Press Release: DCHA Executive Director Announces Proposed 20-Year Transformation Plan for Traditional Public Housing Portfolio
News Release — DC Housing Authority
Contact: Christy Goodman
August 28, 2019
The focus is on safe, clean, and affordable housing that will serve as a foundation for families to build their lives.
District of Columbia Housing Authority Executive Director Tyrone Garrett unveiled a working draft of phase one of the agency’s 20-year comprehensive plan to begin addressing tackle the up to $2.5 billion in deferred maintenance and capital improvements at more than 6,600 units in DCHA’s traditional public housing portfolio. The plan would preserve affordable existing stock and create new affordable housing.
In 2018, following guidance from DCHA’s Board of Commissioners, Garrett undertook a comprehensive review of the agency’s traditional public housing portfolio. That review showed significant portions of the portfolio had deteriorated to such a condition as to be potentially uninhabitable, or threatening to the health and safety of DCHA’s residents without urgent action.
“My priority has always been our customers and the health and safety of their homes. Due to the crisis of these conditions and challenge to DCHA’s mission, we are launching ‘Our People, Our Portfolio, Our Plan — DCHA’s 20-Year Transformation Plan,’” Garrett said. “This plan charts a roadmap for the transformation of DCHA’s public housing stock, and for DCHA as an agency itself. Our overarching goals are to move all of our residents living in unsafe and unhealthy conditions to quality housing as quickly as possible; to be steadfastly transparent; to revitalize our communities so that they are stable, healthy, and offer educational, employment, and economic opportunity; and to establish DCHA as a capable mission-driven entity that can implement our objectives.”
The first phase and central focus of Our People, Our Portfolio, Our Plan — DCHA’s 20-Year Transformation Plan will be to address the 14 properties, containing approximately 2,610 units, which were determined to be in need of extremely urgent action based on the comprehensive assessment. Garrett and his team believe this initial phase outlines the most critical priorities for DCHA, and will demonstrate his approach on delivering DCHA’s most basic obligation to residents.
“I believe we have a moral imperative to fulfill this obligation. As we execute this plan, we remain committed to transparency and broad civic engagement. Most importantly, my team and I are committed to ensuring that our residents live in safe, clean, and affordable housing—a foundation on which to build stable and healthy lives, and a launch pad from which they might lift themselves and their families—places where we would want our families to live,” Garrett said.
The plan is currently a working draft and can be viewed on www.dcha.us. Feedback on the working draft will be accepted through Friday, September 27, 2019. All are invited to provide comments, feedback, and questions via the portal. Updated questions and answers will be reflected on the site weekly. An overview of the draft plan will be presented to the public at the Board of Commissioners’ monthly meeting, to convene on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 1 p.m. at DCHA Headquarters, located at 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E.
The Early Action Strategy will stabilize four of the 14 properties. The remaining 10 properties have physical conditions and/or deteriorating infrastructure that is so severe, long-term relocation will be required as a first step while DCHA plans for comprehensive modernization and/or redevelopment of these sites and required financing. The long-term relocations will be contingent upon the receipt of tenant protection vouchers issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. DCHA is committed to working closely with families throughout this process of transition.
The 20-year plan will rely on an array of financing approaches to address properties’ physical needs, as well as creative partnerships and non-traditional strategies to address residents’ needs. The plan prescribes the transformation of DCHA operations, utilizing a collaborative management approach that is outcome driven and incorporates industry best practices. The objective is to create and operate livable, sustainable communities, which foster stronger families by promoting education, creating economic opportunities, and encouraging self-sufficiency.
DCHA is in the midst of a public engagement campaign to include residents, advocates, community partners, financial partners, and other key stakeholders in this process.
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