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July 02, 2025

President’s Forum: Congress Begins Deliberations on FY 26 HUD Budget

The FY 26 budget process is underway as the House and Senate appropriations panels hosted HUD Secretary Scott Turner for two hearings in mid-June. Meanwhile, PHADA and the other industry organizations issued our joint budget priorities for the coming fiscal year, which begins in about 3 months. 

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June 11, 2025

President’s Forum: Thank You for the Honor

I am honored that my colleagues on PHADA’s Board of Trustees elected me as the association’s President for the next two years. I appreciate the trust and confidence that members have placed in me and want to thank my predecessor, Mark Gillett (Oklahoma City, OK), for his great leadership. I am glad that Mark remains on our Executive Committee as Immediate Past President along with the rest of the talented team listed on the masthead of this edition. 

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May 21, 2025

President’s Forum: Thank You for the Honor

This is my final column as PHADA’s President. The time has passed by quickly, partly because so much has happened over the past two years. It has been rewarding to lead this association of dedicated housing professionals.

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May 07, 2025

President’s Forum: Good Timing to Get More Involved

My two-year term as President will end in a just a few weeks. All PHADA committees will be reconstituted under the new President. Therefore, this is a timely opportunity for members who are interested in becoming more involved in the Association. 

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April 23, 2025

President’s Forum: The 30th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

The thirtieth anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing is on April 19. As someone who has lived and worked in the community for 35 years, the anniversary is personal to me and many other Oklahomans. It also resonates with so many Americans because the event still represents the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in our nation’s history.

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April 09, 2025

President’s Forum: Key House Appropriators Conduct Roundtable on Housing Issues

I was honored and pleased to participate on a recent House of Representatives’ panel examining Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and public housing issues. The meeting was held March 25 and called by Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on T-HUD Appropriations. My home  city’s Representative, Stephanie Bice (R-OK), and other subcommittee members also participated. 

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March 26, 2025

President’s Forum: Unprecedented Challenges Call for More Collaboration

My agency has been a member of PHADA, CLPHA, and NAHRO for many years. Since we are not a Moving to Work agency, Oklahoma City is not a member of the MTW Collaborative, but we have also worked closely with its leadership in recent years. 

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March 12, 2025

President’s Forum: Five Years Later, Pandemic’s Effects Linger

Five Years. Right about this time in 2020 the world changed dramatically. We all vividly remember that late winter when schools, businesses, sports leagues, government offices and other institutions shuttered, with many shifting to an online virtual mode. Many HAs, of course, could not close their doors and stepped up their operations, delivering critical services to vulnerable low-income seniors and families. This anniversary is particularly notable with the new Administration proposing vast b...

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February 26, 2025

President’s Forum: PHADA Renews Call for More Local Flexibility

I have previously written that PHADA believes HAs should be afforded more local flexibility in the administration of our programs. This has been a theme the association has advocated for many years. Our Board of Trustees reiterated that support in its most recent strategic planning meeting, identifying some key points to serve as an overall guide. Now, we find ourselves in a situation where the newly confirmed HUD Secretary and two key congressional leaders largely agree with our perspective.  ...

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February 12, 2025

President’s Forum: Down to the Wire on FY 25 Funding

As we all know too well, Congress opted to defer action on a final FY 25 budget until mid-March even though the deadline was last October 1. The latest target is now just a little more than one month away. As a result of the impending deadline, lawmakers have begun to consider top line amounts for various domestic discretionary accounts. They will then divide up those funds to the dozen subcommittees that fund government accounts annually. 

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January 29, 2025

President’s Forum: A Report on Our Commissioners’ Conference

PHADA held its annual Commissioners’ Conference earlier this month in Miami, FL. We were delighted to host more than eight hundred attendees in our first gathering of 2025, providing an opportune time to focus on key issues while also learning from informative presentations.

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January 01, 2025

President’s Forum: Ready for a New Administration and Congress

This is the first Advocate of 2025—Happy New Year! I would note as well that this year marks Volume 40 of this publication. Many of us have long believed the Advocate is the best industry newsletter and we are especially proud that it has reached its 40th anniversary. 

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December 11, 2024

President’s Forum: Looking Forward to January Conference

We are now in the last month of the year and the holiday season is here. A new administration and congressional session will begin in just a little more than a month. It is a busy time for many of us including those planning to head to PHADA’s Commissioners Conference right after the New Year. If you have not already made plans to join PHADA in Miami, I hope you will consider doing so.

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November 27, 2024

President’s Forum: Congress Should Finish Budget This Year

Congress returned to Washington this week for a “lame duck” session. Lawmakers will be in the capital parts of this month and December. One issue that remains on the agenda is the Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government until December 20. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) has indicated he would like to conclude work on this year’s budget, but added he will defer to the President-Elect. Some other lawmakers have suggested that Congress should defer action until...

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November 13, 2024

President’s Forum: Focused on an Array of Affordable Housing Programs

Because of our association’s full name—the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association—some may perceive we represent agencies that solely administer public housing. However, PHADA has long been involved with a broader universe of affordable housing programs, including the Section 8 tenant and project-based programs, the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the Moving to Work (MTW) program, and affiliated nonprofits, among others. Similarly, the associa...

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October 30, 2024

President’s Forum: Celebrating 50 Years of the Voucher Program

HUD held a 50th anniversary celebration of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program in Washington, D.C. on October 16. Along with colleagues George Guy (Fort Wayne, IN), Jeffrey Patterson (Cuyahoga, OH), Lindsey Reames (Grand Rapids, MI) and Section 8 “founder” Nan McKay, I was delighted to be a panelist during the event, which included 325 people who attended in person and hundreds of others who viewed the program virtually. Notable speakers included Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), Acting...

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October 21, 2024

Climate Corner

In recent weeks HUD and its partner federal agencies have continued to promote the development of programs authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and to communicate their progress to housing agencies and the public across the country.  In addition to press releases and statements from the Acting Secretary, many associated with Climate Week in New York City, HUD devoted its biweekly Stakeholder Briefing on October 10 to these issues.

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October 16, 2024

President’s Forum: Be Aware of Interest Income Requirements

I noted last month that HUD recently issued Notice 2024-25, which includes a provision that would require HAs to remit interest income they earn on federal operating funds. This provision is worrisome because many HAs earned considerable sums through investments on their rental income and other resources. These funds are especially needed at a time when we are short-funded, insurance costs are skyrocketing, and tenant accounts receivable are at all-time highs for many agencies. Moreover, HUD on...

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October 02, 2024

President’s Forum: A Recap of Our Washington Meeting

PHADA held its annual Legislative Forum September 8–10. For the first time, we were at the new and bright Royal Sonesta Hotel on the Senate side of Capitol Hill. As always, the meeting was timely, providing us the opportunity to meet with HUD officials, members of Congress, and their staff as they work on HUD appropriations and other legislation. While in Washington, PHADA’s various committees also addressed some policy objectives and other organizational priorities.

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September 11, 2024

President’s Forum: Uncertainty Looms in Last Quarter

It is hard to believe but, in a few weeks, we will enter the last quarter of 2024 and the start of a new fiscal year. As we approach the autumn season, HAs face a considerable amount of uncertainty in terms of the budget and some important program changes that are in the works. This is an opportune time to review those issues and to let you know what PHADA is doing to ensure as much stability as possible in this uncertain period. 

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July 30, 2024

President’s Forum: Happy 25th Anniversary, EDEP

Take a moment and think back to the year 1999. You may recall the world spent much of the year worrying about a possible technological meltdown that might come with the onset of Y2K. President Bill Clinton had been impeached by the House of Representatives, but the Senate acquitted him in early ’99. The war in Kosovo raged on while the Europeans created a brand-new currency, appropriately called the Euro. Sadly, John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife Carolyn died in an Atlantic Ocean plane crash. A ...

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July 26, 2024

Climate Corner

The five grantees awarded $6 Billion under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) Program, and the three grantees selected to “establishing national clean financing institutions” to deploy $14 billion of initial capital under the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) were expected to finalize work plans and complete required paperwork and agreements with the EPA and begin their period of performance in July 2024. Funding opportunities and new...

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July 24, 2024

President’s Forum: New Fiscal Year Approaching

I mentioned in my previous column that we are now less than three months away from the start of FY 25. With that deadline approaching, the House of Representatives has been marking up individual spending bills that contain significant reductions in non-defense programs including housing. While those cuts are sure to be rejected by the Senate and White House, and a budget will not be finished until well after the deadline, it is important for us to weigh in with our elected officials. 

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July 02, 2024

President’s Forum: Congressional Appropriators Start Marking Up Bills

The start of FY 25 is now only three months away. House appropriators have begun marking up spending bills and turned to the T-HUD legislation days before this went to print. As reported in prior editions of the Advocate , lawmakers and the Biden Administration are working within the parameters of last year’s budget agreement, which set strict caps on domestic discretionary spending. That deal left little room for even inflationary adjustments. 

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June 26, 2024

President’s Forum: A Brief Report on PHADA’s Annual Convention

PHADA conducted its Annual Convention & Exhibition in New Orleans earlier this month. The meeting was a great success from both an organizational and programmatic standpoint. Kudos to the PHADA staff and our Professional Development Committee for all their efforts. We also wish to express our deep appreciation to the Housing Authority of New Orleans for their assistance, especially HANO’s CEO, Evette Hester. 

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June 12, 2024

President’s Forum: Update on Our Recent Meeting with Secretary Todman

I mentioned in my last column that PHADA and other industry groups recently met with Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman. The meeting related to a joint letter PHADA, NAHRO, CLPHA, and the MTW Collaborative sent to the Secretary. I thought it would be informative to provide a short update while also noting how closely the organizations are collaborating on some important priorities.

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May 29, 2024

President’s Forum: PHADA, Other Groups Meet With HUD Secretary Todman

I was pleased along with other industry group leaders to meet with Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman on Friday, May 3. The meeting stemmed from the joint letter PHADA, NAHRO, CLPHA, and the MTW Collaborative sent to the Secretary last month. In addition to PHADA’s Executive Director Tim Kaiser and I, participants included: CLPHA President Jeff Patterson and Executive Director Sunia Zaterman; NAHRO President George Guy and CEO Mark Thiele; and the MTW Collaborative’s President, Tracey Scott, ...

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May 15, 2024

President’s Forum: Congressional Budget Process Underway

The annual HUD budget process picked up steam recently with Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman presenting the Department’s spending proposals to the House and Senate appropriations committees. We are now less than 5 months away from the start of the new fiscal year, which begins on October 1. Based on information PHADA has learned from lawmakers and key congressional staff, it is unlikely that a budget will be completed before the beginning of next year.

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May 01, 2024

President’s Forum: Annual Convention Will Focus on Timely Issues

I suspect many readers will agree that 2024 is passing by quickly. We are well into the spring with May now just days away. PHADA’s 2024 Annual Convention & Exhibition in New Orleans, June 2–5, is rapidly approaching so I thought it an opportune time to share some of the agenda with those of you who are planning to attend or those still contemplating it. 

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April 17, 2024

President’s Forum: HUD Budget Raises Major Concerns

PHADA has reported on President Biden’s FY 25 budget request in recent editions. Below, I focus on two important aspects, which we believe are misguided. The association feels they set a bad precedent, run counter to prudent business practices, and would penalize well-run housing authorities.

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April 03, 2024

President’s Forum: A Tale of Two Budgets

There has been a budget whirlwind in Washington in recent weeks. President Biden signed the FY 24 HUD appropriations act into law on March 9, more than five months after the start of the fiscal year. Congress just completed work on a package of other major bills including the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, among others. At the same time, the President released his proposed budget for FY 25, which begins October 1. 

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March 20, 2024

President’s Forum: After Four Decades, Bollinger Memorial Programs Still Advancing Educational Opportunities for Youth

One of PHADA’s founding members was Steve Bollinger, who was the Executive Director of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Housing Authority. He served on PHADA’s inaugural Board of Trustees and was the association’s Vice President. It is likely that he would have eventually been PHADA President had Ronald Reagan not chosen him to be HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development in the early 1980s. 

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March 06, 2024

President’s Forum: Four Years Since the Onset of COVID-19

We will soon mark the fourth anniversary of when the world effectively shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since those dark days, the situation has vastly improved. Still, the pandemic has created a “new normal,” changing the way we live, work, and interact with one another.

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February 21, 2024

President’s Forum: Joint Center Report Documents Vast Needs of Low Income Renters & Affordable Housing Stock

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University recently released its annual report. The sobering results serve as a stark reminder documenting the tremendous needs of low-income renters while also noting the great shortage of affordable housing units across the country. This comes at a time when Congress is moving to finalize HUD appropriations for the fiscal year that began more than four months ago.

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February 07, 2024

President’s Forum: PHADA’s Recent Commissioners’ Conference

PHADA held its annual Commissioners’ Conference earlier this month in San Diego, California. We were delighted to host more than seven hundred attendees in our first gathering of 2024, providing an opportune time to focus on key issues while also learning from informative presentations.

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January 17, 2024

President’s Forum: Please Help PHADA Spotlight Your Agency’s Work in the Community

We know that the programs we administer are dependent on the support of our communities, residents, and elected officials, especially those who represent us in Congress. PHADA has always stressed that we need to continually demonstrate the value of our services to ensure that support is maintained. One of the ways we do this is through the PHADA Member Spotlight.

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January 17, 2024

After a Decade of RAD, What Now?

HUD’s Office of Recapitalization, which administers the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, recently celebrated RAD’s 10-year anniversary with an impressive list of accomplishments (see below). RAD was created as part of the 2012 HUD appropriations bill, with the first transaction closing in 2013. As a demonstration, RAD was never intended as a permanent program but to inform future policy. That being the case, where do we go from here?

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December 24, 2023

President’s Forum: PHADA’s New Year Resolution

I was proud to be elected President this past spring and cannot believe how fast the time is passing. This is the last edition of the Advocate for 2023. It is natural at this time of year to think forward to the new year that is just days away. The rest of PHADA’s leadership, the staff and I will do our best to abide by the resolution in the sub-headline above.

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December 13, 2023

President’s Forum: Perfect Storm for Operating Funding

Much to our dismay, HUD recently announced the operating fund proration is now only 92 percent formula eligibility. Because Congress has not yet approved an FY 24 appropriations bill and we are still under a Continuing Resolution (CR), the Department plans to distribute “conservative” amounts of funds at least through January. Combined with a few other factors, this raises many concerns as we approach the colder – and more expensive – winter months.

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November 15, 2023

President’s Forum: QHWRA at 25

Some of us remember the enactment of a landmark law that resulted in significant changes in housing programs that are still in place with some still evolving. Signed by President Bill Clinton on October 21, 1998, the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (QHWRA) just observed its 25th anniversary.

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November 01, 2023

President’s Forum: Congress Ponders Commission to Address Never Ending Budget Debates

We are almost one month into FY 24 and there is no sign of a budget deal in Congress. The Continuing Resolution (CR) lasts until November 17. At that point, lawmakers will either need to complete a final agreement or enact another CR, or parts of the government may shut down, an outcome that we obviously hope to avoid.

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October 17, 2023

President’s Forum: Recapping Our Recent Legislative Forum

PHADA conducted its Annual Legislative Forum in mid-September. Once again, the Washington, DC, meeting was quite timely, providing us the opportunity to meet with HUD officials, members of Congress and their staff as they (hopefully) soon finalize the 2024 federal budget. PHADA’s various committees also worked on some important legislative and regulatory objectives and addressed other organizational priorities.

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September 27, 2023

President’s Forum: New Legislation Would Provide HAs Relief and Real Opportunity to Innovate

You will receive this Advocate just a few days short of the new federal fiscal year that starts on October 1. As indicated in a separate article elsewhere in this edition, we are still a way off from enactment of a final spending bill. However, it does appear certain that funding for our programs will again be insufficient to address needs.

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August 15, 2023

President’s Forum: See You in September

There is a popular song more than six decades old called “See you in September,” which has been recorded by a few different artists. It centers on students entering the summer vacation season, looking forward to the return to school. The title could easily be applied to the current situation with Congress in recess and many people enjoying August vacations while getting ready for the busy fall season ahead.

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July 28, 2023

President’s Forum: Effective Advocacy with Congress

This edition of the Advocate includes information about the House of Representatives’ FY 24 HUD appropriations bill. Please review that important material. After doing so, I think you will agree that, if ever there is a time for effective advocacy with our Representatives and Senators, now is that time.

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July 19, 2023

President’s Forum: PHADA Shares HUD’s Objectives on Utilization, Occupancy

If your agency administers a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, you may have received recent messages from HUD about the need to maximize the usage of Section 8 funding. Similarly, the Department has been communicating with HAs about boosting their public housing occupancy rates. PHADA agrees with the Department’s well-intentioned objectives in both programs, and housing professionals have worked diligently to improve their overall rates despite the many challenges we face in this post-pande...

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July 05, 2023

President’s Forum: Congress Begins Consideration of FY 24 Spending Bills

As reported in the previous edition of the Advocate, Congress and the Biden Administration agreed on a debt ceiling measure that sets strict spending limits for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 while ensuring the ceiling will not have to be raised again before the 2024 elections. The agreement set spending caps that will make it particularly challenging for congressional appropriators to adequately fund domestic programs including housing. In a subsequent and surprising new development, an influentia...

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June 21, 2023

President’s Forum: Thank You for the Opportunity

I am honored to serve as PHADA’s President for the next two years. I appreciate the trust and confidence members have placed in me and want to thank my predecessor, David Northern (Houston, TX), for his leadership. I am glad that he remains on our executive committee as Immediate Past President along with the rest of the very capable team listed on the page 2 masthead of this edition. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Oklahoma City Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for al...

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May 31, 2023

President’s Forum: It Has Been My Honor to Serve as PHADA President

This is my final column as PHADA’s President. The time has passed very quickly, partly because so much has happened as we came out of the COVID public health emergency with HUD initiating many regulatory changes at a breakneck pace. With everything considered, it has been rewarding to lead this association of dedicated housing professionals.

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May 17, 2023

President’s Forum: Contentious Budget Debate Now Underway

The FY 24 budget process began in earnest late last month as House and Senate appropriations panels conducted hearings on HUD’s proposed spending plan. HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge testified at both sessions to promote and defend the Biden Administration’s budget. In related action, the House of Representatives voted by a slim margin to increase the government’s debt ceiling while the Treasury Department notified Congress that a final deal is needed by early June. The House legislation also in...

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May 03, 2023

President’s Forum: PHADA Believes NSPIRE Needs Fixing

Public comments on HUD’s NSPIRE scoring notice are due at the end of the month. PHADA plans to provide the Department with extensive feedback, outlining our many concerns regarding the new inspections scoring methodology and standards. I wanted to take this opportunity to note some of our overarching concerns, identified below.

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April 19, 2023

President’s Forum: Groups Closely Collaborate on Budget and Policy Matters

I was pleased to join the leaders of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and the Moving to Work (MTW) Collaborative in Washington on March 22. CLPHA and NAHRO both had conferences in the nation’s capital that week, so it was an opportune time to convene. We also took the opportunity to meet with HUD officials the same day. PHADA’s Senior Vice President Mark Gillett (Oklahoma City, OK) and Executive Dire...

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April 05, 2023

President’s Forum: Hot Topics Featured on PHADA’s Website

PHADA has recently covered all the hot topics in this newsletter and conducted a related zoom cast in mid-March. There is a lot going on right now and it is hard for many of us to keep up with the array of new regulations and program changes.

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March 22, 2023

President’s Forum: PHADA’s Upcoming Annual Convention in Denver

We are now almost one quarter through 2023 and spring is in the air in many parts of the country. I am sure many of you agree with me that the time is passing very quickly. In just about two months, PHADA will meet in Denver for its Annual Convention and Exhibition. I want to encourage you to join us there for what promises to be an informative meeting at an opportune time.

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March 08, 2023

President’s Forum: Three Years into the Pandemic

We are nearing the third anniversary of the worldwide pandemic. Last year around this time, I wrote that I looked forward to seeing even more progress in the fight against COVID-19. There is no doubt that things have steadily improved since then and we are getting closer to “normal.” The question remains, however, what the new normal will look like as the pandemic has forever changed the way we live, work and interact with one another.

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February 22, 2023

President’s Forum: The Debt Ceiling

We have all seen and read the reports about the looming debt ceiling deadline. Like the memorable movie Groundhog Day, the circumstances surrounding this issue seem repetitious. Indeed, many of us remember similar high profile “fiscal cliff” debates in 2011 and 2013.

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February 08, 2023

President’s Forum: A Report on the Commissioners Conference

PHADA held its annual Commissioners Conference a few weeks ago in the Orlando, Florida area. We were delighted to host more than 700 attendees in our first gathering of 2023, providing an opportune time to focus on some major issues while also learning from some informative presentations.

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January 18, 2023

President’s Forum: Present Realities Dictate Need for Change

Happy 2023 to all. Along with the new year comes a new congressional session with some Capitol Hill personnel changes that will affect our government’s policies in all areas including assisted housing programs. We have elaborated on those changes in recent editions of this newsletter. This time around, I wanted to lay out PHADA’s legislative approach in the 118th Congress.

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December 31, 2022

President’s Forum: HUD Should Defer NSPIRE Implementation

HUD has been working on its new physical inspections program, NSPIRE, for several years now and is making plans to officially implement it this coming spring. HAs with fiscal years ending March 31, 2023, and later would undergo REAC inspections under the new protocol and the scores would be binding.

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December 21, 2022

President’s Forum: Next Congress to Include Many New Members

The 118th congressional session starts in just a few weeks. Once again, the margins in each chamber will be very slim. This time, however, Republicans will hold the majority in the House of Representatives, meaning their leadership will set the policy and budget agenda on their side of the Capitol. Meanwhile, Democrats will retain control of the Senate and the White House.

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December 06, 2022

President’s Forum: Calling All New Executive Directors

PHADA returned to an in-person meeting mode more than a year ago. Since then, we have all noticed how many new faces have appeared at PHADA meetings and other industry gatherings. That is not surprising as we have often talked about the significant amount of turnover that is occurring in housing agencies and other professions.

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November 23, 2022

President’s Forum: Major Budget Challenges in Store for New Congress & Biden Administration

With Election Day now in its rearview mirror, Congress will return to Washington to hopefully reach agreement on a FY 23 omnibus spending bill. Action must be completed by December 16 when the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires. At this stage, the question is whether lawmakers can reach a deal by the middle of next month, or if they will opt to push a decision to later December, or the new year when the 118th Congress takes office. PHADA would prefer completion before the close of 2022....

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November 09, 2022

President’s Forum: PHADA Board Meets to Plan for Coming Changes

I was delighted to host PHADA’s Board of Trustees and staff for a strategic planning session in Houston from October 17–19. I really appreciate the commitment and dedication of Board members who took the time out of their busy schedules to help plan for the future of our organization and the entire industry.

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October 19, 2022

President’s Forum: CR in Effect Until December 16

Both houses of Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) before the October 1 deadline, which President Biden immediately signed into law. The measure is effective until December 16.

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October 05, 2022

President’s Forum: A Recap of PHADA’s Legislative Forum

PHADA conducted its annual Legislative Forum in Washington, DC, September 11–13. Once again, the meeting was well-timed and attended with our committees and participants focusing on several important topics.

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September 07, 2022

President’s Forum: So Close… Yet So Far

PHADA started working with House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) a few years ago on legislation that would boost spending for the public housing capital fund by $70 billion. The goal is to provide a onetime infusion that would address the large backlog of unmet modernization needs. Shortly after the 2020 presidential election, the association and others began communications with the Biden transition team and lawmakers on a similar package, which increased capital fu...

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August 24, 2022

President’s Forum: Your Return on Investment in PHADA

This edition of the Advocate includes two new publications that I wanted to bring to your attention. The first is an updated “Return on Investment” (ROI) piece that highlights PHADA’s most recent work on behalf of members. The second publication outlines some of the major concerns our members have about two important pending regulations. All the accomplishments and excellent feedback reflected in these publications are the byproduct of successful collaboration between our membership and staff. ...

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August 10, 2022

President’s Forum: Quiet August? Not This Year

The month of August is typically a quiet one in Washington D.C. and other parts of the country as people enjoy the last full month of summer with the congressional recess, vacations, and other personal activities. Nevertheless, there is quite a bit happening on some serious policy matters right now. Developments on those issues promise to heat up more by the time of PHADA’s Washington meeting in mid-September.

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July 13, 2022

President’s Forum: Almost 1 in 5 HAs “Severely Impacted” by Rental Income Losses

For quite some time now, and first in the industry, PHADA has raised the issue of rising tenant accounts receivable (TARs) and rental income losses with HUD and Congress. The problem stems from the pandemic as federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums and the economic shutdown affected the income of many residents and HAs. These circumstances have also raised the troubling prospect for more nonpayment-related evictions in some communities.

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June 29, 2022

President’s Forum: HUD’s Voter Registration Guidance

Many HAs have long engaged in nonpartisan voter registration efforts. With the 2022 general election season approaching, HUD-PIH recently issued helpful material reminding HAs of activities that are permitted and those that should be avoided.

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June 15, 2022

President’s Forum: A Brief Report on the Annual Convention

PHADA held its Annual Convention & Exhibition in San Antonio late last month. More than five hundred people attended our third in-person meeting since the pandemic’s onset, and I am happy to report that it was another success.

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June 13, 2022

HUD Undertakes a Review of Uses of Criminal Histories

On April 14, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge published a memorandum to HUD’s principal staff concerning, “Eliminating Barriers That May Unnecessarily Prevent Individuals with Criminal Histories from Participating in HUD Programs.” Secretary Fudge took this step as part of HUD’s response to President Biden’s 2021 Executive Order concerning racial equity and serving underserved communities. In addition to this memorandum, HUD published its Equity Action Plan (described in this issue of the Advocate...

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May 25, 2022

President’s Forum: Biden Administration Prepares Broadband Expansion

Even before the pandemic, it was clear how critically important internet access is to our way of life. We rely on it for our daily business, social and educational communications. The onset of Covid in March 2020 forced much of the world into isolation, further boosting our reliance on the internet and our dependence has increased exponentially since then. As we know all too well, however, many people still do not have adequate access, placing them at a major disadvantage.

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May 11, 2022

President’s Forum: Looking Forward to PHADA’s Annual Convention

PHADA’s Annual Convention & Exhibition is now just a couple of weeks away and I wanted to offer a preview for those planning to attend and perhaps attract others who might still be undecided. This will be our third in-person meeting since vaccines became widely available and people grew more comfortable traveling. We are expecting over 400 attendees at the May 19–22 meeting at the Grand Hyatt on the San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

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April 27, 2022

President’s Forum: Your PHADA Membership

I wanted to highlight some of the “other” services PHADA provides to make them better known so more members might take advantage of them. For reasons explained below, we also make some of our resources (but certainly not all) available to nonmembers and other interested parties.

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March 30, 2022

President’s Forum: PHADA Concerned About Lost Rental Income

PHADA has lately been focusing on rental income matters because of serious concerns some members have raised about HUD’s operating fund formula as well as lost revenues and inflation. The association has broached the problem with HUD and suggested ways the Department could help mitigate it.

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March 16, 2022

President’s Forum: The Two-Year Anniversary of the Pandemic

It is now two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, we will soon surpass one million American deaths with about six million persons worldwide perishing from the virus. Obviously, with effective vaccines and better treatments, things today are much better than the darkest days of 2020. Still, the pandemic is the greatest public health crisis the world has faced in the last century. Its impact will be felt for decades to come.

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March 07, 2022

Upcoming Affordable Connectivity Program and IIJA Broadband Webinars

ConnectHomeUSA is accepting questions about the Affordable Connectivity Program which will be posed directly to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  before the March 15 webinar. The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. Th...

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March 02, 2022

President’s Forum: Latest CR Effective Until March 11

Even though FY 22 began last October 1, Congress has yet to complete action on appropriations bills for the year. The most recent Continuing Resolution (CR) was set to expire February 18, but lawmakers agreed to another extension until March 11. House and Senate leaders said they hope to wrap up a final measure by then. I want to encourage all members to use this interval to convey PHADA’s priorities to your Representatives and Senators.

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February 16, 2022

President’s Forum: Another Successful PHADA Meeting

PHADA recently held its first in-person Commissioners Conference in two years. Many members and I appreciated the opportunity to get together to learn, network, share information and enjoy one another’s company. Even with some cancellations stemming from the omicron variant, other health-related concerns and flight problems, we still had a good turnout of roughly 450 people. Most important, we were able to conduct the meeting safely, requiring that all participants show proof of vaccination and...

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January 05, 2022

President’s Forum: A Happy and Healthy 2022 to All

This is PHADA’s first edition of the Advocate in 2022 so I would like to wish a Happy New Year to all members and other readers. I hope you had a joyous and healthy holiday season.

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December 15, 2021

President’s Forum: Looking Back on 2021

This is the last edition of the Advocate that you will receive in 2021. The time sure has gone by fast. I thought it would be worth taking a brief look back on a period in our professional and personal lives that none of us will forget.

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December 01, 2021

President’s Forum: Rapidly Approaching, December 3 is a Big Day

December 3 is a big day for Congress and our programs. By that day, lawmakers must extend the FY 22 Continuing Resolution (CR) or risk a government shutdown with the holiday season approaching. Congress set the same deadline for raising the debt ceiling so that the U.S. retains uninterrupted ability to borrow money. Without that statutory authority, the government will not have sufficient funds for many federal programs. In addition, Congress is moving towards conclusion of debate on legislatio...

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November 17, 2021

President’s Forum: Thank You, Two Former Trustees

Two longtime members of PHADA’s Board of Trustees recently retired so I wanted to recognize their valuable service to the association. At the same time, I want to reiterate a point I mentioned in my last column. We need – and want – the support and participation of members and more leaders to ensure PHADA remains an effective advocate and provides the types of services desired by the membership.

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November 03, 2021

President’s Forum: HUD Acknowledges Continuing “Emergency”

As the end of 2021 approaches, we are getting closer to a “return to normal” but we are not there yet. Indeed, HUD reminded us that we are still in a national “emergency” with its recent issuance of a rule that affords residents more time to pay their back rent before owners and HAs can pursue eviction proceedings.

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October 20, 2021

President’s Forum: Please Contact Congress Now on Reconciliation Bill

Congress approved a Continuing Resolution (CR) in late September, funding government operations until December 3. All federally funded programs, including those under HUD’s jurisdiction, are set at existing levels until then. It is essential for us to weigh in on the Build Back Better Act (BBBA, reconciliation bill) as lawmakers near decisions on a potentially historic package for our industry. This is necessary because there have been some reports that the capital, Section 8 funding, and the L...

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October 06, 2021

President’s Forum: PHADA’s DC Meeting Successful at an Opportune Time

For the first time since early 2020, PHADA conducted an in-person meeting September 12–14, in Washington, DC. I am happy to report the meeting was both safe and successful, giving us the opportunity to convene at the very moment Congress was writing historic legislation to provide billions of dollars in additional assistance to our long-neglected programs.

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August 09, 2021

President’s Forum: Congressional Break Will Lead to Busy Autumn

By the time you receive this edition of the Advocate in the mail, Congress will be on its annual summer recess until after Labor Day. I thought this would be a good time to provide a brief update on where things stand on the FY 22 budget and a few of our other major priorities. When Congress returns to Washington, Senators and Representatives will not have much time to act. The new fiscal year begins on October 1 and there is little doubt a Continuing Resolution (CR) will be needed to fund the ...

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August 04, 2021

CDC Issues Targeted Eviction Moratorium Through October 3

On August 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued a targeted moratorium on evictions through October 3, 2021, for counties experiencing “heightened levels of community transmission.” The order is intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including the rise in the Delta variant. The previous moratorium expired on July 31, 2021.

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August 04, 2021

President’s Forum: HUD Should Reconsider its Decision Rescinding MTW Work Cohort

PHADA worked diligently to help secure the expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) program in 2016. HUD has been implementing the expansion in a few stages and topical areas or “cohorts.” PHADA was disappointed to learn recently that HUD was rescinding cohort number 3, which was focused on incentivizing residents to seek employment and move up the ladder of self-sufficiency.

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July 20, 2021

President’s Forum: Encouraging News on Voucher Expansion and Affordable Housing Development

I encourage readers to review the joint industry statement expressing support for a major expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program. I was delighted to help represent PHADA in conversations with leaders at NAHRO, CLPHA, and the MTW Collaborative on this important initiative. The statement points out how the pandemic has highlighted the critical role housing stability plays in the lives of Americans, especially when they experience a loss of income due to health challenges and economic d...

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July 07, 2021

President’s Forum: The Latest on the American Jobs Plan

PHADA participated in a June 21 meeting with HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, Department staff and dozens of national housing organizations to discuss the Biden Administration’s American Jobs Plan (AJP), which contains about $150 billion in housing investments under HUD’s jurisdiction. PHADA supports provisions in the plan and encourages members to contact their Representatives and Senators to help move the legislation forward.

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June 22, 2021

President’s Forum: See You in September!

There is a popular hit song from the mid-1960s titled “See You in September” by a group called “The Happenings.” The song and the band’s titles are both apt for what will be PHADA’s first in person meeting since our January 2020 Commissioners Conference in Phoenix. I am looking forward to our gathering and I know many PHADA leaders feel the same. The 2021 Legislative Forum comes at a most opportune time (with much happening) so I hope many of you will join us in the nation’s capital.

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June 08, 2021

President Releases Budget with 15 Percent Increase for HUD Programs

On May 28, the White House released its FY 22 budget, the first budget in a decade without federal sequestration or strict budget cap limits. This allowed the President the opportunity to significantly increase domestic discretionary spending, which he did by 16 percent. In contrast, Defense funding is increased by only 1.7 percent, a fact that is sure to create opposition among many members of Congress. With very tight vote margins in both chambers of Congress, and with several other costly pl...

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May 12, 2021

REAC Makes Plan to “Substantially Increase” Inspections

On Friday, April 23, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge sent a letter to public housing authority Executive Directors (EDs) and Multifamily housing owners and property managers announcing that REAC will conduct “increased inspections” of its portfolio beginning June 1. In the letter, Secretary Fudge writes that the Department’s priorities are for the health and well-being of residents, and that “REAC will conduct inspections using protocols informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (...

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May 12, 2021

Policy Perspectives: Rent Arrears, Credit Reporting, and Tenant Screening

Last week a member of the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF, of which PHADA is a member) circulated a request to sign on to a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau requesting that they prohibit debt collectors from reporting rent arrears debt to the nationwide consumer credit reporting agencies i.e. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It immediately brought to mind a February Urban Institute webinar on Credit Reporting Financial Inclusion: Lessons Learned...

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May 07, 2021

Policy Perspectives: Utility Allowances, Energy Efficiency, and HUD Regulations

The recent Federal Register Notice about regulatory waivers granted in the third quarter of 2020 included many waivers regarding Utility Allowances. For those unfamiliar, households who receive Section 8 or other rental assistance for units where the tenant has to pay for utilities, the subsidy is adjusted based on estimates of utility costs. This can be a challenging calculation of varying accuracy due not only to user behavior but also variations in building efficiency, utility rates, and typ...

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April 14, 2021

The Racial Homeownership Gap

On March 23 in The Edge, an online magazine published by the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), HUD published an article summarizing a December 1, 2020, panel sponsored by the National Housing Conference (NHC) entitled, “Closing the Black Homeownership Gap”. Connie Wright of Wells Fargo moderated the panel that included Steve O’Connor of the Mortgage Bankers Association, Lisa Wright of the National Fair Housing Alliance, Cy Richardson of the National Urban League, and Antoine Tho...

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March 31, 2021

A Review of the American Rescue Plan

On March 10, the U.S. House of Representatives, on a vote of 220–211, passed the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that includes nearly $50 billion in assistance for housing and homelessness, with $27.4 billion for rental assistance. A total of $5 billion is provided for emergency vouchers.

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March 17, 2021

President’s Forum: An Unhappy Anniversary

It is now one full year ago since the entire world changed. Beginning in March 2020, we all had to make adjustments in our professional and personal lives, adjustments that will continue into some unknown time in the future depending on a variety of factors. In the interim, more than half a million Americans have tragically lost their lives to COVID-19 and about 2.5 million worldwide have perished. The pandemic has resulted in the greatest public health crisis the world has faced in 100 years w...

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