CLPHA Press Room

From the New Haven Independent:

Pre-approve certain building plans. Eliminate parking minimums. Support single-room apartments. Implement a land tax. 

The Housing Authority of New Haven and its nonprofit affiliates recommended those city-level policies and others while delivering a message to City Hall: when it comes to the housing crisis, ​“we can’t count on the state.”

Elm City Communities, an umbrella group including the city’s public housing agency and its nonprofit development and property management arms, released a new report on affordable housing titled ​“Breaking Ground” on Monday morning.

The report culminates a series of community conversations hosted by Elm City Communities (ECC) on the affordable housing crisis, strategizing with NYU Furman Center’s Housing Solutions Lab, and research by ECC’s policy director Will Viederman. (Read the full report here.)

At a press conference outside the agency’s headquarters at 360 Orange St. on Monday, ECC President Karen DuBois-Walton said that though ECC is New Haven’s largest provider of deeply affordable housing, there are 30,000 households on the waitlist for the public housing apartments and federal Housing Choice Vouchers that the Housing Authority administers.

“Every night, I go to bed concerned about the thousands of voucher holders who are looking for quality housing in a place of their choice, a unit that they can afford, and who are struggling,” said DuBois Walton. ​“Probably even more concerning are the families we are not reaching” — families who are homeless or living in unsafe or unaffordable housing.

While much of ECC’s policy advocacy has related to statewide initiatives to develop more affordable housing in neighboring towns, the Breaking Ground report focuses on zoning reforms and other policies that the city of New Haven can enact on its own.

“Our state legislature and our governor failed to pass meaningful reforms” on housing this year, Viederman said. ​“We can’t count on the state. It’s not enough [for New Haven] to say, ​‘It’s not our fault and our neighbors should act.’ ”

Read the New Haven Independent's article "Housing Authority Details Path To More Housing."

From NY1 Spectrum News:

A program launching this fall aims to replace thousands of gas cooking stoves in NYCHA-owned buildings with new electric induction stoves.

NYCHA is teaming up with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the New York Power Authority on an initiative called the "Induction Stove Challenge," the agencies said in a news release Monday.

As part of the "challenge," NYPA will issue a request for proposals seeking manufacturers who can create “energy-efficient, electric cooking systems” that will work in older NYCHA buildings, according to the release.

Once NYPA selects its proposals, NYSERDA will buy 100 stoves, and install and test them in 100 NYCHA apartments, authorities said.

Eventually, NYCHA will purchase at least 10,000 electric induction stoves and install them in additional apartments "with the goal of fully displacing gas cooking stoves in NYCHA-owned buildings," the release said.

According to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, induction stoves heat pots and pans by generating an electromagnetic current within the cookware itself. Most pans currently sold are compatible with induction stoves, according to the NYSERDA.

The transition to induction stoves will avoid "costly electrical upgrades" for stove replacements in the selected buildings, the release added.

Read NY1 Spectrum News' article "NYCHA program aims to replace gas stoves with induction stoves."

From WLWT 5 Cincinnati:

A massive renovation is underway for two historic apartment buildings in East Walnut Hills.

The $38 million project will upgrade more than 100 units throughout the Riverview and San Marco.

The renovations will include new flooring, appliances and renovated bathrooms and kitchens, all while remaining affordable.

The Riverview is a nine-floor building built in 1902 with 110 units. San Marco, in the heart of the East Walnut Hills business district, was built as a seven-floor hotel in 1930 and converted to 30 residential units in the 1960s.

Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority will begin construction in August.

"Closing on this latest Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) project continues our commitment to invest one billion dollars in our affordable housing portfolio," says Gregory D. Johnson, CMHA's chief executive officer. "Residents of Hamilton County deserve quality affordable housing, and we're delivering."

Read WLWT 5 Cincinnati's article "Massive renovation underway for two historic apartment buildings in East Walnut Hills," featuring the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority.

From Patch.com:

Fairfax County officials broke ground Thursday morning on The Lodge at Autumn Willow, an independent living community that will add 150 units to the county's affordable housing stock.

“We know that Fairfax County’s older adults need options to age in place affordably. These 150 units will provide people that opportunity,” said Jeffrey C. McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in a release. “We want the people who grew roots in Fairfax County to stay in their community of choice. This development is special because it provides an affordable place for older adults to keep writing our local history.”

...

In July 2022, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority signed an interim agreement with Michaels Development to develop The Lodge at Autumn Willow project via the Virginia Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act.

"Getting to the moment where we break ground on an affordable housing community requires a complex set of resources and experts. That is what we do at the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority," said RHA Chair Melissa McKenna. "We are committed to bringing together experts in the development, real estate, environmental engineering, and finance industries to create affordable housing opportunities for our community. This is especially critical for older adults, who deserve to live and thrive in their desired community."

Read Patch.com's article "New $8.7M Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground In Fairfax County," featuring the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

From WTKR3 Norfolk:

Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's (NRHA) HomeNet Homeownership Center received a $6.4 million grant from Virginia Housing to bridge the minority homeownership gap on Wednesday.

NRHA says the grant aims to bridge the minority homeownership gap in Norfolk and "empower individuals to fulfill their dream of owning a home."

The grant will enable the HomeNet Homeownership Center to assist minority first-time homebuyers by providing down payment and closing cost assistance, along with one percent interest rate discount point.

NRHA says the discount will help make homeownership more accessible and affordable, reducing the financial barriers that often hinder minority communities from entering the housing market.

"We are honored to receive this generous grant from Virginia Housing," said LaShawn Fortes, community economic development director at NRHA. "This grant not only acknowledges the importance of bridging the minority homeownership gap but also empowers us to take tangible steps toward achieving a goal."

Read WTKR 3 Norfolk's article "Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority receives $6.4 million grant."