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.
To view all of CLPHA's press releases, click here.
To view all of CLPHA's press statements, click here.
You can subscribe here to our biweekly newsletter, events invite list, and topic specific newsletters. You can also follow us on Twitter at @CLPHA. Or, send us an email with your interests and we would be happy to add you to our press lists.
Thanks again for your interest in CLPHA!
Statement From Council of Large Public Housing
Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman
Washington, DC – “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), representing more than 70 of the country’s largest and most innovative housing authorities, is calling on Congress to reject the Trump Administration’s FY18 budget, which proposes to slash $6.2 billion in funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including $2 billion in cuts to public housing. If realized, the draconian cuts included in this budget would not only have severe and cumulative effects on public and affordable housing programs across the country, but it would also shred the safety net of other public assistance programs on which many low-income Americans rely.
“The Trump Administration’s full FY18 budget proposal, released today, Tuesday, May 23, would devastate HUD programs that are currently helping over 1.2 million households that reside in public housing, including families, seniors, persons with disabilities, and close to 800,000 children. The budget targets America’s most vulnerable citizens with drastic cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), while also slashing disability benefits and student loan and education programs, thereby crippling essential support systems affecting many of the residents we serve in low-income housing.
“The Administration’s dramatic HUD reductions come at a time when the federal government should actually be investing in public housing as part of the nation’s infrastructure, as such investment generates economic growth, creates jobs, bolsters productivity, and generates tax revenue for localities.
“The budget proposes $628 million for the Public Housing Capital Fund compared to $1.942 billion in FY17; $3.9 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund compared to $4.4 billion in FY17; $17.584 billion for Section 8 voucher renewals compared to $18.355 billion in FY17; and $1.55 billion for administrative fees compared to $1.65 billion in FY17.
“Everyone should be alarmed by the magnitude of these proposed cuts -- the Public Housing Capital Fund alone sustains a cut of over 67 percent. The irony of this particular cut is that it not only undermines basic health and safety improvements, it also makes it virtually impossible to leverage private investment, which HUD claims is a major policy priority.
“Another example is the proposed $771 million reduction to the Housing Choice Voucher program, which provides housing vouchers to needy families. These budget reductions, coupled with rising rents and inflation, will result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of vouchers and threaten currently-housed families with homelessness.
“CLPHA and the nation’s largest public housing authorities are asking members of Congress to reject the cuts proposed by the Trump Administration, as they will significantly harm our most vulnerable citizens and undermine our already significant public investment in this affordable housing stock.”
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), representing more than 70 of the country’s largest and most innovative housing authorities, calls on the Administration and Congress to reject the draconian proposal to slash more than $6 billion in funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including $2 billion in cuts to public housing.
There are over 1.2 million households currently residing in public housing. Seniors and persons with disabilities constitute over half of all residents, and there are over 600,000 children residing in public housing. Public housing cuts will fall directly on the shoulders of residents currently residing in public housing and reduce opportunities for millions of families languishing on waiting lists across the country.
The public housing capital fund provides modernization and rehabilitation funding for the 1.2 million unit public housing portfolio. The reported cut to the capital fund of $1.3 billion represents close to a 70% reduction from last year’s funding level. These proposed cuts will dramatically accelerate the current estimated loss of 10,000 to 12,000 public housing units already lost annually due to chronic underfunding.
The public housing operating fund covers day-to-day operational and maintenance expenses not covered by resident rents. The reported cut to the operating fund of $600 million is a 13% percent reduction from last year, and approximately 72% of what is needed. This funding level will have a devastating impact on the ability to operate and maintain this housing and severely endanger the health, wellbeing, and safety of our most vulnerable children, families, and seniors reliant on housing assistance.
These cuts directly contradict the findings of the congressionally-mandated 2010 HUD study on the backlog of public housing capital repair needs estimated at $26 billion and annual accruing capital needs estimated at $3.4 billion. HUD’s budget does not come close to meeting the annual need and contributes to the growing backlog need.
The tenant based rental assistance program which provides housing vouchers to needy families will also experience a $300 million reduction according to the reports on the budget. This cut coupled with rising rents and inflation will result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of vouchers and threaten currently housed families with homelessness.
We call on the Administration and Congress to reject these draconian cuts that will harm our most vulnerable citizens and undermine our already significant public investment in this affordable housing stock.
Statement From Council of Large Public Housing Authorities Executive Director Sunia Zaterman
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, which represents 70 of the nation’s largest public housing authorities (PHAs) in cities across the United States, congratulates Dr. Ben Carson on his nomination as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Housing stability is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty for families, and our nation’s PHAs have been on the front lines of this fight, helping to develop creative solutions to our housing crisis, and implementing these ideas in their communities.
CLPHA looks to Dr. Carson to advocate for adequate funding for housing programs, to support implementation of innovative programs on the local level, including the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and Moving to Work (MTW), and to provide PHAs with the tools to promote the cross-sector partnerships that connect housing to health, education and other sectors to lift families out of poverty.
As someone who spent part of his upbringing in public housing, Dr. Carson represents the promise to create opportunity and lift people out of poverty. We look forward to working with him and HUD to provide safe, decent, and affordable rental housing to low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
From the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority's press release:
Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley, State Senator Doron Clark, and Councilmember Michael Rainville joined MPHA leaders and residents in Northeast Minneapolis to break ground on MPHA’s Spring Manor redevelopment project, the largest public housing redevelopment in city history.
This $78 million project will preserve 221 units across two neighboring buildings, investing more than $30 million in direct capital improvements to the existing buildings, while also constructing a new four-story building that will create 15 new deeply affordable units designed for residents needing mobility accessibility features (nine one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units). Additionally, the agency will build a one-story structure that will connect 828 Spring to the new building, 824 Spring Street NE.
“Today we have the honor to break ground on the largest public housing redevelopment project in the city’s history,” said Abdi Warsame, Executive Director/CEO of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. “This $78 million dollar project will fully rehabilitate 221 units across two existing buildings, preserving them for decades. [And] in addition to making accessibility upgrades to existing units, MPHA is also building 15 new, fully accessible units so residents can age in place with dignity in the community they love.”
“Everyone deserves a safe, comfortable, affordable place to call home,” said U.S. Senator Tina Smith. “Without one, nothing in your life works – not your job, not your health, not your education, or your family. The Spring Manor redevelopment, led by the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, is turning residents’ ideas and needs into lasting investments for their future. That means clean water will continue to run from the taps, the lights will stay on, the air will stay cool in the summer, and the internet will be easier to access. Thanks to MPHA’s work and the advocacy of the people living there, residents will know they can stay here comfortably and affordably for the long haul.”
“Spring Manor is the largest public housing redevelopment in Minneapolis history — and it’s happening right here in Northeast,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “We’re maintaining and upgrading homes for 200 seniors, while adding new, deeply affordable housing and modern community spaces that keep people rooted in the neighborhood they love. This project proves that when we work together, big things happen and lives change.”
From the City of Boston's press release:
Mayor Michelle Wu announced $200,000 in funding for the SHORE-UP pilot (“Stabilizing Housing for Our Resident Elders Under Pressure”), a program designed to keep vulnerable older adults in their homes until they can access permanent homes that they can afford. As Boston’s population ages and more seniors become vulnerable to eviction and displacement, the City will use the SHORE-UP pilot to explore effective ways to enable eligible older adults from Boston to remain in their homes for long enough to access subsidized housing off existing affordable waiting lists.
“Our older residents have built Boston over their decades of leadership and neighborhood activism, and they continue to anchor our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We must continue to find every resource to support our seniors staying and thriving across Boston. This program will help keep older adults in our neighborhoods, close to their friends and families, with a pathway to long-term affordable housing.”
Many of Boston’s older adults are on extremely low fixed incomes, with 21 percent of Boston residents age 65 or older living below the poverty level. Among Boston households led by these seniors, more than a third (35 percent) are severely cost-burdened: approximately 10,000 senior households spend more than half their modest income on housing. At the same time, waiting lists for subsidized affordable housing are long, and residents are often not admitted on timelines that match their immediate housing crises. More than 11,000 seniors are currently housed across BHA housing opportunities, but approximately 10,000 seniors 65 and older are on the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) waitlist today. BHA funds roughly 7,000 units of housing designated for the elderly and disabled community, between public housing (about 3,000 units) and buildings supported by project-based vouchers (about 4,000 units).
The SHORE-UP pilot would allow eligible older adults from Boston who are facing eviction or displacement to temporarily remain in their homes, by helping to bridge the gap between their incomes and their rents, while they await approval for long-term subsidized housing. Low-income older adults participating in this bridge subsidy program would pay up to 30% of their income towards rent, mortgage, or other housing costs, with the bridge subsidy making up the difference. This approach will prevent the spiral of negative physical and mental health impacts that often accompany an older adult being plunged into homelessness even for a short period.
The City of Boston, including the Mayor’s Office of Housing, Age Strong, and the Planning Department, along with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), will work in collaboration with Mass Senior Action Council, the Mass Coalition for the Homeless, individual Boston seniors, and other non-profit organizations to shape the pilot program. Having the voices of older residents at the table, contributing ideas and sharing lived experiences will help build a program model that best meets the needs of Boston’s older residents.
...
“The most difficult part of our work is the gap between how many people on our waitlist need an affordable home and how many we can serve,” said BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok. “We are thrilled to partner with the Mayor, city departments, and advocates for our most vulnerable seniors to identify situations where a small bridge subsidy would make all the difference for older adults until we can welcome them into our homes.”
From 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 continue to address central Ohio’s “critical need” for more affordable housing.
The board approved issuing up to $64.3 million in tax-free municipal bonds that allow CMHA to invest:
- $50 million to fund new construction of The Falls, a planned 220-unit mixed-income apartment community at 3349 Refugee Road that will serve 550 new middle- to low-wage-earning residents, with CMHA as the sole developer.
- $14.3 million to acquire Demorest Townhomes, a 48-unit multifamily housing complex constructed in 2021 at 4230 Cove Court in Grove City. The purchase includes 11 acres of vacant land on the site where CMHA will build a new 104-unit affordable housing community and a clubhouse.
CMHA’s $64 million-plus multifamily housing bond plan reflects an innovative approach to expanding the region’s housing supply by leveraging capital markets in ways that maximize long-term community impact.
The bonds provide developers with access to competitive financing that can significantly reduce borrowing costs, making it possible to deliver high-quality housing at more affordable rents. This approach is key to CMHA’s strategy for strengthening the region’s housing stock and addressing Central Ohio’s shortage of attainable housing. The initiative was bolstered by CMHA’s A+ rating from S&P Global Ratings, which helps secure favorable financing terms and investor confidence.
“The multifamily housing bonds we’re issuing for The Falls and Demorest Townhomes are more than just a funding tool — they’re a catalyst for growth,” said CMHA Chief Operating Officer Scott Scharlach.
“By structuring these transactions to attract investment at competitive rates, we’re able to accelerate development timelines, keep rents within reach for working families and ensure these properties remain strong community assets for decades to come. This type of financing is a critical part of how we expand and preserve the housing options Franklin County needs.”
In addition, the CMHA Board announced today its approval to move forward with the $26 million acquisition of Rosebrook Village, a 244-unit multifamily residential apartment community at 6566 Rosebrook Lane in Reynoldsburg, owned by Columbus Housing Enterprise (CHE).
Columbus Housing Enterprise is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving affordable housing in Central Ohio through the philanthropic commitment of leaders in the private sector.
“This investment is another step forward in our strategy to combine the generosity of two successful and community-minded families with a nonprofit acting as a steward for the preservation of quality existing unsubsidized affordable housing,” said CHE Board Chair Hal Keller.
“We want to credit CMHA’s leadership and vision for working with us again because without this agreement, rents at Rosebrook Village would continue to soar as they are across central Ohio,” Keller said. “We also believe this model can and should be replicated as other multifamily property owners follow the lead of the Weiler and Kelley families.”
From Hoodline San Jose:
San Jose welcomed a new affordable housing option for young adults leaving the foster care system. The Sunrise Pavilion, with 43 pet-friendly apartments, has opened its doors to individuals aged 18 to 24. It offers permanent and transitional housing solutions targeted at Santa Clara County's transitional-age youth (TAY).
Developed by Jamboree Housing in collaboration with the Santa Clara County Housing Authority, the project aims to provide residents with a safe and stable environment. According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, more than half of the homes at Sunrise Pavilion are assigned for permanent supportive housing. At the same time, the remaining units serve as transitional spaces that help youth acquire the necessary skills for independent living.
Sunrise Pavilion is not just about putting a roof over heads; it's a supportive community. On-site services, including career counseling and wireless internet access, are readily available. The Bill Wilson Center, alongside Community Solutions, is on deck to provide counseling and crisis management services. These, in tandem with career development programs by Housing with Heart, funded by Santa Clara County’s Office of Supportive Housing, are intended to ease the path forward for residents.
Read Hoodline San Jose's article "San Jose Unveils Sunrise Pavilion: New Affordable Housing for Former Foster Youth in Santa Clara County."
From the Chicago Housing Authority's website:
CHA’s summer 2025 youth employment opportunities have provided more than 2,300 young residents, ages 13-24, with paid summer jobs, offering early exposure to career and education pathways and opportunities that stem potential summer learning loss.
This year’s highlights include:
CHA Internship Program: CHA’s 2025 Student Intern Class is a group of 27 CHA residents who are enrolled in colleges around the country. Together, they are working across the agency’s Departments, bringing their unique academic backgrounds, professional experiences, and real-world perspectives to help the agency thrive.
Hyde Park Arts Center Mural Project: In Hyde Park, 11 CHA students are working alongside mural artist Dorian Sylvain to design and render an exterior large-scale painted mural on the Hyde Park Art Center.
Summer of Code: Through a partnership with Everyone Can Code Chicago, 16 CHA youth are spending their summer building a foundation in programming fundamentals, gaining practical experience in creating a basic iOS app from scratch.