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
(202) 550-1381 or [email protected].
*Please let us know if you are working on deadline.
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To view all of CLPHA's press statements, click here.
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April 9, 2021
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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
March 31, 2021 |
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(Washington, D.C.) March 31, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon President Biden’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds President Biden’s transformative American Jobs Plan to reimagine and rebuild the American economy by centering housing as key to accomplishing the administration’s top priorities of economic impact, racial equity, and climate change. The $213 billion to produce, preserve, and retrofit more than one million housing units, with $40 billion targeted at the long-neglected public housing capital needs, is the size and scale that can move the needle on improving public housing infrastructure. CLPHA has called for a 10-year road map to recapitalize the public housing portfolio.
“The centrality of public and affordable housing means its impact reaches beyond shelter. It is also critical to other key elements of the American jobs plan including expanding broadband, improving childcare, and increasing health care opportunities. Public housing authorities are the most efficient delivery mechanism for these critical services because of their understanding of local needs, especially the needs of underserved communities of color. Public housing authorities stand ready to implement the bill when it becomes law.
CLPHA will work closely with Congress to ensure that the housing provisions are fully funded and remain central to the bill.”
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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March 11, 2021
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(Washington, D.C.) March 11, 2021 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon President Biden’s signing of the American Rescue Plan Act into law:
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds President Biden for signing into law the groundbreaking American Rescue Plan Act. When combined with the $25 billion in emergency rental assistance in the previous relief bill, the total $45 billion in emergency rental assistance and $5 billion to prevent homelessness is scaled to the enormous scope of the rental crisis with more than 11 million renters behind on rent. The law is also historic in nature as it represents the largest federal investment since the creation of the Great Society programs more than 55 years ago, which launched what is now known as the Housing Choice Voucher program. Estimates show that the American Rescue Plan Act’s war on poverty will reduce the projected poverty rate this year by half. This historic investment in alleviating poverty and expanding housing opportunities constitutes one of the most significant steps towards ending racial inequity since the legislation passed during the Civil Rights Era.
"The American Rescue Plan acknowledges that housing stability for all Americans is essential to the economic well-being, racial equity, and public health of the nation. While this legislation directs critical federal investment to pandemic relief, new transformational federal investments will be needed to address the affordable housing crisis that was only exacerbated by the pandemic, including a 10-year roadmap to recapitalize the public housing portfolio and a permanent and significant expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program.
"CLPHA looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to make stable housing a reality for all Americans."
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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 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.
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) and partners cut the ribbon on the Residences at Hayes Street, a 150-unit affordable housing community constructed with help from a $2 million DCHA loan. DCHA will also provide nearly $241,000 annually in rent subsidies to residents.
The Charlotte Housing Authority has opened The Oaks at Cherry, an 81-unit affordable housing community with resident amenities such a playground, cyber café, and fitness center in Charlotte’s historic Cherry neighborhood. You can watch a video about The Oaks at Cherry community here.
From the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's press release:
The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Board of Commissioners announced today a major investment strategy that will bolster the agency’s ability to address Central Ohio’s “critical need” for more affordable housing.
The board has approved issuing up to $80 million in bonds that allow CMHA to invest:
- $13 million to acquire Demorest Townhomes, a 48-unit multifamily housing complex at 4157 River Bridge Circle in Grove City, as well as purchasing 11 acres of vacant land on the site to build an additional 104 units of future housing.
- $13 million to acquire and renovate a soon-to-be vacant two-story building at 3400 Morse Crossing in Columbus, which is earmarked as the new headquarters for CMHA’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) department. This move is pivotal as CMHA brings the HCV program in-house beginning March 3, 2025, reinforcing its commitment to enhance operational efficiency and service quality for Franklin County residents.
- $12 million to refinance and fund upgrades to a CMHA-owned 88-unit multifamily apartment community known as Canal’s Edge, 5303 Amalfi Drive in Canal Winchester, the southeastern Columbus suburb.
- $4 million to acquire a vacant, two-story office building at 195 N. Grant St. in downtown Columbus that CMHA plans to use for future redevelopment.
- An additional $10 million in bonds for the new construction of a 100-unit multifamily housing development in Reynoldsburg, known as Heights on Main. This decision now represents $35 million in CMHA bonds for the project, with the new $10 million in bonds supplementing the $25 million that was initially approved by the CMHA board in July 2024.
- The total amount for these combined investments is subject to change slightly as CMHA reviews pending cost estimates on necessary property improvements and building renovations.
In addition, the CMHA board has approved utilizing approximately $42.5 million in Project-Based Vouchers (PBVs) that will preserve affordable rental rates at three nonprofit-operated apartment communities in Columbus through 2040.
From Home Forward's press release:
Home Forward has acquired the Cesar Apartments, located near SE Hawthorne Blvd. and Cesar Chavez Blvd, to convert to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for individuals exiting chronic homelessness. Purchasing the two-year-old building, which can be converted into supportive housing with minimal changes to the structure and layout, was part of an innovative strategy to capitalize on favorable market conditions to acquire market-rate buildings for affordable housing—a quick and cost-effective approach to bring more affordable housing on-line.
The Cesar offers 47 units ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. Built in 2022, the modern design, transit-accessible location, and community amenities make it an ideal site to support Multnomah County’s most vulnerable residents. With minimal structural changes required, the property will quickly transition into housing that fosters stability and dignity.
“Addressing our region’s affordable housing crisis requires a diverse set of tools and strategies. By leveraging new opportunities in the real estate market to supplement our existing efforts, and working across jurisdictions, we can rapidly expand the supply of permanent supportive housing at a fraction of the cost, maximizing public investment and delivering immediate solutions for those in need,” said Ivory Mathews, Chief Executive Officer of Home Forward. “This acquisition exemplifies the power of collaborative governance and bold, equitable action in addressing homelessness.”
The acquisition and conversion of the Cesar is possible thanks to $9 million from the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), including $6.7 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds designated for PSH pilot projects, and $2.3 million from Multnomah County, as well as Regional Long Term Rent Assistance and Supportive Housing Services funds from the Joint Office of Homeless Services to support wrap-around services for all Cesar residents.
“Last year, PHB began exploring whether we could bring much needed Permanent Supportive Housing online faster and at a lower cost than we usually achieve with new development,” said PHB Director Helmi A. Hisserich, “So we were very excited when Home Forward, Metro, and Multnomah County stepped up as partners on the Cesar Apartments acquisition. We look forward to announcing more acquisitions in the new year.”
The project aligns with the Portland Housing Bureau’s Local Implementation Strategy for Metro Bond funds, which aims to advance racial equity while producing 300 units of Permanent Supportive Housing, as well as 737 units with two or more bedrooms for families, and 605 units for households earning less than 30% of the area median income (or less than $28,320 a year for a family of two in 2024). The Cesar advances all three of these goals, which PHB is now exceeding across the board.
“This is a smart project to bring more affordable housing online and I’m proud of the creative approach used to increase our supply of supportive housing,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “With housing supply at crisis levels, this will create 47 residences specifically for people experiencing chronic homelessness with the support our neighbors need to stay housed long-term. This is aligned with our Homelessness Response System’s focus on tangible solutions to our region’s chronically low inventory of available housing.”
The building is nearly half vacant and remaining residents will have the option to continue living at the Cesar or receive relocation assistance from Home Forward. New residents will begin moving in this June through referrals from Coordinated Access. The Cesar will feature on-site services tailored to residents’ needs, including behavioral health resources, tenancy education, and eviction prevention support. These critical services, provided through partnerships with the Joint Office of Homeless Services and local service providers, will ensure long-term housing stability for residents.
“Changes in the housing market have made it possible to create affordable homes at a lower cost to taxpayers with the purchase of pre-existing buildings,” said Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang. “It’s great to see Portland using this opportunity to increase supportive housing for our region’s most vulnerable population.”
Home Forward will continue to work with the Joint Office of Homeless Services to select a service provider that aligns with its equity-driven mission. Together, they aim to create a supportive housing model that uplifts individuals while addressing systemic inequities in access to stable housing.
“Ending unsheltered homelessness is going to take innovative ideas and bold leadership. Home Forward’s acquisition of the Cesar Apartments and PHB’s work to bring more Permanent Supportive Housing to Portland is just that,” said Donnie Oliveira, Deputy City Administrator for Community and Economic Development. “The City will continue this work to address our housing crisis and bring critical resources to our most vulnerable populations, and we are proud of our partnerships with Home Forward, Multnomah County, Metro, and others to get it done.”
The Houston Housing Authority has named Jamie Bryant its new President & CEO.
Bryant brings nearly 25 years of experience in real estate development, organizational management, public-private partnerships and nonprofit governance to HHA. His career highlights include leading transformative projects throughout Houston that balance innovative development with community impact.
As CEO, Bryant guides HHA in advancing its mission to provide quality, affordable housing options and promote education and economic self-sufficiency.
Before joining HHA, Bryant served as the co-CEO of Parkway. Prior to Parkway, he was president and chief operating officer at Midway. During his tenure, he worked on transformative mixed-use projects such as the redevelopment of the Town & Country Mall site into CityCentre. This and other projects contributed to billions of dollars invested into Houston in mixed-use developments, leveraging partnerships with governmental and civic organizations to benefit all stakeholders.
Bryant has served on the boards of directors for nonprofit organizations at the forefront of affordable housing in Greater Houston, including Avenue and the Fifth Ward Redevelopment Authority. He has also served on advisory boards for the University of Houston, Cadence Bank and the management committee for Urban Land Institute Houston. His board service demonstrates an ongoing commitment to advancing affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and community development initiatives that benefit the region.
Outside his role as CEO, Bryant is an educator. He has shared his expertise by teaching graduate real estate and finance courses at the University of Houston’s Bauer School of Business and speaking on topics such as leadership and organizational culture. Bryant and his family also dedicate personal time to non-profit, educational and faith-based organizations they support in their community.
Bryant earned a Bachelor of Science in Management, Finance from Tulane University and a Master of Economics and Real Estate from Texas A&M University.
CLPHA welcomes Jamie Bryant to our membership!
From the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society:
The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) owns and operates affordable housing locations for qualifying low-income families and individuals in the Cleveland, Ohio, metro area. CMHA was the first chartered public housing authority in the United States, and it has a mission “to create safe, quality, affordable housing opportunities and improve the quality of life for the communities [we] serve.” The organization houses more than 55,000 low-income residents living in Cuyahoga County. One part of fulfilling that mission happens through the CMHA digital inclusion programs, which provides digital navigation services to residents in several key areas: affordable internet connection options, computing devices, tech support, and digital literacy classes. CMHA is a ConnectHomeUSA (CHUSA) community, receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support digital inclusion programs and services.
The information technology (IT) division at CMHA runs its digital inclusion programs and services, which start with ensuring that residents in every location have options for free or affordable internet access. CMHA makes bulk service agreements with ISPs like Spectrum and assists residents interested in subscribing. By making bulk agreements with ISPs, CMHA caps the monthly cost for any service at $20 and requires ISPs to provide a minimum download speed of 200 Mbps and a minimum upload speed of 20 Mbps. CMHA recognizes that internet service and the ability to use it to complete regular life tasks are not luxuries but necessities. For example, each year, residents are required to recertify their income to maintain their eligibility for affordable housing—a process that will soon be 100 percent online, so CMHA digital navigators assist residents who need help recertifying.
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Partnerships with other organizations in the community are paramount to the CMHA Digital Inclusion Program’s success. For example, the Olivet Housing and Community Development Corporation leads many digital literacy courses at CMHA locations. By partnering with community organizations like Olivet, CMHA is able to simultaneously support more residents and support partners with overlapping missions to close the digital divide. Most courses take place over an eight-week period, and residents who successfully complete a course receive a device. Additional partner organizations provide training to digital navigators and staff, and others are internet service providers serving residents with low-cost home internet plans. The CMHA Digital Inclusion Program is also periodically able to distribute refurbished desktop and laptop computers that would otherwise be recycled to residents.
We are pleased to announce that the Newark Housing Authority has become a member of CLPHA!
The Newark Housing Authority provides rental assistance to over 15,000 households in Newark, NJ. Leonard Spicer serves as the agency's Executive Director. Learn more at newarkha.org.
Please join us in welcoming NHA to CLPHA – we look forward to working together to improve life outcomes for families served by PHAs!