CLPHA Press Room

From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:

Chicago Housing Authority residents who participated in the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program received their certificates of completion this month at an FSS graduation ceremony at the Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center.

FSS is one of CHA’s premier wealth-building programs and provides financial incentives to participants as they reach their goals. Upon goal completion, specified amounts based on the goal are deposited into their FSS savings accounts. The savings are paid out within 60 days of program completion.

The total payout among the 107 graduates was $704,271. The highest payout was $32,743, and the average was $6,581. There were 12 residents who purchased homes with their savings and 16 that transitioned off housing subsidy.

“You have spent a lot of effort in investing in yourself and your family. That is building your personal power,” CHA CEO Tracey Scott said. “That’s why we invest in this program, that’s why we are investing in you. Because when you invest in yourself, your family benefits, your community benefits and the world benefits. We are here to support you in following your dreams.”

Read CHA's press release.

From Sandra Williams', Director of  State Government Affairs at Charter Communications, op-ed  on Cleveland.com:

I read with interest the recent story about local nonprofits bringing digital literacy to Cleveland residents. (“College student found his real passion,” Sep. 6.)

Such efforts should be applauded and seen within a wider, more inclusive context. Inspiring efforts to help everyone in our city embrace the internet and its benefits, including better access to education, employment, and healthcare, is a worthy undertaking.

In my time in the Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee, and now in the private sector, I’ve been astounded by the many effective programs being offered. Spectrum has been a day-one participant in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides qualified Cleveland households up to $30 per month toward internet service.

Spectrum is also working with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to expand broadband internet into vulnerable communities, and supporting multiple nonprofits to improve both digital skills and education, helping thousands.

There are many other companies and collaborative efforts that are connecting our city to broadband – and the future. Let’s recognize and celebrate all this momentum.

Read Ms. Williams' op-ed.

From Bloomberg:

New York City is partnering with Charter Communications Inc. and Altice USA Inc. to provide free high-speed internet and basic cable TV service to about 300,000 residents of public housing. 

Called “Big Apple Connect,” the program aims to bridge the digital divide between wealthier residents and lower-income people who lack the tools necessary for remote learning, access to health care and job opportunities, city officials said. An estimated 30% to 40% of people who live in buildings run by the New York City Housing Authority lack broadband, according to the cable providers.

“In 2022, in the wealthiest city in the country, no one should go without access to the internet,” Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz said in a statement. “It is vital to our daily lives, to succeeding in school and in work, and is how we stay connected as a society.”

The city plans to have the service available in more than 200 NYCHA buildings by the end of 2023.

Read Bloomberg's article "NYC to Offer Free Broadband to 300,000 Public Housing Residents," featuring the New York City Housing Authority.

From the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's press release:

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and Beacon 360 Management Inc. announced today they have finalized a $15.6 million financing plan that allows development to begin on Harriet’s Hope, a 52-unit new construction project that is a first-of-its-kind for Columbus and among the nation’s first service-enriched housing communities exclusive to human trafficking survivors.

CMHA and Beacon successfully recruited eight funding sources that are providing support toward development of the Harriet’s Hope property, which is tentatively scheduled to complete construction in late-2023. The need for Harriet’s Hope is reflected by an Ohio Department of Health report that Ohio ranked fifth among all states in total reported human trafficking cases in 2020 (most recent data available), largely due to the major highways that link the Buckeye State to Canada, New York City, Michigan and other places.

“Unfortunately, Ohio is both an origin and source state for human trafficking, with cases representing both sex and labor trafficking and domestic and foreign-born victims of all ages,” said CMHA President and CEO Charles Hillman.

“That is why CMHA and our partners are committed to making the vision of providing a safe haven that Harriet’s Hope will offer become a realty, and we thank them all for their support and belief in the importance of moving this project forward,” Hillman said.

Read CMHA's press release.

From KNDO 23 News:

 The city of Yakima will soon see a 54-unit affordable housing project on Fruitvale Boulevard after the Washington State Department of Commerce announced that the Yakima Housing Authority will receive $119,000 in funding. The money comes from the Housing Trust fund, which the state is using to support developers and bridge the gap from construction cost increases, according to the press release from the department. 

The Department of Commerce announced $22.6 million in total investments along with the Yakima funding, saying it worked with projects that had been awarded funding previously but hadn’t accessed the funds yet. The department spoke with the projects about the funding and project status before stakeholders were ready to move on to construction. 

“These previously-awarded units were facing gaps in funding due to increased costs,” said Nate Lichti, the department’s managing director of multifamily housing. “The recommended awarded increases, in concert with funding from other partners, will ensure the affordable housing capacity previously committed to is built and placed into service.” 

Additionally, the Yakima City Council approved a contract on September 20 with the Yakima Housing Authority, funding the same Fruitvale project with $300,000 in HOME Investment funds.

Read KNDO 23 News' article "Yakima Housing Authority receives funding for affordable housing project on Fruitvale."