Public Housing Authorities own or manage more than a quarter of the federally assisted housing stock, making them key stakeholders in expanding access to affordable housing in their communities
CHESHIRE, Conn., May 24, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) released a new report today, Beyond Public Housing: How Public Housing Authorities Are Transforming the Way They Preserve and Expand Their Housing Stock. This report explores the tools available to public housing authorities (PHAs) that want to build and preserve affordable housing in their communities, estimates the latest extent of PHA involvement in development efforts in the private market, and describes how Congress can support PHA development efforts. PAHRC will present the report's findings and host a panel of PHA development professionals from San Diego Housing Commission (CA) and Salem Housing Authority (OR) on a webinar on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM EST.
Early on, PHAs constructed and managed public housing with federal support. In the 1960s, however, Congress began creating new programs that privatized the operation and development of affordable rental housing. In the 1970s, Congress began divesting from public housing altogether.
Many PHAs adapted their operating models to build new affordable housing and preserve their existing public housing stock using these private market development tools in response to long-term public housing disinvestment. PAHRC's latest research report estimates that as of 2021, at least 1,664 PHAs own or manage 384,592 homes assisted by programs other than public housing.
While the extent of PHA involvement in affordable housing development outside of the public housing program has grown over the past decade with the rollout of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), many PHAs have developed and managed affordable housing outside of the public housing program long before RAD's creation. PAHRC estimates that more than half of PHAs with properties assisted by programs other than public housing have owned or managed these properties for decades.
The report finds that PHAs own or manage a quarter of the federally assisted housing stock. "Beyond Public Housing makes clear the significant role PHAs play providing affordable housing in their community and highlights how they have adapted to funding cuts to the public housing program," says Ed Malaspina, president and chief executive officer of HAI Group, the sponsor of the report.
While many PHAs have demonstrated that they are adaptable in light of severe funding constraints, PHAs still need additional funding and support to continue maintaining and expanding affordable housing access in their community. "Communities across the country have a shortage of housing that is affordable and available to the lowest income families," says PAHRC senior research analyst, Kelly McElwain, "with adequate funding, PHAs can continue to work towards closing the affordable housing gap in their communities."
PAHRC received support from HAI Group to fund the Beyond Public Housing report.
Beyond Public Housing: How Public Housing Authorities Are Transforming the Way They Preserve and Expand Their Housing Stock is available here.
Register for the webinar on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM EST here.
About The Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation
The Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation delivers research, data, and tools to housing providers, policymakers, affordable housing advocates, and others who are working to help families achieve the benefits of an affordable home or increase the supply of affordable housing. Based in Cheshire, Connecticut, PAHRC is dedicated to building an evidence-based case for why affordable housing matters. For more information, visit https://www.pahrc.org/.
Media Contact
Courtney Rice, Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation, 203-649-6553, [email protected]
SOURCE Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation
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