HUD Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel Initiates Impromptu Roundtable at the Red Bank Housing Authority with State and City Officials, Residents

Red Bank Housing Authority Executive Director Lisa Hendricks, HUD Region II RA Alicka Ampry-Samuel, and Red Bank Housing Authority Board Chair Memone Crystian.

HUD RA Alicka Ampry-Samuel and Red Bank City Officials.

HUD RA Alicka Ampry Samuel speaks to attendees.

HUD Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel visited the Red Bank, New Jersey, Housing Authority to meet with the new Housing Authority Executive Director Lisa Hendricks, Board Chair Memone Crystian, and commissioners. The visit started with a tour of the housing development, highlighting the potential to build more housing on waterfront land owned by the authority.

The second part of the visit, meant to be a meet and greet with residents, advocates, city officials, and a representative of the NJ HMFA, turned into an impromptu hour-long discussion about affordable housing creation. HUD RA Ampry-Samuel had the seating moved to form an enormous roundtable, facilitating a productive conversation about the urgency to develop a community vision to build affordable housing in Red Bank. HUD RA Ampry-Samuel highlighted the influx of federal funding through the American Rescue Plan and how these stakeholders can begin accessing available resources to create more affordable housing in Red Bank.

In addition to housing authority commissioners, residents, and staff, attendees included: Jenna Lopez for NJ State Senator Vin Gopal, District 11; New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency's Jonathan Sternesky; Red Bank councilmembers Edward Zipprich (www.redbanknj.org/Directory.aspx?EID=69), Michael Ballard (www.redbanknj.org/directory.aspx?EID=85), and Kate L. Triggiano (www.redbanknj.org/directory.aspx?EID=93); and Red Bank Director of Community Development Shawna Eubanks. Community representatives included: Joya Anderson, Red Bank Affordable Housing Corporation; Randi Moore, Chief Executive Officer; Gwendolyn O. Love, Executive Director, Affordable Housing Alliance; Phil Anton, Lunch Box Chief of Business, Kevin Mc Gee; and Lenore Gibson.

HUD staff present included: HUD Newark Field Office Director Justin Scheid, Management Analyst Roberto Frugone; HUD Newark Office of Public Housing Engineer General Khoa D. Nguyen; and HUD PIH Portfolio Management Specialist Marie E. Borrero.

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