HUD Archives: Success Stories

Modernizing Affordable Housing

Orlando, FL
The story of the Orlando Housing Authority's (OHA) Carver Park HOPE VI development highlights the immediate effects of stimulus funds on Orlando's economy. This project has provided 64 elderly public housing units at the Villas, 56 units of rental housing with 30 designated as public housing at the Landings, a Neighborhood Network Center and 1 model single-family home. These rental units were created through a combination of federal grants and low income housing tax credits. When the housing market improves, 82 homeownership units, which includes 30 affordable units will be built on-site.

Before construction began on the HOPE VI project, $4.4 million dollars of their funds were redirected to remove debris and remediate contaminated soil. This unexpected cost caused OHA to scale back the initial project plan. However, with the infusion of $3.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, OHA was able to forge ahead and complete the Landings. This injection of additional federal funds allowed residents to move in more quickly to their units.

Mary Scott, a senior citizen displaced from the former Carver Court public housing property during the building of the Villas stated, "I am blessed to be living in a place like Carver Park. I lived in Carver Court and Meadow Lake and they were nice. But the Villas at Carver Park are modern and absolutely beautiful. I cannot thank the Orlando Housing Authority enough." Gloria Mora, President at Citrus Square said, "I have to say thank you to the Orlando Housing Authority for the outside paint and the new bathtubs that you put in our units." Bruni Alfaro, a resident of Reeves Terrace said, "We are very happy for all the improvements that have been done at Reeves Court. Thank you for all the Orlando Housing Authority has done. The bathroom tile makes the bathrooms look bigger and the fence improves the appearance of our homes. It looks wonderful!"

Residents have also had recreational features restored and added as a result of Recovery funds. Griffin Park Apartments, an OHA property, had a historic spray pool restored and an obsolete residential building demolished to provide more greenspace for children. The greenspace is located adjacent to a newly resurfaced basketball court and next to the spray pool, which is slated to start spouting water in April. Dorothy Gray, President at Griffin Park stated, "The changes at Griffin Park are great! The area is more open and the greenspace will be a wonderful place for family events. It will be really nice when it is finished."

Residents will also benefit from utility savings thanks to energy efficient purchases such as: water heaters, attic insulation, replacement of windows/doors and plumbing re-piping. In all, Recovery funds have improved the quality of life for OHA residents by providing more modernized energy efficient units and additional recreational space.

Safer Homes, Stable Employment

Gary, IN
It's no secret that times have been difficult lately. Unemployment has been on the rise and layoffs have become a reality, particularly in the construction sector. However, stimulus funds provided to the Hammond and East Chicago housing authorities have not only improved the condition of public housing in those communities, but provided work and prevented layoffs for Precision Builders, a Gary-based company.

Precision Builders received approximately $1.27 million in stimulus funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for kitchen upgrades and new entry doors at public housing complexes in Hammond and new roofs for public housing complexes in East Chicago. These contracts have provided employees of Precision Builders with a steady supply of work and have improved business for subcontractors and suppliers utilized by Precision. In fact, the work at Hammond and East Chicago housing authorities prevented the company from potentially laying off employees.

"It's allowed us to keep more guys employed, which is good right now," said Melanie Morgan, Precision Builders vice president, "If we hadn?t received those contracts, we would?ve been scrambling, looking for more work to do."

Multiple Problems, One Solution

Des Moines, IA
It's easy for a homeless family with medical issues to become even more isolated from the community and be at a loss for finding help. Because of Recovery Act assistance to a Des Moines community health center, one such Des Moines family - a mother with three children with various disabilities and no roof of their own-found a way out.

Primarily Health Care Inc.'s "Health Care for the Homeless-Outreach Project" first assigned the family to a case manager, who referred the family to Anawim's Shelter Plus Care housing program, a supportive housing program that assists individuals and families with disabilities. The family was relocated to permanent supportive housing, making their stay in the shelter brief.

Because of the speed in which their case was managed and the strong partnership between Anawim (a HUD "Homelessness Prevention And Rapid Re-Housing" grantee) and Primary Health Care (an HHS ARRA grantee), the mother and her children were readily placed in a three-bedroom duplex on the south side of Des Moines. They were elated when they received keys for the duplex.

The family now has a place where children with special needs can get ongoing routine health care in their community, the children are excelling in school and they all are connected with their new neighborhood.

Building Affordable, Energy Efficient Rental Housing

Fresno, CA
Recovery Act grants administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and provided to the City of Fresno Housing Authority gave a vital infusion of gap financing to a new multi family affordable housing project Parc Grove Commons. This project will supply 215 new affordable rental apartments in central Fresno, California. This project was set to begin construction at the end of 2008, but was stalled due to significant changes in the financial markets and projected funding sources. The Recovery Act investments totaling $4.7 Million were made available to the City of Fresno Housing Authority which has allowed this development to achieve financial closing and real estate settlement. Ground has been broken and construction has begun.

The Project will consist of a total of 215 units all serving low income families. These new homes will lessen a significant shortage of affordable rental housing in Fresno, California. There is a severe shortage of affordable rental units in the City of Fresno. There are over 20,000 families currently on the waitlist for affordable housing in Fresno County. Of this total waitlist for the County, there are 8,510 families currently on the waiting list for affordable housing in the City of Fresno. In addition to the new homes the project includes a community center and collegiate size aquatic facility. Additional amenities include classroom facilities, computer lab, fitness room, playgrounds, basketball courts and picnic areas. The project site planning allows for a second phase of development that will offer an additional 264 units of affordable housing.

The new homes are designed as highly energy efficient structures and the construction will utilize durable and environmentally friendly American made building materials. Green building techniques and innovative energy efficiency designs will be incorporated into the project. The energy innovations include solar panels, structural insulated panels for wall construction, satellite controlled irrigation systems, passive solar design, and utilization of recycled and sustainable building materials.

The development of these 215 new homes and community facilities will provide vital new jobs to Fresno County which has a current unemployment rate of 17%. HUD is working to make sure that Section 3 requirements are observed and that minority contractors are employed on the project. This targeted infrastructure investment is ideally located near schools, medical facilities, parks, shopping, employment resources and public transportation. This Recovery Act investment has been designed as part of a coordinated revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.

Without the infusion of Recovery Act grant funds this high quality infrastructure investment providing crucial jobs, energy innovations and necessary affordable rental housing to the City of Fresno California would not have been possible.

Diversifying Skills to Maintain Jobs

Success Stories by HUD Region