Transforming Public Housing   

I am pleased to share with you some exciting news Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority received from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CMHA applied for the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program in 2013 and we were informed March 30th that HUD approved our RAD application.

HUD created RAD in order to give public housing authorities a powerful tool to preserve and improve public housing properties and address the $26 billion dollar nationwide backlog of deferred maintenance.    The RAD program is cost-neutral and does not increase HUD's budget. This program simply shifts units from the Public Housing program to the Project Based Rental Assistance Program so that providers may leverage the private capital markets to make capital improvements.

The RAD approval plays an important role in helping our agency provide quality, affordable housing solutions while creating employment opportunities for the community at large. Under RAD, the following properties will convert assistance from the Public Housing program to long-term, project-based rental assistance contracts: Baldwin Grove, Beechwood, City West Lincoln Court I, II & III, Evanston, Maple Tower, Riverview, San Marco and Sutterview. RAD provides CMHA a way to rehabilitate units without depending on additional taxpayer dollars. Residents continue to pay 30% of their income towards the rent and they maintain the same basic rights they possess in the public housing program. As a community resource, CMHA could bring millions of dollars of investment to our community through rehabilitation work on the RAD units. You can stay up to date on what we are doing with the RAD properties by visiting our webpage dedicated to the program.

Also, CMHA and our partner the Cincinnati VA Medical Center are working with Mayor Cranley who has accepted the Mayor's Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. The agency recently received additional funding for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program. Homeless Veterans and their families receive rental assistance along with case management services. If you have a quality home you are looking to lease, with guaranteed rent payments, contact the HCV department. It's a great opportunity to show your support for Veterans.

Regards,   

Gregory D. Johnson, MS, PHM, EDEP

Chief Executive Officer

The Family Self-Sufficiency Program, known as FSS, was established in 1990 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and in 1992 at Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. FSS is designed to help residents become more economically self-sufficient. CMHA has one of the most successful FSS programs in the country, averaging 30 graduates a year and most recently 55 participants graduated off the program. Enrollees of the five year program voluntarily set goals for themselves in terms of their education, lifestyles and job prospects. In the self-sufficiency program, rents rise with income but additional monies are put into an escrow account for participants.

Trena Dear is a former voucher recipient and she knew going in to the Housing Choice Voucher program that it was going to be a stepping stone for her family. She did not want the voucher to be the end of her story. While working a job making $2000 a month, Trena learned about the FSS program.

Trena's first thought was disbelief; she did not trust that money would be put into an escrow account for her future use. Setting that lack of trust aside, Trena enrolled in the FSS program with the goal of receiving financial and credit counseling. During her time in the FSS program, she attended classes and networked with the instructors asking questions about being a business owner.

Dear met and surpassed the self-sufficiency goals she initially set, receiving more than 7-thousand dollars in escrow and tripling her income. Today she is a proud homeowner and business owner.   The entrepreneur employs a staff of five at DC Small Kids Adventures Learning Center where there are nearly 50 children enrolled in the daycare program. Trena's advice for current and future CMHA residents, "Take your life serious. You never know what's going to happen. Ask questions and go apply for help but don't just sit on the program forever."

 

CMHA was awarded by the City of Cincinnati at the 2015 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit held May 1, 2015. A key initiative of the City's Green Cincinnati Plan, the Summit brings together stakeholders in the region to exchange best practices, generate thoughtful conversation, celebrate the work currently being done throughout the Midwest and identify models for regional collaboration that can be duplicated throughout the United States. Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority brought home the trophy for Sustainable Community Innovation.

Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority and Touchstone Property welcome a partner with lots of moves to the City West Retail district: The new QKDT Studio held its Grand Opening May 29th Grand Opening.  

The young ladies of Q-Kidz marched from their former location to the new studio at 1524 Linn Street in  the West End and followed it up with an amazing performance.

QKDT Studio  is not just for experienced dancers, people of all ages are welcome to enjoy the facilities. Classes will be offered for children ages 5 to 25 and their parents can get on the dance floor too. Owner Marquicia Jones said,

If you are interested or know someone interested in renting space at City West Retail call (513) 977-5898.