Georgia Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities Leading the Way

Ada Holloway HUD Georgia Public Housing Director updates attendees on PIH initiatives.

Michael German, HUD Georgia Field Office operations provides HUD opening remarks.

Rising to the Top was the theme for the Georgia Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (GAHRA) Spring Conference (www.gahra.org/2018-spring-conference/) in Macon recently where over 200 public housing leaders attended, were provided industry updates and HUD's Michael German, Georgia Field Policy Management Office of Operations and Ada Holloway, Public Housing Director for Georgia addressed HUD's 's initiatives for 2018. Over the remainder of the next few days HUD provided technical training in separate breakout sessions lead by HUD Georgia Public Housing and Multifamily Housing staff including other industry specific breakout sessions.

"Several staff members from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Atlanta Public Housing, Multifamily Divisions, and HUD Southeast Region Office attended the conference and provided outstanding support and training. " said Pat Bennett, President of GAHRA. "The public housing agencies and the Atlanta HUD office have a long-standing partnership of providing quality, affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and/or disabled citizens of Georgia and we are thankful for that relationship. "

"On behalf of the Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett I want to commend GHARA for their exemplary leadership and commitment to meeting the needs of those we mutually serve," said German. "It was also extraordinarily moving to witness firsthand residents ranging in age from high school to adults receive GAHRA scholarships to help them achieve their dreams of a better future."

"It is always a pleasure to engage with our public housing partners as we work together to develop methodologies of engagement to improve hope and opportunity for those we serve," said Holloway.

During the first day of activities GAHRA recognized eighteen adults and high school residents for the academic achievement them individually with a financial scholarship ranging from hundreds of dollars to $4000.

Throughout the next couple of days breakout sessions were provided to attendees and ranged from the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) HUD Multifamily application process lesson learned to Public Housing concerning Housing Choice Voucher funding.

Highlighting some of the industry breakout sessions was the Housing and Redevelopment and HomeOwnership Strategic Training for Employment and Home Ownership(STEHO) session which addressed how housing authorities could create strategies to ensure that participating Housing Authority residents develop soft skills, technical skills, self-advocacy skills, and a financial management plan that can promote home ownership, gainful employment, and economic self-sufficiency. Additionally, the Human Services and Resident Support Mental Health 101 breakout session discussed what mental health issues do housing authorities face at their agency, how to better understand and assist residents, and what resources are there to help them.

The two-day Georgia public housing conference brought together committed housing professional and provided a opportunities to learn, share and discuss better business practices in public housing service and continues a GAHRA legacy of quality and purposeful professional development.

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