CLPHA Press Room

From the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh's press release:

Today, Sept. 10, 2024, is Caster Binion Day in the City of Pittsburgh!

Pittsburgh City Council this morning honored HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion for his service to the City of Pittsburgh and to our country, on a recommendation by Councilwoman Theresa Kail Smith.

Mr. Binion has served as the Executive Director of the HACP and Allies and Ross Management & Development Corporation, Inc. (ARMDC) and its subsidiaries since February 2013. As Executive Director, Mr. Binion manages an annual budget of roughly $200 million and is responsible for the operations of roughly 2,300 units of Low-Income Public Housing (LIPH), 5,500 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and 1,000 mixed-finance housing units.

During his tenure, Mr. Binion has led several major affordable housing initiatives, including: the community-wide Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) in Larimer/East Liberty launched in 2014, the implementation of a $500,000 Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Planning Grant for Bedford Dwellings and subsequent $50,000,000 CNI Implementation Grant for Bedford Dwellings, and a $30,000,000 CNI for Larimer that just concluded.

Under Mr. Binion’s leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program.

Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP’s HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program – which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.

Under Mr. Binion’s leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program. Through this program, Mr. Binion has created opportunities for community-based redevelopment organizations to increase their capacity and initiate dozens of affordable housing development projects in neighborhoods throughout the City of Pittsburgh, ranging from Oakland Pride to Cedarwood Homes – one of the first affordable senior housing communities in the City’s West End.

Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP’s HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program – which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.

In addition to spearheading the HACP’s development efforts, Mr. Binion leads the agency’s efforts to provide residents of the LIPH and HCV programs with quality services that provide vocational training, employment assistance, crisis support, quality of life enhancements for senior citizens, education opportunities and recreation activities for youth, as well as an onsite 24-hour daycare center, robust resident employment initiatives and an innovative mobile digital literacy program. In essence, these combined efforts lend credence to the overarching theme of providing HACP residents with a “Place to Live and a Path to Launch.”

Prior to beginning his career in public housing, Mr. Binion served as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army, including during Operation Desert Storm, before retiring from the military in 1992.

During the Sept. 10 meeting, Councilwoman Kail Smith commended Mr. Binion and his “amazing team” for efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing within the City of Pittsburgh.

“When I first got elected, my district (District 2) felt saturated with housing authority properties. I raked the housing authority over the coals every chance I got,” she said, adding though Mr. Binion was not the director at the time, she continued once he assumed the role in 2013.

She said Mr. Binion did an amazing job working with the community, and had his staff investigate the properties in question throughout her district.

“Since then, he has been working with us and the community. I want to thank you and your amazing team. They do a lot of great things in the City of Pittsburgh. I know it’s not always easy, especially when affordable housing is not always so plentiful,” she added.

Mr. Binion thanked the residents of the City of Pittsburgh and the HACP, HACP staff, the Board of Commissioners, and all the community partners who have worked together to bring Choice Neighborhoods visions to fruition.

He also thanked his wife, Della, for “putting up with me” over the years, and thanked the HACP staff for being so dedicated, and doing excellent work.

“Our imagination continues to grow as we continue to try to find affordable housing opportunities for the residents of the City of Pittsburgh,” he said. “We have a lot to do as far as affordable housing.”

Councilman Khari Mosley (District 9), who also serves on the HACP Board of Commissioners, thanked Mr. Binion and his staff for being very responsive to constituent concerns, and for their “willingness to live by your words to be imaginative and creative as we try to figure out a level of affordability at the Bakery Square Development, and in meeting this mandate to create more affordable housing in the City of Pittsburgh.”

Councilman Bob Charland (District 3) also thanked Mr. Binion and the HACP staff for being incredibly responsive when issues arise in the district.

“You do a fantastic job of getting back to us quickly when we have an issue,” he added, citing a fire last week at Caliguiri Plaza in Allentown.

Congratulations on such a well-deserved recognition, Mr. Binion!

From the Housing Authority of Cook County's press release:

The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13, 2024 to celebrate the opening of Otto Veterans Square, an affordable housing development for veterans located in downtown Chicago Heights, IL. Otto Veterans Square is an 82-unit, four-story development located at 1440 Otto Boulevard on the former site of St. James Hospital. The $30.8 million project includes modern apartments that provide veterans with safe and comfortable residence.

“This is truly a beautiful, thoughtfully designed building by HED and partners that our veterans can be proud to call home,” said Danita W. Childers, Executive Director, Housing Authority of Cook County. “This development is a standing reflection of our commitment to address veteran homelessness in the community and contribute to the revitalization of downtown Chicago Heights.”

The property represents the first new development to emerge from the Downtown/East Side Choice Neighborhoods Plan, which was jointly developed by the City of Chicago Heights and the Housing Authority of Cook County and funded by a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Today marks an important step in our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every veteran in Cook County has access to safe, dignified, and affordable housing,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Otto Veterans Square is more than just a building; it is a testament to our dedication to the men and women who have served our country and a meaningful contribution to the revitalization of Chicago Heights. I commend the Housing Authority of Cook County, the City of Chicago Heights, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, and all our partners for their unwavering collaboration and hard work in bringing this vision to life.”

The Housing Authority of Cook County secured financing through partnerships with several organizations, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED), the National Equity Fund (NEF), BMO, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Wintrust Bank, the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program and Nicor.

“ComEd is proud of our work with the Housing Authority of Cook County to ensure energy-efficiency measures are included in Otto Veterans Square that will help provide a comfortable environment for veteran tenants but also help them save money and energy,” said Bonita Estelle, ComEd’s external affairs manager for the Southland Region. “These efforts are estimated to save 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which helps avoid more than 920,000 pounds of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of planting nearly 500 acres of trees or removing almost 100 cars from the road each year.”

In addition to providing affordable housing, Otto Veterans Square will offer comprehensive supportive services through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Respond Now. The VA will provide a range of veteran-specific services, including an onsite social worker, healthcare, mental health counseling, and access to peer support specialists, ensuring that residents receive the care and support they deserve. Respond Now, a local nonprofit based in Chicago Heights, will offer additional supportive services such as case management, access to community resources and emergency assistance, tailored to meet the unique needs of veterans. Together, these partnerships ensure that Otto Veterans Square residents receive a holistic network of care and resources to help them build stable, fulfilling lives in their new community.

“Otto Square Veterans Housing represents the pinnacle of what we can achieve when the federal government supports the vision of local leaders and public, private, and non-profit partners,” said Richard J. Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and former HACC Executive Director. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s work to end veteran homelessness would not be possible without the focused and collaborative efforts of amazing partners like the Housing Authority of Cook County and the City of Chicago Heights to ensure that every veteran has a roof over their head and the support they need when they return home.”

Following the ribbon cutting, guests were invited to view a model apartment and finished spaces with the design team. Otto Veterans Square offers residents a range of amenities, including an exercise room, media room, walking paths, and raised planting beds for community gardens. The property is pet-friendly, with designated spaces for service animals both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, the building provides 82 parking spots, including spaces for handicap and electric vehicles.

From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) continues to make steady progress on its Restore Home initiative, fully restoring and leasing several multi-family buildings and single-family homes that were previously vacant due to extensive repair needs.

Announced in late 2023, Restore Home is a major capital effort to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings in the small and medium-sized apartments portfolio (commonly known as “scattered sites”). Approximately three dozen small and medium-sized vacant apartment buildings around the city have been targeted for renovation, with more than 175 units brought back into leasable condition by mid-2025. An additional 40 single family homes are being renovated and made available for leasing or affordable homeownership opportunities.

CHA pledged to invest up to $50 million over eighteen months under Restore Home.

At Thursday’s meeting, CHA’s Board of Commissioners approved contracts totaling more than $17 million dollars to renovate four additional buildings that will bring 60 apartments back into leasable condition. These include:

• A 1920s brick six-flat building located at 4834-36 North Kimball Avenue in Albany Park, near the Kimball Brown Line station.
• A 1960s brick three-story/ 24-apartment building located at 4008-14 S. Prairie Avenue in Bronzeville.
• Two vacant properties in the North Lawndale neighborhood: a six-apartment building located at 1500 S. Christiana Avenue and a 24-apartment building located at 1404-1414 S. Homan.

Work on these buildings is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

As of August 31, 2024, under Restore Home: 

• Five multi-family buildings are complete with sixteen apartments occupied.
• Two multi-family buildings are complete and will be occupied by the end of September (four apartments).
• Eleven multi-family buildings are currently under construction (29 units). All are expected to be completed and fully occupied by the end of the year.
• One single-family home completed and occupied; one single-family home is completed and set to be occupied shortly; and one single-family home is under construction;
• Renovation is set to begin on 16 single-family homes shortly.

“Today’s Board action demonstrates that CHA is doing what we said we would do - providing quality living environments in strong communities that help families move forward. We are proud of the progress that we’ve made on the Restore Home initiative to date and are excited to begin this next phase of work,” CHA CEO Tracey Scott said.

From Fort Worth Housing Solutions' press release:

The Stop Six community, Fort Worth city and civic leaders, developers and supporters joined Fort Worth Housing Solutions to celebrate the groundbreaking of Babers Manor on Aug. 28 at the Eastside Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County.

Also in attendance were family members of Clarence Donald Babers, the namesake of the planned 80-unit community who was instrumental in bringing HUD funding to Stop Six.

“In the years I go to know Mr. Babers working alongside our Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens, I was struck by his tenacity for change, the recognition that public housing would be different and that you could completely transform communities with the right level of public-private partnership,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said. “And that’s what this groundbreaking really represents.”

Babers Manor, which will include townhome and garden apartments on Ramey Avenue between S. Hughes Ave and S. Edgewood Terrace​, joins current Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative developments Cowan Place Senior Living and Hughes House, which is under construction.

Bivens, who grew up in Stop Six and whose district includes Stop Six, has represented the area on the Fort Worth City Council since 2013 and has long advocated for investment in the area. She worked closely with Mr. Babers for years.

“When you visit people who get lucky enough to move to Babers Manor, I want them to know who my friend was because it his knowledge, his connections and overall his passion for his community is why we have Cowan Place … (and) Hughes House,” Bivens said.

Babers Manor is part of the landmark Stop Six Choice Neighborhood effort that launched in 2020 when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded FWHS and the City of Fort Worth a $35 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. Former Cavile Place residents who relocated as part of the redevelopment process have the right to return to the community as new Stop Six CNI properties come online.

“I want to emphasize what brought about the funding here,” said Candace Valenzuela, HUD Regional Administrator for the Southwest. “Because of the incredible partners, because of the members of the community, we have this Choice Neighborhood Grant.”

The HUD grant will be spread across six phases of development and is expected to leverage $345 million in investment for the neighborhood. In all, FWHS and partners will develop approximately 925 new units across the community. The City of Fort Worth plans additional infrastructure improvements, including a new community hub and aquatics center.

“The Choice Neighborhood process is all about getting to a yes,” said Mary-Margaret Lemons, President, Fort Worth Housing Solutions. “In 2019 this community stood up and said it’s time.”

The groundbreaking also included numerous partners, including Hunt Capital Partners; Aetna; CVS Health; the City of Fort Worth; Urban Strategies, Inc.; McCormack Baron Salazar Development, Inc.; GMA Construction; RPGA Design Group, Inc. and Mason Joseph Company.

As part of the celebration, donations were made to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County and the C. Donald Babers Memorial Scholarship.