wholecare is happy to support initiatives like the parenting classes that are provided at HACP.  When looking at whole person care, well informed parents make a difference in the lives of well cared for children, which results in an improved community. Highmark Wholecare focuses on physical health, but the wellbeing of the needs in mental, and financial health, are just as important,” she said.

The program is open to all parents, grandparents, guardians and caregivers of children under age 18. At least one parent, guardian or caregiver must be listed on an HACP lease in order to enroll. 

From the Memphis Housing Authority's website:

It’s not easy to see a doctor. If you try to book an appointment with a new doctor, you’ll have to wait an average of 26 days until your appointment. To speed up the process, you may look into an urgent care facility. The few we have in Memphis are located along the Poplar corridor or toward the suburbs, requiring transportation to get there. And if you need to see a doctor immediately, be prepared to pay $1,883 – the average cost of an ER visit in Tennessee. That doesn’t include the cost of an ambulance, if you need to call one to take you to the hospital. 

Getting medical care isn’t easy, no matter your life circumstances. But for seniors with fixed incomes, the challenges are even greater. Preexisting conditions, unreliable transportation and fear of expenses can keep older adults from building relationships with primary care providers who could transform their lives – helping them live longer and more vibrantly. That’s why MHA has partnered with Matter Health to bring primary care providers to several senior buildings across the city. 

What is Matter Health?
Matter Health is a preventive and primary health care company. Its model places physicians where people live so practitioners can build meaningful, long-term relationships with patients. For our residents, this means that Matter Health clinics are located in the common areas of our senior buildings. Tenants are now an elevator ride away from a team of health-focused professionals who can provide a wide variety of services. They accept all major insurance providers, including Medicaid; meaning, our seniors on fixed incomes don’t have to worry about the cost if they need to see a doctor.

Why invest in in-facility health care?
Everyone’s health improves when they have a relationship with a primary care provider. Chronic conditions are better managed, medication can be adjusted until the right fit is found for the patient, and changes in how a person feels can be addressed quickly. Not to mention that new ailments can be found and remedied before they become more serious. When people have easy access to a health care provider they trust, and one who won’t bust their budget, they are much more likely to get help when they need it. 

Ms. Jackie’s story. 
For several years, Ms. Jackie has been a mainstay at the College Park senior building. She pays close attention to her health and used to walk miles to get to the clinic closest to her. That was challenging for her physically, causing her joint pain, but the bus was too unreliable in getting her to her appointments on time. When Ms. Jackie moved back into the senior building after the RAD conversion, she noticed a logo in the lobby of her building – one with a red heart and a navy blue door. Ms. Jackie hesitantly knocked and was greeted by several warm faces who were eager to get to know her. She ended up speaking with a nurse practitioner for over an hour that day, sharing her medical history and the challenges she was having with getting regular care. The next day, she was able to have a formal evaluation with lab work and a physical. With her results, Ms. Jackie was able to change her prescriptions, reducing the amount of medication she needed to take every day.  

Ms. Jackie’s story is the perfect example of how providing access to medical care can improve people’s lives. She was able to get proper evaluation for existing conditions and reduce her medications – which helped her feel better and saved her money. The providers spent time getting to know her, something that may not be possible in a more crowded clinical setting. And now, if she ever experiences a health care emergency or sickness, Ms. Jackie has a trusted clinician she can see – and she only needs to catch the elevator to get there. 

Getting access to medical care can be challenging, but if we get creative and think of new solutions to provide high-quality health care, we can improve health outcomes for residents of our community. MHA is committed to partnerships with reputable organizations like Matter Health and will continue to seek organizations whose innovative practices will improve the lives of our residents.

From the City of Austin's press release:

The City of Austin Housing Department celebrates the monumental opening of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation’s (AHFC) first permanent supportive housing community. Espero Rutland is located in District 4 at 1934 Rutland Drive. The development is already accepting applications and began welcoming residents at the beginning of the year. The 2-acre property features 171 furnished studio apartments designed to house residents at risk of or who have experienced chronic homelessness – permanently. All units will be affordable for households earning at or below 60% median family income.

“Espero marks AHFC’s first of many permanent supportive housing communities to open in Austin,” explains Mandy DeMayo, Interim Director for the Housing Department. “We couldn’t be prouder to help 171 households have a place to call home. We are grateful to all of the partners that helped make Espero happen as we work together to increase affordable housing for vulnerable individuals and families.”

Espero, developed in collaboration with The Vecino Group and Caritas of Austin, was funded through various sources. This includes $17 million in Private Activity Bonds issued by AHFC, a $17 million construction loan and an $11.4 million permanent loan from Citi, $11 million in 4% LIHTC equity syndicated by Boston Financial and invested by Aetna (a CVS Health company), $3 million in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) debt financing through the Multifamily Direct Loan (MFDL) program, $750,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, and finally, $7.5 million in AHFC debt financing through the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) program.

“We are thrilled to see the grand opening of Espero Rutland, which will provide much-needed affordable housing for our unhoused neighbors and help address the growing issue of homelessness in our community,” said Jo Kathryn Quinn, President & CEO of Caritas of Austin. “Homelessness is a complex issue, and there is no single solution. But we also know that housing is the critical first step in helping people rebuild their well-being.”

Both the City and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin dedicated project-based vouchers to support the facility’s operation. The development includes 101 housing vouchers dedicated to the property, trauma-informed design, and on-site supportive services provided by Caritas of Austin. The Housing Authority of the City of Austin provided 50 project-based vouchers, with a total value of $17 million over the course of 20 years.

“Espero Rutland development is a huge win for our community and a win for our homeless neighbors and veterans,” said Michael Gerber, CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin.  “HACA is proud to partner with Caritas, the City of Austin, and so many community partners on this important development. Twenty-five chronically homeless veterans and twenty-five other homeless neighbors will receive nearly $17 million in rental assistance through HACA’s project-based voucher program over the next 20 years. Espero Rutland is a home run.”

Read press release.