CLPHA Press Room

From the Sacramento Bee:

As part of a national effort to save low-income renters from eviction, Sacramento city and county officials on Thursday will make nearly $100 million in free rent assistance grants available to help pay for past-due rent and utility bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance program taps federal and state funds to help renters in Sacramento County who are financially under water. Both renters and landlords can apply for funds to cover a portion of rents owed back to April of last year, and rents that will come due between now and June of this year.

The fund has nearly $96 million in it, $31.7 million of it via the city of Sacramento from its federal and state grants, and $64 million from the County of Sacramento via federal and state grants.

The fund is similar to but much larger than a previous rent subsidy program last fall for Sacramentans who lost jobs or had their paychecks reduced due to economic shutdowns. The previous program offered $6.5 million in limited subsidies to some 1,230 low-income Sacramento families and about 780 landlords.

Sarah O’Daniel of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency called it the largest emergency rental aide program ever in Sacramento. She said the new program can be used to help fill rent gaps for 10,000 to 15,000 families in the county.

“We’re very glad to have this, to be able to keep a roof over the the heads of our families, instead of facing eviction later this year,” O’Daniel said.

Read the Sacramento Bee's article "Sacramento now has a $96 million fund to help struggling renters, landlords," featuring the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency.

From InsiderNJ:

Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today a new partnership between AeroFarms, the world leader in vertical farming, and the Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) with a resolution going before the Jersey City Municipal Council this week to provide free, nutritious food to residents most in need by opening two vertical farming locations within public houses sites – Curries Woods and Marion Gardens. The public housing farming locations, which will be funded by the City, will greatly increase healthy food access where needed most while also encouraging our most vulnerable residents to pursue a healthier lifestyle.

The Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), AeroFarms, and Jersey City Housing Authority will also collaborate with the Boys & Girls Club and Head Start Early Childhood Learning programs located onsite at both locations to support produce distribution and healthy eating education. The resolution will be voted on by the City Council on Wednesday, February 24th, 2021.

Read InsiderNJ's article "Jersey City Vertical Farming Program to Open in Two Public Housing Locations, Targeting Most Vulnerable Residents," featuring the Jersey City Housing Authority.

From Atlanta Housing's website:

Atlanta Housing (AH) partnered with the Family Health Centers of Georgia to vaccinate 118 AH residents Friday, Feb 19. AH provided transportation using social distancing, masks and sanitation per CDC guidelines. Additional vaccinations will occur as AH development partners provide onsite clinics for eligible residents.

“It is our goal to ensure that all eligible residents in AH-owned facilities are fully vaccinated to ensure their health, safety and well-being,” said Dr. Christopher Edwards, chairman of the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners. “CEO Eugene Jones and his capable staff have done an excellent job of keeping our residents safe during the pandemic, but the only way to ensure their continued safety is through widespread vaccination.”

Seniors vaccinated Friday, Feb 19 reside in East Lake Highrise, Marietta Senior Tower, Tenth and Juniper Highrise, Peachtree Senior Tower, Cosby Spear Highrise and Piedmont Senior Tower.

Read "Atlanta Housing and Partners Connect Seniors to COVID-19 Vaccinations" o n Atlanta Housing's website.

From WMAR Baltimore:

I’m very fortunate," said Doris Moore.

Moore is one of more than 80 Cherry Hill Homes residents ages 65 years or older who got their first COVID-19 vaccine dose Tuesday.

"It wasn’t bad at all," said Gloria Harris.

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City partnered with the Baltimore City Health Department and MedStar Health, using their mobile clinic to break down any accessibility barriers.

"Many folks are being asked to go online to register and in many of our communities with the residents we serve, they don’t necessarily have access to an online platform or internet to be able to register," said Tracey Keyser, HABC’s Senior VP of Resident Services. "We consider them to be our most vulnerable and fragile population. We though the best option was to bring the option to them."

Read WMAR Baltimore's article "Mobile COVID-19 vaccination event targets Cherry Hill seniors," featuring the Housing Authority of Baltimore City.

From Evanston Now:

For 65-year old Joy Horton, the chance to get a COVID-19 vaccination “just dropped out of the sky” for her and for other residents of the Victor Walchirk Apartments in Evanston today.

The building, on Noyes Court, is a senior citizens’ affordable housing residence, operated by the Housing Authority of Cook County. This morning, those who live at Walchirk, along with staff members who care for the tenants, were given the first of the two-shot coronavirus vaccine protocol, with the second shot to come later. The vaccinations were provided via the Pharmacy Participation Program, in cooperation with Cook County, Walgreens and the Centers for Disease Control.

Bringing the shots to where seniors live was “very nice,” Horton said, so she and her neighbors would not have to travel somewhere else to get them.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty were at Walchirk as the vaccinations began. Preckwinkle told Evanston Now that there is “clearly an equity issue nationwide” for vaccine distribution, and “bringing the vaccinations to people’s doorsteps” is one wat to deal with that.

Read the Housing Authority of Cook County's article "COVID vaccines given at senior housing site," featuring the Housing Authority of Cook County.