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
During the COVID-19 quarantine, David can be reached at (202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
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February 2, 2021
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(Washington, D.C.) February 2, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon President Biden's signing of an executive order regarding the public charge rule:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the Biden administration’s action today to begin unwinding the Trump administration’s patently unlawful Public Charge Rule that included housing assistance receipt against immigrants and their families when applying for an adjustment of residency status. Federal housing assistance exists to keep families together and to lift them up, not to be weaponized to tear them apart. The cruelty of the rule was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as it caused families to opt out of many critical safety net programs, including federal housing assistance.
"CLPHA looks forward to working with the Biden administration to ensure the equitable and compassionate treatment of immigrants and their families when seeking federal housing assistance.”
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2021 |
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(Washington, D.C.) January 28, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon the conclusion of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs’ nomination hearing for The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, of Ohio, to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds HUD Secretary-designate Marcia Fudge’s forceful call for expanding emergency rental assistance at her Senate nomination hearing today for individuals who are facing housing instability due to lost income or are experiencing unemployment because of COVID-19, many of whom are people of color. She understands that the $25 billion allocated to emergency rental assistance in the most recent stimulus was not enough and only a down payment.
“Right now, in back rent alone, 10 million low-income renters have accrued an average of $5,600 in rental arrears, which totals $56.3 billion. The current stimulus package will help approximately 3.5 million renters pay back rent by February. The remaining 7 million renters who are unable to pay back rent will face eviction, compounding the strain on our nation’s economy and compromising our nation’s moral responsibility to address racial inequities among our most vulnerable individuals.
CLPHA calls for Congress to immediately pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan which contains $50 billion in emergency rental assistance, and for the Senate to swiftly confirm Secretary-designate Fudge so that she can begin her imperative work.”
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(202) 550-1381
For Immediate Release
January 15, 2021 |
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(Washington, D.C.) January 15, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement on President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan for including $35 billion in emergency rental and utility assistance and a significant extension of the eviction moratorium.
“The Biden-Harris proposal underscores the magnitude of the rental crisis facing the nation, and, when combined with the $25 billion in rental assistance from the December stimulus, finally begins to address the threat of housing instability that millions of low-income Americans are facing. To date, 11.4 million renters have accrued an average of $6,000 in back rent, totaling $70 billion in unpaid rent. President-elect Biden said last night that every day matters when keeping a roof over one’s head. The most effective model to deliver rental assistance immediately is the Housing Choice Voucher program. Its efficiency is proven, the infrastructure is in place, and it can rapidly expand to deliver the significant amount of relief proposed in the American Rescue Plan.
“CLPHA is committed to working with Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to ensure its swift passage so that Americans facing the threat of eviction don’t have to wait another day longer.”
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP)will redevelop the vacant Larimer School, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, into 35 affordable housing units. This project is part of HACP’s larger Larimer/East Liberty Choice Neighborhoods redevelopment plan.
The Otto Bremer Trust awarded a $100,000 grant and a $500,000 low-interest loan to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA). MPHA will use the loan to support housing authority operations for its 6,000 public housing units and will use the grant to fund construction of the 16-unit Minnehaha Townhomes, slated to open in 2019.
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles alongside partner Meta Housing Corporation, opened El Segundo Apartments and 127th Street Apartments in Harbor Gateway, two new communities offering a combined 160 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless families and individuals.
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), partner Red Eye, Inc., and celebrity guests celebrated the opening of the Watts Empowerment Center Sports Complex at HACLA’s Imperial Courts community with basketball games, soccer matches, a slam dunk contest, and other activities.
Fort Worth Housing Solutions (FWHS)President Mary-Margaret Lemons penned an op-ed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about FWHS’s efforts to increase the city’s affordable housing options, such as their utilization of the RAD program.
Last month, Antonio (Tony) M. Pérez, CLPHA board member and secretary-executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM), announced his resignation from his role at the housing authority. Since 2000, Mr. Pérez’s visionary leadership has guided the agency in its mission of fostering strong, resilient and inclusive communities by providing a continuum of high-quality housing options that support self-sufficiency, good quality of life, and the opportunity to thrive.
“Tony has been a committed and compassionate leader in Milwaukee, on the CLPHA board and in the national housing policy arena,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “His thoughtful and steadfast advocacy on behalf of our nation's most vulnerable individuals is unmatched. His untiring support for CLPHA's Housing Is Initiative and cross-sector partnerships has made improving lives, strengthening neighborhoods a reality in Milwaukee. His wisdom, erudition and joyfulness lifts up all those who know him. We are profoundly grateful to Tony for his service and his vision.”
Known for his compassionate leadership throughout the Milwaukee community, Mr. Pérez has been part of Milwaukee’s social fabric since 1979, serving as a social justice advocate, mentor, community leader, and accomplished professional.
“It has been my honor to work with Mr. Pérez during his entire tenure with the Housing Authority. His commitment to public service and his desire to improve the lives of those most in need in our community is to be commended. He can trust that we will continue letting HACM’s mission be our north star,” said HACM’s Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Mark Wagner.
During his tenure, Mr. Pérez led the agency in numerous endeavors to preserve its affordable housing supply. The agency secured over $500 million dollars in federal, state, and private grants to develop affordable housing and revitalize existing properties to preserve affordable housing for generations to come. This includes the $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhood grant awarded in 2015 to support development of the Westlawn Gardens neighborhood.
Mr. Pérez made conservation and environmental stewardship a core tenet of HACM’s development projects, and HACM gained a reputation as an international leader in using green design practices to conserve resources and build healthy, sustainable communities.
Mr. Pérez’s passion for creating opportunities to help people achieve their goals and dreams is evident to everyone who knows him. Housing stability is the foundation, but his steadfast commitment to providing residents with programs and services to improve their quality of life and propel them out of poverty helped make the agency truly stand out as a national leader.
One such example of his commitment was his vision for HACM’s @Promise Resident Training Program, an initiative designed to provide low-income HACM residents with a new pathway to self-sufficiency. The program builds upon the stability of HACM’s quality, affordable housing by also offering on-the-job training, life skills development, and post-secondary education that together can transform residents’ lives. @Promise provides motivated residents with the opportunity to overcome barriers that could otherwise keep them locked into a cycle of poverty.
The name of the program stems from a realization that Mr. Pérez had several years ago. “Many of our young people are perceived as ‘at risk.’ I choose to call them ‘at promise’ instead. The idea here is how many of these promises will go unfulfilled, not because these individuals didn’t try, but because no one lent a helping hand,” explained Pérez. “We can be that helping hand.”
Prior to joining HACM, Mr. Pérez founded the Milwaukee Community Service Corps, a nonprofit vocational training organization that continues to provide low-income urban youth with education, life skills and on-the-job work experience in a holistic program of development. During his time at MCSC from 1991 to 2000, more than 900 participants found jobs and received more than $4.5 million in income.
Among many other achievements, Mr. Pérez played a key role in the development of the Milwaukee Job Corps Center, which provides young people the skills they need to become employable and independent and places them in meaningful jobs or further education.
Pérez had served as executive director of HACM since 2000. Willie L. Hines, Jr. will continue serving as the housing authority’s acting secretary-executive director while HACM’s Board of Commissioners continues the process of confirming Pérez’s successor.
From a letter from Saint Paul Public Housing Agency Executive Director Jon Gutzmann:
Since the pandemic began, many households have become delinquent in their rent payments. The St. Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) recognized this right away and assembled a team of staff members to reach out to residents who were struggling to pay rent. Through the dedication and hard work of the PHA’s Resident Services Department, the PHA was instrumental in securing over $1.4 million in rental assistance for its residents. At least 894 households have been delinquent on rent, some as far back as March 2020, owing the PHA more than $2 million. Some households obtained rent assistance on their own, but to date PHA staff have collectively spent over 2,500 hours assisting over 497 households process the paperwork needed to avoid eviction. This is equivalent to more than one full-time staff person devoted to this work for an entire year.
Only 32 households failed to positively respond to the PHA’s efforts to help before the State of Minnesota’s Eviction Moratorium was lifted on October 12, 2021. PHA staff reached out to those households and offered assistance, averaging 10 contacts per household before the moratorium was lifted. Of those remaining 32 households, eight have already paid their rent due. Fourteen other households have applied for rent assistance, and their Eviction Actions have been put on hold while their applications are processed. One resident’s case was set for a later date due to technical issues they experienced during the Zoom hearing. Only nine households failed to appear in court or otherwise make any arrangement to repay their outstanding balances, resulting in writs of recovery being issued that will allow the PHA to take back the property and rent it to a family in need on the waiting list. Over 9,000 households are on the PHA’s waiting list at this time.
Over 412 residents have already received rental assistance, and many more are awaiting assistance payments from RentHelpMN, the State of Minnesota program established to help low income individuals with rent payments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. PHA staff dedicated an average of six hours of time, per household, assisting residents with the RentHelpMN application process. This effort is far from over. Over 200 PHA residents were newly late on rent this month, and this pattern is likely to persist. Staff continue to provide residents with thorough, targeted assistance applying for rent help. Through this focused effort the PHA seeks to ensure that no resident loses their housing because they cannot pay rent. The rental assistance is available, and the PHA stands by to help any resident obtain this aid. Simultaneously, we will follow HUD regulations and uphold our fiduciary obligations to tax payers who provide the deep rental subsidies that make this housing affordable to very low income people.
From the District of Columbia Housing Authority's press release:
The District of Columbia Housing Authority, local and federal officials, and the Kenilworth Courts community broke ground today on Kenilworth 166. The $83 million project is the first phase of the Kenilworth Courts redevelopment, which kicked off with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CHOICE planning grant 10 years ago.
“The groundbreaking for Kenilworth 166 is the first of many celebrations for the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) as we move forward with the agency’s portfolio investment plan to preserve, rehabilitate, and redevelop affordable housing for District residents today and in the future,” said DCHA Executive Director Brenda Donald. “I want to thank our partners for making this project a reality, including HUD who not only helped us secure the planning grant but also approved this as DC’s first RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) Faircloth project. HUD also provided our customers with vouchers to facilitate their moves during construction. I look forward to continuing the relationship with Ms. Herring, resident leadership and the entire Kenilworth Courts community on the journey towards their new homes."
The first phase of the Kenilworth Courts redevelopment includes 166 units in a senior building, a multi-family building, stacked flats, and townhouse rentals. Of these, 118 will be deeply subsidized replacement units and 48 will be affordable units at 50% of Area Median Income for a family of four.
This month, La Shelle Dozier, vice president of CLPHA’s board and executive director of the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency, was honored as one of Sacramento Business Journal’s (SBJ) “Most Admired CEOs.”
SBJ recognized Dozier in part for her agency’s success in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozier told SBJ, “Once the vaccine was readily available we assisted staff in getting appointments. We held vaccine clinics for residents and distributed food to our elderly residents who were largely homebound during the lockdown. All of these proactive measures were put in place to protect our employees and keep them safe during the pandemic. Going forward we have changed how we view work by moving from a traditional method of getting work done to a more flexible approach that focuses on what works for the employee to maintain their work life balance. If anything the pandemic has taught us all that we need to reevaluate our own personal priorities and adopt healthier approaches to getting our work done.”
CLPHA congratulates Ms. Dozier on this recognition of her steadfast leadership!
From the Seattle Housing Authority's press release:
In keeping with its long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, the Seattle Housing Authority has signed on to a new U.S. Department of Energy Better Climate Challenge. As a partner, SHA is committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent and energy consumption by 15 percent across all portfolios by 2032, using 2017 as a baseline.
Of more than 90 organizations across the U.S. and across sectors that have stepped up to the Challenge so far, the Seattle Housing Authority and King County Housing Authority are the only public housing authorities to join.
As technology has advanced, SHA has incorporated energy efficiency in renovations and new construction through solar panels, water conservation, state-of-the-art building systems, lighting upgrades, energy efficient windows and appliances and more, including low-carbon hot water technologies in partnership with the Department of Energy. In 2016, SHA made Environmental Stewardship an Organizational Cornerstone in its Strategic Plan and in 2019 adopted its first Sustainability Agenda. SHA has converted 100 percent of its fleet of passenger vehicles to electric and in 2017 became the first public housing authority to expand food and yard waste collection to every property to reduce carbon footprint and material going into landfills.
At a national roundtable yesterday, attended by SHA Executive Director Rod Brandon, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, joined by White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, recognized SHA and the other organizations signing onto the Challenge.
“Better Climate Challenge partners like SHA are committing to decarbonize across their portfolio of buildings, plants, and fleets and share effective strategies to transition our economy to clean energy,” said Secretary Granholm. “Their leadership and innovation are crucial in our collective fight against climate change while strengthening the U.S. economy.”
“Environmental stewardship has been a core value at SHA for many years and we have a long history of investing in innovative approaches,” said Brandon. “We are excited about this further commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure healthier living and working environments for our residents, staff and community. We are also appreciative of Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for supporting our Moving to Work status as an agency, which allows us the funding flexibility to be able to make these important investments.”
Details of the Seattle Housing Authority’s environmental commitment can be found in its Environment Stewardship Report and Sustainability Agenda.