Pinellas county housing authority
Pinellas county housing authority

Tag: Affordable Housing

Pinellas County Children to Design Dream Playground

BANK OF AMERICA, PINELLAS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY AND KaBOOM! HOST DESIGN DAY FOR NEW PLAYGROUND AT RAINBOW VILLAGE

 

WHAT:              Bank of America, the Pinellas County Housing Authority and organizers from KaBOOM! will host a Design Day for children in the Rainbow Village public housing community on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Children who live at Rainbow Village will put crayon to paper and draw their dream playgrounds, which will ultimately become a reality. Elements from the children’s drawings will be incorporated into the final design for the new community playground to be built on Dec. 3 at Rainbow Village. Design Day will also be the first meeting of the playground planning committee that will work for the next eight weeks to plan and prepare for the construction of the new playground.

PCHA Issues Mid-Year Score Card

By Debra S. Johnson, Executive Director

In today’s fiscal and economic climate, it is more important than ever for housing authorities to initiate smart ways to increase efficiencies, realize cost savings, embrace streamlining, and encourage innovation while keeping the development of housing for low-income individuals and families a priority.  

The Board of Commissioners and staff of the Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA) embrace this philosophy.  Currently, 69% of the operating revenue for PCHA properties is derived from non-Federal and non-State sources.  

During the first half of 2011, I’m very pleased to report the following accomplishments:

  • Added over 100 units of housing for low-income individuals and families to our portfolio 
  • Registered PCHA as a State of Florida Ready to Work employer partner and seeking to become a Ready to Work training center for PCHA residents 
  • Achieved outstanding fiscal and regulatory compliance – no audit findings in our recent audit report for FY 2010 
  • HUD High Performer notification received – Received 100 out of 100 possible points on the HUD Section 8 Maagement Assessment Program for FY 2010 
  • HUD High Performer notification received – Received 99 out of a possible 100 points on the HUD Public Housing Assessment for FY 2010 
  • Obligated and expended all ARRA funds timely and correctly as noted in our annual audit 
  • Implemented programs to link residents with education, job training, and employment to assist them in achieving economic self-sufficiency 
  • Selected Nationally to participate in the HUD administrative fee and physical needs assessment studies; one of a few High Performing housing authorities asked to participate by HUD  
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PCHA receives new funding to assist 75 additional homeless veterans

PCHA took another step forward this week toward its aim to house our nations’ veterans. Another 75 local homeless veterans will receive housing through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.  “It is a great day when we can provide additional affordable housing to those men and women who so bravely served our country”, said Joseph Triolo, Chairman of PCHA’s Board of Commissioners.  PCHA also has a Veterans Preference in place for veterans currently on the waiting list for regular vouchers.

PCHA awarded funding to help promote jobs, self-sufficiency for public housing residents

HUD recently awarded the PCHA with funding from the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) – Service Coordinators Program grant to offer more opportunities for its public housing residents, including self-sufficiency through employment and additional resources.

 According to HUD, the purpose of HUD’s ROSS – Service Coordinators Program is to encourage local, innovative strategies that link public housing assistance with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance; and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.

HUD awarded more than $31 million to housing authorities, resident associations and non-profit organizations across the U.S. The PCHA received over $240,000 over a three-year period to implement the program. PCHA’s program will correlate with its newly implemented Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

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