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David Greer
Director of Communications
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FY20 Funding Bill from the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Includes Robust Funding Increases and Legislative Language to Prevent HUD from Evicting Mixed-Status Immigrant Families
WASHINGTON (May 22, 2019) - In preparation for a subcommittee markup on the morning of May 23, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) today released their FY20 funding bill. According to the subcommittee proposal, the discretionary funding level for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) totals $50.1 billion, an increase of $5.9 billion above the FY19 enacted level, and $13.4 billion above President Trump’s request.
The Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, Sunia Zaterman, issued the following statement in support of the bill:
“In a familiar pattern and reprise of repudiating Trump Administration budget proposals, the House THUD budget reflects Congress’ continuing commitment to fund critically important housing and community development programs the Administration proposed rescinding, cutting, or eliminating in its budget request.
“CLPHA is pleased that under the leadership of THUD Subcommittee Chairman David Price (D-NC) and Ranking Member Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the THUD proposal increases – in several instances substantially increases – or level funds programs critical to communities served by public housing authorities.
“In addition to robust funding increases, such as the doubling of Choice Neighborhoods to $300 million and fully funding the Section 8 account, the proposal includes legislative language to prevent HUD from evicting mixed-status immigrant families from public housing, and to prohibit HUD from unilaterally changing the public housing annual contributions contract without public input and following the administrative procedures act process. Importantly, mandatory rent increases and work requirements were not included in the subcommittee’s bill.
“We applaud the subcommittee for its ongoing commitment to public and affordable housing and look forward to working with the Chair and Ranking Member in support of this bill.”
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 Housing Is Initiative to better intersect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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WASHINGTON (May 9, 2019) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will formally propose a new rule tomorrow that would disallow undocumented immigrants from living in federally subsidized housing. The proposed rule, which will be published in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period, would impact tens of thousands of immigrant families that include U.S. citizen children and other family members who are eligible for assistance.
The Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, Sunia Zaterman, issued the following statement in response to the proposed rule:
“CLPHA is strongly opposed to HUD’s punitive proposal that would make it harder for public housing authorities (PHAs) to serve their communities.
“The consequences are significant. Well over 10,000 mixed-immigration status family members currently served by one PHA, plus tens of thousands more around the country, would be impacted by the rule, making them more vulnerable to housing instability. HUD’s proposal would create more challenges for an already underfunded homeless services and prevention system.
“This policy is antithetical to the mission of the federal public housing program – to provide housing that is safe, decent and affordable to low- and very low-income families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities, and administer the housing choice voucher program.
“We are housers, not ICE agents, but that is exactly what HUD’s proposed rule is asking public housing authorities (PHAs) to become by requiring PHA staff to determine the immigration status of every household member and report it into a federal database.
“CLPHA will be submitting public comments in opposition to the proposed rule during the comment period.”
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 insect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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Public Housing is as much a part of the national infrastructure as Route 66, the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Hoover Dam.
WASHINGTON (April 30, 2019) - Today the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing entitled “Housing in America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock” to examine the need for investment in affordable housing infrastructure--including public housing—and investigate additional barriers to developing affordable housing.
Sunia Zaterman, the executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, issued the following statement after watching the hearing and reviewing draft legislation circulated by Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) that would authorize funding for several housing infrastructure projects, including $70 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund:
“Public housing is as a much a part of the national infrastructure as Route 66, the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Hoover Dam. Public housing helps communities and families thrive by providing more than one million low- and very-low income families, children, elderly and persons with disabilities with a stable place to live, connecting low-income workers to economic opportunities, and spurring regional job creation and economic growth.
“But, years of chronic underfunding have led to the deterioration of the public housing stock and since 1990, at least 300,000 units have been lost because of the lack of adequate resources to maintain them. The federal disinvestment in public housing has contributed to an untenable shortage of stable housing for low-income households.
“A reinvestment in public housing should include adequate funding to preserve and improve the public housing stock. Equally important is thoughtful consideration about additional tools that public housing authorities can use to modernize and develop affordable housing to meet the needs of residents and local communities. Expanding the Rental Assistance Demonstration program and increasing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations, for example, would support public housing authorities’ recapitalization and redevelopment efforts.
“Housing is infrastructure and we thank the Chairwoman and the Committee for underscoring the importance of public housing during today’s hearing and in the Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2019.”
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 insect the housing field and other areas of critical importance such as health and education.
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From the Urban Land Institute:
The Jordan Downs affordable housing project is the centerpiece of several community-serving revitalization projects emerging in Watts.
Community revitalization is an undeniably long and complex process. With so many challenges, redevelopment projects in underinvested communities often fail to gain momentum—but the Jordan Downs Redevelopment plan in Watts, an enclave of Los Angeles, California, is a model for how to get it right. The decades-long project is starting to take shape, and it could serve as a model for how other cities could pursue large-scale redevelopments.
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) led the initiative to redevelop Jordan Downs, a 21-acre (8.5 ha) site, into more than 1,700 units of affordable housing, 115,000 square feet (10,683.9 sq m) of retail and 45,000 square feet (4,180 sq m) of ground-floor commercial space. At the Urban Land Institute’s Building Healthy Places Forum during the Fall 2023 Meeting, community leaders and project stakeholders discussed the success at Jordan Downs and other projects transforming the community.
Read ULI's article "Inside the Redevelopment Transforming Watts in Los Angeles," featuring the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles.
From Urbanize:
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced more than $154 million in funding for new interim and supportive housing across the state through the third round of Project Homekey. Of that total, Los Angeles County is poised to see roughly $37.2 million, going toward the a trio of projects in Exposition Park, Hollywood, and Lancaster.
“Homekey has been critical to creating much-needed housing for people experiencing homelessness and these latest grants will benefit those who are particularly vulnerable,” Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative executive drector Cheri Todoroff in a news release. “By combining Homekey with other state and local funding sources, we’ll be able to provide our young, older, and medically fragile residents a safe place to stay as well as supportive services.”
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Likewise, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles and Topanga Canyon Housing Partners, LP will receive just over $5.4 million for the construction of a new modular apartment building with 24 units of supportive housing at 7631 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park. That project follows the conversion of an adjoining motel into 52 units of interim housing through an earlier round of Project Homekey.
“We know that in order to solve the homelessness and housing crisis in Los Angeles, we must have more housing, both interim and permanent, in every neighborhood, said L.A. Mayor Karen Bass in a news release. “We have been working closely with the Los Angeles Housing Department and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles in order to bring these projects online and secure this critical funding. Thank you to Governor Newsom and the State Legislature for recognizing these critical projects. I look forward to our continued collaboration as we urgently confront the homelessness crisis as well as a new partnership with Urban Awnings and the Carpenters Union as we showcase new modular innovation and construction.”
Read Urbanize's article "$75M awarded for Los Angeles-area Project Homekey developments."
From HACLA's press release:
Last week, on Wednesday, November 15th, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) and in partnership with the Los Angeles Mayor's Office, hosted a presentation on incentives available to property owners who are willing to rent to individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. Held at HACLA’s Headquarters at 2600 Wilshire Boulevard, the event was well attended with 75 prospective property owners and guests who had an opportunity to hear about the successes of the Homeless Incentive Program (HIP). With HUD’s recent approval of higher Voucher Payment Standards (VPS), HACLA’s maximum rents have reached a historic high and at market rate, a one-bedroom voucher payment can go up to $2,400/month. Additional benefits and financial incentives to property owners who participate in the Program include holding fees, where landlords can receive up to one month's rent per vacant unit held, and based on the number of bedrooms and current Fair Market Rents (FMR), move-in assistance, and damage mitigation.
Following the presentation, a total of 18 inspections were scheduled on the spot (three of which were specifically for EHV units). HACLA also received many interest cards, where owners indicated a total of 219 available rental units ready to be listed by HACLA. The event proved to be a great success and HACLA plans to have more in the near future.
“We’re so grateful for the property owners who already participate in this program, but we know we have a way to go,” said HACLA President and CEO Doug Guthrie. “We hope that events like this will aid us in getting the word out about the program and its incentives to property owners who haven’t been aware or who have, perhaps, been a bit skeptical in the past. This is a great way for us to partner together with them and give more individuals and families a place to call home.”
"It is critical that we strengthen our partnerships to provide the necessary resources and support to house our most vulnerable populations within the County. Property owners who are willing to partner with us are key to accomplishing that goal," said LACDA Executive Director, Emilio Salas. "Programs like HIP allow the LACDA, HACLA, and property owners to work together to house our unhoused neighbors and empower our communities."
“Each of us has a role to play in confronting the homelessness and housing affordability crisis,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “I thank property owners who are already helping us provide affordable housing options and those who answered our call to provide permanent housing to Angelenos who hold housing vouchers. I encourage more property owners to join us in being part of the solution. I also applaud HACLA and LACDA for joining forces and working together to make process improvements and offering resources to increase the number of property owners offering units in the private rental market.”
From the Seattle Housing Authority's press release:
The Seattle Housing Authority has been awarded $1,075,200 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand neighborhood choices for more families with young children being served by SHA. SHA has designed a suite of services that increase the ability of these families with vouchers to rent in neighborhoods which have proven to result in improved academic achievement, health, income and other life outcomes for the children in low-income families as they grow into adults.
“Every parent knows the value of providing a safe and secure place for their child to call home. Stability at home helps promote their future success – in school and onwards,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge in making the award.
SHA Executive Director Rod Brandon says the funds will be used to expand beyond a pilot study SHA engaged in to determine the effectiveness of enhanced services on the ability of families to use their Housing Choice Voucher in a wider variety of areas throughout the city. “SHA and its partners launched the Creating Moves to Opportunity project five years ago and it has shown remarkable results in opening up neighborhood choices to families raising children,” Brandon said. “We are seeing that with the right information and support, parents are able to exercise real housing choice and make the best decisions for the success of their family. The exciting thing is that we know from prior research that results in a better chance of families ending intergenerational poverty.”
The Creating Moves to Opportunity pilot was a partnership between the Seattle Housing Authority, King County Housing Authority and a group of leading national social science researchers. The pilot demonstrated that the specific set of enhanced services, referred to as mobility-related services, are effective in removing the barriers that have prevented families with children from using their voucher to rent in neighborhoods with higher opportunity factors.
SHA is one of only seven housing authorities in the country to receive funds from HUD under this Housing Mobility-Related Services award.
“This award affirms the success of our Creating Moves to Opportunity mobility program, and we are thrilled to receive this HUD funding knowing it will enable us to make a life-changing difference for many more families working to create a bright future for their children,” said Alice Kimbowa, SHA Director of Rental Assistance Programs.
From KOCO 5 News Oklahoma City:
klahoma City addressed the affordable housing crisis with a new approach: converting a motel into supportive housing.
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority is using MAPS dollars to do it. It is the first time the city has transformed a motel space into housing for the homeless.
The city's Housing Authority said it's faster and less costly than building from the ground up.
"It’s the first one like it, so if it’s successful, it makes the next one much easier," Kassy Malone, the director of real estate and planning with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority, said.
The Motel 6 near Bricktown will convert into supportive housing, helping Oklahomans get off the street and into a warm home. It's a first-of-its-kind project for OKC.
"The property also has a large space on the eastern portion of the building that has a commercial kitchen, so we hope to create a workforce incubator in that space," Malone said.
Read KOCO 5 News' article "Oklahoma City addresses affordable housing crisis with new approach."