01/18/2012 – CHA Hosts Section 8 Landlord Fair For Tubman Residents
Posted on 18. Jan, 2012 by cmarsh in News
January 18, 2012 – Chattanooga Housing Authority officials are assisting residents from Harriet Tubman Development with locating other affordable housing as they prepare to phase down and sell the 440-unit public housing complex.
CHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, is hosting a Landlord Fair to connect Tubman residents with landlords who have properties available for rent. Landlords are invited to bring pictures of their properties, applications, brochures and other materials for residents to review. The fair will take place Thursday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. at CHA’s Central Office located at 801 N. Holtzclaw Ave.
“We’ve been meeting with small groups of residents all this month to review our phase-down plans, and explain the next steps,” said CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright. “We realize having to relocate can be quite overwhelming, so we thought a Landlord Fair – strictly for Tubman residents – would help make the process smoother for families.”
Tubman residents have the option of relocating to another CHA public housing community or receiving a Section 8 voucher. Through the federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, eligible families and individuals with low incomes may receive a voucher to find their own housing in the private market. CHA, which administers the program locally, pays a subsidy to the landlord on behalf of the HCVP participant. The family then pays the difference between the rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by Section 8, CHA officials explained.
Some 175 Tubman residents are expected to request Section 8 vouchers. CHA officials plan to issue the vouchers on Wed., Jan. 25, one day prior to the Landlord Fair.
In December, HUD approved CHA’s application for Mandatory Conversion of Tubman. CHA officials submitted the application because the agency does not have the resources to renovate the site. Tubman residents will receive funds to help them with moving expenses. The relocation amounts are set by the U.S. Department of Transportation and are based on specific guidelines. It is anticipated the relocation process may take several months or up to one year to complete.
CHA’s Section 8 program administers 3,148 vouchers and has about 1,200 landlords. The waiting list is currently closed and no new applications are being accepted for the program at this time.
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01/11/2012 – Urban League Provides Free Tax Preparation For Residents
Posted on 11. Jan, 2012 by cmarsh in News
January 11, 2012 – The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga is offering free income tax preparation for all public housing residents living in communities owned and/or managed by the Chattanooga Housing Authority. The free service will be available at the following locations:
Greenwood Terrace Apartments, 3056 Dee Dr., on
- Tues., Jan. 17 from 5-8 p.m.
- Tues., Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. – noon
- Wed., Jan. 25 from 5-8 p.m.
Emma Wheeler Homes, 4900 Edinburg Dr., on
- Wed., Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. – noon
Residents are asked to call (423) 495-0875 ahead of time to schedule an appointment so that everyone may be accommodated.
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01/03/12 – Public Service Announcement: Application Deadline For Fairmount Avenue Townhomes
Posted on 04. Jan, 2012 by cmarsh in News
The Chattanooga Housing Authority has made available preliminary applications for its Fairmount Avenue Townhomes and Maple Hills Apartments, formerly Edward Steiner Apartments. The deadline to apply is Saturday, Jan. 7. Residents for these two new developments will be selected through a lottery system.
CHA officials are accepting the preliminary applications by mail or other sealed commercial delivery service that are postmarked on or before Jan. 7. Hand-delivered applications will be accepted for one day only on Jan. 7 from 7 a.m. to noon at the agency’s Holtzclaw headquarters.
A public random drawing from the pool of eligible lottery applicants will also take place at CHA’s Holtzclaw headquarters on Friday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. Applicants do not have to be present at the drawing.
The preliminary application and lottery guidelines are accessible online at www.chahousing.org. They are also available at all of CHA’s public housing communities and its Central Office, located at 801 N. Holtzclaw Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Fairmount, located in North Chattanooga, will feature nine three-bedroom units and nine two-bedroom units, as well as walking trails and grassy play areas for children. The development will also include solar panels on the roof that will supply about 10 percent of the residents’ energy needs. Maple Hills is a 48-unit complex in East Chattanooga that also features two- and three-bedroom town home-style apartments. Both properties are LEED-certified.
Fairmount is scheduled to open in March while Maple Hills is set to open in September.
Dates To Remember
Jan. 7
Deadline for Mailing Preliminary Applications to:
Chattanooga Housing Authority
801 N. Holtzclaw Ave. – Chattanooga, TN 37404
OR
P.O. Box 1486 – Chattanooga, TN 37401
Jan. 7 ~ 7 a.m. to Noon
Preliminary Applications may be hand-delivered to CHA’s Central Office
(801 N. Holtzclaw Ave.)
Jan. 13 ~ 10 a.m.
Public Drawing (801 N. Holtzclaw Ave.)
12/13/2011 – CHA Receives Notification From HUD On Status Of Harriet Tubman Development
Posted on 13. Dec, 2011 by cmarsh in News Archive
The Chattanooga Housing Authority has received notification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that the agency’s application for Mandatory Conversion of Harriet Tubman Development has been approved. This approval will allow CHA officials to begin the process of phasing down and selling the 440-unit public housing complex.
CHA submitted an application to HUD in March, citing that the Tubman site is in very poor physical condition and that the housing authority does not have the resources to renovate the property. Currently, 254 of the 440 units at Tubman are occupied by residents.
The next steps in the phase-down process are:
- CHA officials will submit a request to HUD to obtain Housing Choice (Section 8) replacement vouchers.
- Current Tubman residents will be issued notices of relocation starting sometime after the new year.
- It is anticipated that Tubman residents will have the option of choosing to receive a Section 8 voucher or to move to another CHA property where space is available.
- CHA officials will assist Tubman residents with the relocation process through group meetings, one-on-one sessions and funds to help with moving expenses. The relocation amounts are set by the U.S. Department of Transportation and are based on specific guidelines.
It is anticipated that the relocation process may take several months or up to one year to complete.
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12/09/11 – CHA To Host Open House For Mary Walker Towers; Public Housing Community For Seniors Gets Extreme Makeover
Posted on 09. Dec, 2011 by cmarsh in News Archive
The Chattanooga Housing Authority is hosting an open house to celebrate the completion of an extensive renovation project at Mary Walker Towers. The event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 2-4 p.m. at the site located at 2505 Market St. The public housing community is home to some 150 senior residents ages 50 and older.
The renovation project included a complete makeover of 100 units in the South Tower that featured installation of energy-efficient windows, new flooring, painting, plumbing upgrades and new kitchen cabinets as well as enhanced landscaping, redesign of the Community Room and installation of a LifeRoof. Mary Walker Towers is the city’s only public housing development with a “green” roof.
CHA’s partners for this project were Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects, project design; P & C Construction, renovations; Stein Construction, landscaping; Sterchi Construction and Green|Spaces Chattanooga, green roof.
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12/01/2011 – PSA: Applications For Fairmount Avenue Townhomes, Maple Hills Apartments Available December 5 Through January 7; Residents To Be Selected Through Lottery System
Posted on 02. Dec, 2011 by cmarsh in News Archive
The Chattanooga Housing Authority is making available preliminary applications for its Fairmount Avenue Townhomes and Maple Hills Apartments, formerly Edward Steiner Apartments, on Monday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. Residents for these two new developments scheduled to open next year will be selected through a lottery system.
The preliminary application and lottery guidelines will be accessible online at www.chahousing.org starting Monday. They will also be available at all of CHA’s public housing communities and its Central Office, located at 801 N. Holtzclaw Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
CHA officials will accept preliminary applications by mail or other sealed commercial delivery service that are postmarked on or before Jan. 7. Hand-delivered applications will be accepted for one day only on Jan. 7 from 7 a.m. to noon at the agency’s Holtzclaw headquarters.
A public random drawing from the pool of eligible lottery applicants will also take place at CHA’s Holtzclaw headquarters on Friday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. Applicants do not have to be present at the drawing.
Fairmount, located in North Chattanooga, will feature nine three-bedroom units and nine two-bedroom units, as well as walking trails and grassy play areas for children. The development will also include solar panels on the roof that will supply about 10 percent of the residents’ energy needs. Maple Hills is a 48-unit complex in East Chattanooga that also features two- and three-bedroom town home-style apartments. Both properties are LEED-certified.
Fairmount is scheduled to open in March while Maple Hills is set to open in September.
Dates To Remember
Dec. 5 through Jan. 7, 2012 Preliminary Applications Available
Jan. 7, 2012 Deadline for Mailing Preliminary Applications to
801 N. Holtzclaw Ave. – Chattanooga, TN 37404
OR
P.O. Box 1486 – Chattanooga, TN 37401
Jan. 7, 2012 ~ 7 a.m.-Noon Preliminary Applications may be hand-delivered to CHA’s Central Office (801 N. Holtzclaw Ave.)
Jan. 13, 2012 ~ 10 a.m. Public Drawing (801 N. Holtzclaw Ave.)
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07/18/11 – CHA Set To Demolish Edward Steiner Apartments; Prepares For $8.8 Million Construction Of 48-Unit Public Housing Development
Posted on 29. Nov, 2011 by cmarsh in News Archive
Chattanooga Housing Authority
officials will begin demolition of Edward Steiner Apartments, located at 1900
N. Chamberlain Ave., on Wed., July 20, to prepare for the development of a new
$8.8 million, 48-unit family housing community.
The demolition is being
funded with a grant from the City of Chattanooga’s Neighborhood Services and
Community Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program under Mayor Ron
Littlefield and CHA’s Replacement Housing
Factor funds. RHF funds are capital fund
grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that are
awarded to public housing authorities that have removed units from inventory
for the sole purpose of developing new public housing units.
CHA’s development partner is
Pennrose Properties LLC, which also successfully secured financial assistance
for the Steiner project. CHA will also
leverage its RHF funds with tax credits obtained from the Tennessee Housing
Development Agency’s Low Income Housing Tax Credits initiative.
Built in 1972, the outdated public housing complex will be transformed into a modern, energy-efficient housing community featuring 35 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units. The apartments will have a full-amenities package that includes a microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer connection, refrigerator and security system. The units will also include a wide variety of energy efficient components, including R-38 attic insulation and Energy Star appliances. With support from Chattanooga’s green|spaces, Steiner will obtain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation as well.
“The demolition and
redevelopment of Steiner will help bring new vitality to the Avondale neighborhood,
which has lagged in development over recent years,” said Mark Straub, Senior
Development Officer with Pennrose
Properties. “Design and construction details will
assure quality and durability to maximize building lifetime and minimize
maintenance. The new development will
also include a leasing center with a small office, maintenance area and
community space.”
CHA officials say the new site will also promote the agency’s upward mobility efforts.
“We plan to encourage the families moving into the new site to participate in our longstanding Family Self-Sufficiency Program – with the exception of our elderly and disabled residents,” said CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright. “Through FSS, our staff will assist families with finding and maintaining employment and continuing education opportunities. We’ll also connect them with other services they might need to become free of welfare assistance over time.”
In addition to Pennrose
Properties as the site developer, CHA’s Development Team includes Kitchen &
Associates Architectural Services, architect; Barge, Waggoner, Sumner, Cannon,
engineer; Capstone Building Corp., general contractor; Global Infrastructure
Inc., demolition contractor; and Pennrose Management Co., management
agent.
Officials anticipate the new
development will open in 2012.
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11/15/11 – CHA Designated As Standard Performer; No Longer On HUD’s ‘Troubled’ Agency List
Posted on 29. Nov, 2011 by cmarsh in News Archive
Chattanooga Housing Authority
officials were notified today that the agency is no longer designated as
“troubled” by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. CHA is now considered a “standard performer”
based on an overall score of 81 out of a possible 100 points on HUD’s Public
Housing Assessment System for 2010.
“This is quite an
accomplishment for us, and speaks volumes to the commitment of our Board,
executive team and staff all working together to turn things around in a timely
manner,” said CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright. “It took plenty of
sacrifices, flexibility and can-do attitudes for us to get where we are today.”
PHAS is an oversight tool used by
HUD to rate the effectiveness of public housing agencies across the nation each
year using four performance indicators.
Last year, those indicators included physical condition, financial,
management and resident satisfaction.
The maximum score in each area of
the assessment was 30 points, with the exception of “resident satisfaction”
where the maximum score was 10 points.
HUD officials have since announced changes to the PHAS scoring system,
which became effective this year.
Scores from each performance
indicator are combined to produce a single overall score. HUD designates a public housing agency as
“troubled” if the overall score falls below 60 points.
CHA was placed on HUD’s
troubled agency list in 2009. CHA officials had acknowledged issues with fiscal
accountability, which led to the agency receiving low scores on the financial
performance indicator of the PHAS in both 2008 and 2009.
“We’ve been pretty
transparent in dealing with our past financial issues,” Mrs. McCright said.
“Some hard decisions had to be made, but we’ve been successful in resolving
those areas of concern. Now, we’re
operating in the black and I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve made.”
CHA Board Chairman Eddie
Holmes said being removed from HUD’s troubled list will open the door to
greater opportunities for both residents and employees.
“We’re in a better position
to go after additional federal grants so we can hire more staff and offer more
programs to help our families – especially in terms of upward mobility and
self-sufficiency,” Chairman Holmes said.
“I’m proud of our staff and I’m excited to see what the future holds for
CHA.”
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06/13/2011 – CHA’s Mary Walker Towers Goes Green!
Posted on 15. Jun, 2011 by cmarsh in News Archive
June 13, 2011 – Seniors living at Mary Walker Towers will soon become the first public housing residents in the city to enjoy a green rooftop. The Chattanooga Housing Authority, which owns the property, received a $46,400 grant from Greenspaces for the Live Roof tray system. The local Greenspaces initiative promotes environmentally-friendly construction and provides funding to help commercial builders construct sustainable buildings.
A crew from Chattanooga-based Sterchi Construction will “plant” the green roof on Tuesday, June 14, and Thursday, June 16, from 9 a.m. to noon at Mary Walker Towers, located at 2501 S. Market St. The public housing community is home to 150 residents ages 50 and older.
“This is an excellent opportunity for CHA to continue our green efforts in construction while allowing our senior residents to enjoy an amazing view all year-round,” said CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright. “Right now, the rooftop just looks like your typical concrete slab. I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation!”
The 2,200-square-feet green roof will feature nearly 100 trays of full-grown vegetated sedum that will sit atop a water-resistant membrane covering that spans the entire roof. The sedum blooms in the spring and summer, and will remain green in the cooler months. A timed irrigation system will help provide nourishment for the greenery.
Sterchi Construction is experienced in the installation of prevegetated invisible modular green roof systems, like the one being installed at Mary Walker Towers. “We are always excited to be a part of green projects in our community,” said Chris Sterchi, general contractor for Sterchi Construction.
“We began installing Live Roofs because there are so many environmental and social benefits that come from a system like this,” Sterchi said, adding that green roofs help reduce stormwater runoff and prolong the life of a roof system by blocking exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. He said the Live Roofs also keep indoor temperatures cooler in the summertime through a process called “evapotranspiration,” which can translate into a 25 to 50 percent reduction in cooling costs.
Mary Walker Towers also underwent a $5 million makeover that featured interior and exterior renovations as well as enhanced landscaping. Partners for this project included Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects, P&C Construction, Stein Construction and KONE Elevators. CHA will announce plans for a grand opening celebration later this summer.
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06/03/2011 – HUD Awards Chattanooga Housing Authority $246,864 to Promote Upward Mobility
Posted on 13. Jun, 2011 by cmarsh in News Archive
June 3, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Chattanooga Housing Authority a total of $246,864 in grants to help residents in its Low Income Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Programs achieve self-sufficiency over time. The goal of HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program is to create opportunities for residents to continue their education or receive job training, and eventually find gainful employment so they can reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance.
“These funds are allowing us to hire program coordinators to help connect our public housing residents and Section 8 clients with agencies, programs and services that can lead them on a path toward economic independence,” CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright said. “As a result of the FSS Program, we expect to see more families poised to move out of subsidized housing into homes that they own.”
Since 2009, CHA and its partner agencies have assisted 20 clients in purchasing homes within the city limits of Chattanooga. Most of them were enrolled in the agency’s FSS Program.
This year, CHA received two FSS grants – one totaling $178,864, which will fund three Section 8 program coordinators, and a second grant for $68,000 to fund one public housing position.
Mrs. McCright said FSS participants sign a contract to become active in the program, which they are expected to complete over a five-year period. “They outline their responsibilities toward achieving certain goals like attending college or a job training program, finding employment and possibly even purchasing a home,” she said. For those families receiving welfare assistance, the public housing agency establishes an interim goal that the family be “welfare free” before the contract expires.
As the head of household’s income rises over time, a special escrow account is established using funds from the family’s increasing income, Mrs. McCright said. CHA manages these escrow accounts. Upon successful completion of the contract, clients may use their escrow funds any way they choose. Residents are also allowed to make interim disbursements for specific reasons such as continuing their education, starting a business or improving their credit score to purchase a home.
“FSS challenges our families to set short- and long-term goals, and to take the necessary steps to achieve those goals,” Mrs. McCright said. “The program coordinators guide them every step of the way, making sure they’re aware of available resources in our community to help them on their journey toward upward mobility. For instance, some residents may not know they can earn their GED for free, or even receive special grant assistance designated for first-time homebuyers.”
HUD officials said the FSS Program is a long-standing resource for increasing economic security and self-sufficiency among public housing and Section 8 participants. A HUD Prospective Study, issued earlier this year, evaluated the effectiveness of the FSS Program. Conducted from 2005 to 2009, HUD found substantial financial benefits for participants who complete the program. This study is the second of a three-part evaluation of the FSS Program. The first study found individuals who participated in the program fared better financially than those who did not enroll in the program. HUD officials said they will launch the third and final study later this year.
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