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 dgreer@clpha.org.
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 70 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org and on Twitter @CLPHA and follow @housing_is for news on CLPHA’s work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 70 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org and on Twitter @CLPHA and follow @housing_is for news on CLPHA’s work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
August 10, 2020
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis and public education. CLPHA’s 70 members represent virtually every major metropolitan area in the country. Together they manage 40 percent of the nation’s public housing program; administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program; and operate a wide array of other housing programs. Learn more at clpha.org and on Twitter @CLPHA and follow @housing_is for news on CLPHA’s work to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
On August 1, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing, “America’s Affordable Housing Crisis: Challenges and Solutions.” The hearing focused primarily on the challenge of increasing the supply of affordable housing and strategies to address the significant housing cost burdens faced by many Americans. Senator Hatch opened the hearing, stating that the affordable housing crisis, “is a problem that should be ready for a bipartisan solution.” To view our write-up of the hearing, click here.
To help tackle the affordable housing issues discussed in the hearing, Senators Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have introduced legislation, S. 548, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act. The bill would increase Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) credit authority by 50 percent, as well as enact roughly two dozen changes to strengthen the program by streamlining program rules, improving flexibility, and enabling the program to serve a wider array of local needs.
During the hearing, Committee Members expressed their support for the Cantwell-Hatch bill and there was broad bipartisan consensus that the LIHTC program is a vital tool for increasing the production of affordable housing and providing low-income households, safe, quality, affordable homes. However, there were also concerns raised regarding oversight and compliance of the program. Daniel Garcia-Diaz, director of financial markets and community investment at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), presented testimony that IRS oversight of LIHTC is minimal and that there are no robust controls in place to ensure reasonableness of costs or compliance with program requirements. According to Mr. Garcia-Diaz, the GAO recommends that HUD, as an agency with a housing mission, play a greater role in the oversight of the program.
In our Statement for the Record, CLPHA applauded the leadership the Senate Finance Committee has shown in support of LIHTC to date and encouraged the Committee to support S. 548. The bill is especially beneficial to the public housing program, which has experienced decades of underfunding and federal disinvestment. We noted that LIHTC has proven to be an extremely important preservation tool for public housing, and PHAs have a long history of leveraging private equity through LIHTCs to fill the funding gap created by decreased federal appropriations. Without the LIHTC program, preservation of their public housing stock would not be possible.
CLPHA also acknowledged that competition for more valuable 9% LIHTCs is fierce in many states and that there have been concerns within the affordable housing community about increased demand from the public housing portfolio. Increasing the allocation authority by 50 percent would support the preservation and construction of up to 400,000 additional affordable apartments over a ten-year period, including the renovation of vital public housing units that are currently at-risk. Additionally, the legislation allows for an increased basis boost for projects serving extremely low-income households. This would be particularly beneficial to housing authorities, as 75 percent of public housing residents are extremely-low income.
CLPHA has been strongly supportive of the legislation. In addition to the Statement of Record above, CLPHA has also engaged in this work as a member of the A.C.T.I.O.N. Campaign Steering Committee (A Call to Invest in Our Neighborhoods). The A.C.T.I.O.N. Campaign has taken a lead role in promoting the expansion of LIHTC, including support of S.548. Last month the Campaign submitted a letter to Senator Hatch in response to his request for comments on tax reform, urging Congress to expand and strengthen the housing credit. Along with other Steering Committee members, CLPHA endorsed and signed the letter.
As Congress takes on tax reform in the upcoming months, we will continue to support this important legislation that would provide needed resources to public housing. CLPHA members should support the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act by contacting their senators during recess to urge them to support the bill.
Two-Generation Economic Act reflects the cross-sector collaboration that CLPHA’s Housing IsInitiative promotes.
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate, calling for the development of support programs that improve family economic security by breaking the cycle of multigenerational poverty through a comprehensive strategy that addresses the needs of parents and children. The Two-Generation Economic Act of 2017, or S. 435, seeks to align and link existing service systems and funding streams that currently support parents and children separately. Heinrich and Collins believe that aligning the support systems to help parents and children together will increase the whole family’s chances for success in life. The bill also establishes the Interagency Council on Multigenerational Poverty to provide guidance on two-generation programs; establish a system of coordination among agencies and organizations; identify best practices; and identify gaps, research needs, and program deficiencies.
The Two-Generation Economic Act of 2017 is a significant step in the fight against poverty. It would be the first piece of legislation to incorporate a two-generation approach aimed at increasing economic security, educational success, social capital, and health and well-being for parents and children together. In seeking to better align service systems and funding streams, the bill would give states, local governments, and tribes more flexibility to develop programs that meet their specific needs. The approach outlined in S. 435 would greatly improve the effectiveness of service delivery, and it highlights the same principles and goals around which CLPHA’s Housing Is initiative was founded, to better intersect housing and other sectors in order to improve life outcomes. CLPHA has long promoted two-generation initiatives as a best practice and has been a leader in fostering partnerships to encourage innovative solutions to address generational poverty.
The Interagency Council on Multigenerational Poverty will create a national focus on multigenerational poverty by facilitating coordinated efforts across multiple agencies and departments. This interagency collaboration will align and link fragmented systems and funding streams, resulting in holistic approaches that simultaneously address the needs of children and their parents or guardians.
A collaboration that has been in the works for several years, the Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act includes a balance of input and interests from local service providers, families, administrators, and other stakeholders. Heinrich and Collins hope that this innovative approach will help collectively ensure that people will have an opportunity to use already existing federal resources or attract private investment to implement the two-generation approach in their community, regardless of one’s zip code.
When Senator Collins first introduced the bill, she told the story of a five-year-old girl named Arianna who was homeless, living in a tent with her family outside of Portland, ME. A state social worker worked with the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance to provide support services to the girl and her family, who are now living in an apartment near where Arianna is attending school. This is a small-scale example of the holistic approach that Collins and Heinrich wish to achieve with their legislation.
“Just as a child’s ZIP code should not determine his or her future success, neither should bureaucratic inflexibility make it so difficult for families to get the help they need to escape intergenerational poverty,” Senator Collins said.
You can learn more about the Two-Generation Economic Act of 2017 by reading this fact sheet that explains the principles of the bill or view a copy of the bill by clicking here.
From Lucas Metropolitan Housing's press. release:
Joaquín Cintrón Vega is resigning from his role as president and chief executive officer at Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH). The Board of Commissioners has tapped current deputy executive director Rachel Gagnon as the interim chief executive officer. Her appointment is expected to be formalized at the next Board of Commissioners regular meeting.
Cintrón Vega is leaving LMH to lead the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver. Cintrón Vega, who has served as president and CEO of LMH since March 2020, will remain in his current role until Feb. 28.
“Joaquin’s leadership has been transformative for Lucas Metropolitan Housing, and we are grateful for his service,” said LMH Chairman Alisha Gant. “As we open a search for the next head of LMH, we are pleased to be able to provide continuity of leadership and have Rachel serve as the interim CEO. We are confident that she will continue to provide our communities with the highest level of service and guidance."
The search for LMH’s next CEO will begin immediately, Gant said.
"By establishing a shared vision of success, my team and our partners achieved remarkable feats, and I am really proud of our combined efforts," Cintrón Vega remarked. "One day at a time, we have turned many obstacles into possibilities while providing compassionate service. We have provided direct supportive services, a practical route to economic progress, and affordable, high-quality housing for the people we serve. I'm confident Rachel will carry on with that job, and LMH is lucky to have her."
Under the direction of Cintrón Vega, LMH received several honors, such as being designated a Financial Opportunity Center, winning three Ohio Auditor of the State Awards in a row and being recognized as one of Toledo's top workplaces.
Also under Cintrón Vega leadership, LMH strengthened its alliances, establishing the Thumbs Up program in conjunction with United Way of Greater Toledo, formalizing a project labor agreement with the Northwest Ohio Building Trade Council and launching the Work Your Way Home program by utilizing its nonprofit affiliate Lucas Housing Services Corporation, to mention a few.
The acquisition of the new LMH headquarters, receiving high-performance designations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, increasing grant support, broadening the scope of community services and securing previously unheard-of capital financing to build housing in high-opportunity areas to enhance neighborhood conditions creating mixed-income communities of choice are just a few of the accomplishments that Cintrón Vega is leaving behind. These projects use money from the Continuum of Care, HOME funds, Community Development Block Grants, Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Through the development projects it has in the works, LMH is currently positioned to offer stable homes to the elderly, families and young people.
Gagnon, who has been with LMH for two years, said she is ready to serve.
“I am excited to take on this new role to help LMH continue to enhance and improve affordable housing in Toledo,” said Gagnon. “I look forward to engaging with the Board, our partners and the residents of our communities to continue to make our mission and vision a reality."
Gagnon joined LMH as the chief of staff and later became the deputy executive director, responsible for oversight and executive-level leadership of the agency’s day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives. During her time at LMH, she has supported a vision to nurture creative partnerships by providing project management and supporting housing development deals aimed at serving transition-aged youth, families and elderly households.
Gagnon has devoted her career to advocating for inclusive housing developments and rebuilding response systems to effectively serve community members in need. She believes housing is a fundamental right for all individuals and is grateful to be part of LMH, an organization whose mission and values so closely align with her own.
A native Toledoan, Gagnon is a graduate of Ohio State University and Capital University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in Ohio and has devoted her career to serving the community through a variety of roles in the nonprofit and volunteer sectors. Before joining LMH, she served as the executive director of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board and the chief operating officer at Sunshine Communities.
She was selected as a recipient of the Sisters of Notre Dame Toledo “Women Who Shine” award in 2023 and Toledo’s “20 Under 40” award in 2019 and participated in the 2022 Leadership Ohio cohort.
Gagnon is deeply involved in the community. She volunteers on several boards in Lucas County, including Open Table Toledo, Lucas County Children Services, Ohio Women’s Affordable Housing Network, Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board and Cherry Street Mission Ministries.
From Denver Housing Authority's press release:
The Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver (DHA) announced today that Joaquín Cintrón Vega has been selected to serve as DHA’s next Chief Executive Officer following a national search and multiple rounds of interviews.
“DHA is pleased to announce the hiring of Joaquín Cintrón Vega as its new CEO,” Grace Buckley, Chair of DHA’s Board of Commissioners said. “Joaquín is a seasoned housing leader who understands the critical role DHA plays in the community and is committed to fulfilling the vision and strategy the organization has adopted.”
Cintrón Vega has served as the President & Chief Executive Officer at Lucas Metropolitan Housing in Toledo, Ohio, since 2020. Prior to this, he served as the Director of the Public Housing Division in Miami Dade County. With more than two decades of experience, Cintrón Vega has established a distinguished career in the management of federal housing assistance programs and policy development.
“Making a difference in the lives of people is an honor, and I am thrilled to join DHA. I am excited to lead a team that has already done an outstanding job serving our community, and I look forward to contributing to our shared mission,” said Cintrón Vega.” Our focus is on developing stronger partnerships, fostering unity, and empowering individuals to cultivate shared aspirations. By transforming neighborhoods into thriving ecosystems of collective progress and opportunity, we can make a real difference in the lives of those we serve as we succeed in providing high-quality, affordable housing with responsive services, enabling people and communities to prosper.”
Cintrón Vega’s first day with DHA will be April 1, 2024.
From the Kitsap Sun:
A Warren Avenue property near downtown Bremerton, across from Kitsap Community Resources' home and once the site of three abandoned houses and a small commercial building, is now the site of an apartment building soon to become a Bremerton Housing Authority-owned housing option for disadvantaged young people.
The housing service provider will connect 18- to 24 year-olds who may be exiting foster care, homelessness or other precarious positions with housing that they may not be considered for otherwise, and pair that provision with on-site services. The project, called Evergreen Bright Start, will establish 24 of the 30 units in the 811 Warren Avenue apartment for subsidized housing and the other 6 for service provider offices.
The project saw its green light after the BHA received $6.5 million in grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce last week. Coupled with $4 million in grants from the City of Bremerton and Kitsap County and $200,000 from their own pot, the BHA secured funding to acquire the housing complex.
...
The BHA’s campaign for a youth housing solution found its roots in a 2022 program, Foster Youth to Independence (FYI), that connected young adults aging out of foster care with rental assistance vouchers.
FYI housed 16 young adults in Bremerton and four in other jurisdictions, but U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds cover only the voucher, excluding provision for housing navigation and case management. While Olive Crest, a BHA partner in the Evergreen Bright Start project, provided these services with supplemental funding from the County, certain disparities in housing for young adults came to light, said BHA executive director Jill Stanton.
“One of the challenges that we ran into was actually getting a landlord to accept the voucher for a person who had little to no rental history or credit history,” Stanton said. “This population is especially vulnerable, often falling prey to drug dealers and sexual exploitation, starting their journey into adulthood with fear and hopelessness.”
At a formative time in their lives that could be marked by college, exploration, early career and job preparation, young adults aging out of foster care and those facing other housing, mental health and substance abuse challenges can find themselves in dangerous situations.
“A lot of them do end up in homeless situations, unhoused or unsafe situations… so that's where we're trying to intervene so that that doesn't happen,” Stanton said. “It's really hard to provide services that really make a difference when someone doesn't have a safe place to live.
Harkening back to the aspirations of young adulthood, Stanton envisions young tenants at Evergreen Bright Start not only connecting with services, but also steeping themselves in a community of similarly aged-peers, to “have a space where they can experience a normal and supportive and loving environment, and camaraderie and friendship.”
Read the Kitsap Sun's article "Services and subsidized housing for young adults coming through Bremerton project."
From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:
Chicago Housing Authority residents who participated in the “LevelUp” wealth-building program received their certificates of completion and celebrated economic power Saturday at a ceremony at the Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center.
CHA’s LevelUp provides financial incentives to participants as they reach their goals. Upon goal completion, specified amounts based on the goal are deposited into their LevelUp savings accounts. The savings are paid out within 60 days of program completion after participating 3-5 years.
The total payout among the 45 graduates Saturday was $296,262. Of that:
- 5 became homeowners
- 7 increased their credit score
- 3 transitioned off housing subsidy
- 1 obtained a master’s degree
- 2 obtained a bachelor’s degree
- 1 obtained an associate degree
- 8 completed a Training/Certificate/Certification Program
- All graduates maintained employment for at least 12 months
“We are proud of these 45 graduates who have sacrificed and saved as they embark on the realization of their dreams,” said CHA CEO Tracey Scott. “This program is about investing in yourself and building your personal power. We are proud of them for staying the course as CHA continues to lend its support to ensure participants of this program achieve their goals."
LevelUp participants receive monetary payouts for successfully completing milestones, such as earning a degree or starting a new career. The savings are set aside in an escrow account and the money accrued is disbursed at the time of successful completion of the five-year program. The money can then be used for whatever they choose, including down payments on homes or paying off debt.
From Opportunity Home San Antonio's press release:
The San Antonio Housing Facility Corporation, an Opportunity Home affiliate, was awarded a $50,000 grant from the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation, a fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, to ensure completion of the Snowden Senior Apartments project by January 2025.
The first self-developed multi-family apartment project by the organization, Snowden will provide affordable housing options for older adults who earn between 0-30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). A community with 135 one-and-two-bedroom units for individuals 62 and older will be equipped with amenities such as a hair salon, beach entrance swimming pool, on-site walking trails and energy-efficient appliances.
“We are extremely grateful to the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation for allocating funding towards this project — it validates our vision and the population it will serve,” said Susan Ramos-Sossaman, assistant director of Development Services and Neighborhood Revitalization. “It is rewarding and an accomplishment in itself having this be our first self-developed project.”
In October 2022, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) awarded a 9% tax credit allocation for Snowden. Snowden reflects a commitment to providing compassionate, equitable and vibrant communities where individuals can thrive and enjoy a healthy quality of life. Building new communities across the city exemplifies a partnership with the City of San Antonio to produce or preserve more than 14,000 rental units as part of their 10-year housing affordability plan.