Your Monthly HABD News & Updates! |
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HABD President/CEO Named President of the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association
HABD President/CEO, David A. Northern, Sr., is taking on another prominent leadership role as the new president of the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA). Northern was sworn in on May 18th during PHADA’s 2021 Virtual Annual Convention and Exhibition. In January 2021, Northern was nominated by his peers to become PHADA’s president after serving as senior vice president.
Northern said, “It’s exciting and such an honor to be chosen by my peers at PHADA as the incoming president. PHADA is comprised of a group of intelligent and focused housing professionals with an amazing executive director, Mr. Tim Kaiser, and I am beyond proud to be in this leadership role. PHADA is one of the major leading affordable housing industry groups and heavily involved in policy development by working directly with legislators throughout the nation."
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., PHADA represents roughly 2,000 public housing authorities of all sizes across the country. The Association provides its members with important information, professional development, and advocacy to help housing authorities administer adequate, safe housing for those in need across the country.
Dr. Anthony C. Hood, Chairman of HABD’s Board of Commissioners, said, “On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I would like to congratulate Mr. Northern on becoming the new president of PHADA. The Association has a dynamic reputation due to its advocacy for affordable housing improvements and regulations nationwide, and I’m thrilled that our very own President/CEO now serves in such a high-level role with the Association."
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14 Developers Show Interest in Redevelopment Partnerships |
HABD has closed the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in the search for qualified developer teams to redevelop aging HABD communities and offer new development opportunities.
Fourteen local and national affordable housing developers have shown interest in partnering with HABD in this challenging endeavor to preserve and redevelop affordable housing. Below are the seven (7) HABD legacy properties that will be priority projects for the development teams:
Tom Brown Village
Marks Village
Reverend Dr. Morrell Todd Homes
Collegeville Center
North Birmingham Homes
Smithfield Court
Elyton Village
The next step in the search process is anticipated to begin soon when HABD’s evaluation committee reviews each proposal based on their qualifications. The anticipated completion of the evaluation process is June 30th. Once the developer teams are selected by the evaluation committee, HABD’s Board of Commissioners will then vote to approve the award of contracts. The anticipated notification of award of contracts is July 19th.
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Southtown Court Redevelopment Client Meeting |
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HABD's Real Estate Development and Supportive Services teams met with clients of Southtown Court Public Housing to provide important updates. The meeting was held inside the Southtown Court gym and clients could also join via Zoom or by phone. There was a PowerPoint presentation which included an update about the redevelopment, a management overview and client return information.
HABD and developer partner Southside Development Company are beginning the process of preparing the 18 plus acre, 6-block site for construction-ready. Construction fencing will soon be installed along the property as work begins to prepare the site for demolition of the 80-year-old housing community. What begins now is only preparatory work, not demolition as that will be announced on another date in the future.
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Enough is Enough
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Faith Leaders, ATF, HABD, and Crime Stoppers came together for a public safety partnership to raise $125,000 for the Crime Stoppers Gun Violence Against Children Fund to help address crimes against children.
Mayor Woodfin organized the effort to get the public’s help to provide information that can lead to arrests in several recent cases of violence against children.
Due to the increase in reward funds, Crime Stoppers is now offering a $25,000 (tax free) reward to anyone who provides tips that lead to an arrest in several recent unsolved cases where a child was shot and/or killed. One of the rewards is for information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for the shooting death of 2-year-old Major Turner in the Kimbrough Homes Public Housing community in February.
In a city of Birmingham news release, HABD President/CEO David A. Northern, Sr. said, “Enough is enough. HABD has dedicated resources to this effort to be part of the change in our city to make sure people come forward and provide this information. I am thankful to the HABD Board of Commissioners for supporting this partnership."
Change in Relocation Policy to Protect Witnesses
HABD has changed a relocation policy with hopes of encouraging any client who has information about a crime to cooperate with law enforcement.
Northern said, "It’s about taking personal responsibility to make a change because enough is enough."
The new policy allows HABD to cooperate with state attorneys and/or law enforcement agencies to relocate households (eligible for rent assistance) for protection if a client is a potential witness or involved in some capacity in the investigation of a crime.
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Council President Advisory Board News! |
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Resident-Owned Business Training |
HABD provided management consulting and educational support services for clients who are currently business owners or who are thinking about becoming business owners.
Making sure our resident-owned businesses are properly trained and equipped with the tools to be successful is one of the most effective ways to strengthen small businesses within the community.
Small business ownership has been a pathway to self-sufficiency for generations and continues to be a crucial tool for expanding prosperity and community self-determination.
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Office Space for the CPAB
Exciting changes are underway inside HABD’s McCoy building! We’re in the process of making upgrades to create office space for members of the Council President Advisory Board (CPAB).
In the photo on the right, HABD‘s President/CEO, David A. Northern, Sr., gives CPAB President, Ms. Bertha Davis, a tour to show her the progress. More info to come!
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Birmingham City Councilor Steven Hoyt awards $15,000 to HABD's Summer Youth Program
Birmingham City Councilor Steven Hoyt awarded HABD $15,000 in District 8 discretionary funds to go towards training activities and stipend payments for the participants of HABD's 2021 Summer Youth Program.
Councilor Hoyt said, “I grew up in public housing and I understand the importance of persons investing in you because my community did so for me. It’s just a way of giving back and really just to further the great work that’s going on with the housing authority."
Through community and business partnerships, some of the activities of the 3-week Summer Youth Program include virtual STEM education classes; virtual sessions about financial literacy, career exploration and character development; community service projects; athletic activities at various locations including golf, boxing and chess; and The Mario Addison Football, Cheerleader, and Dance Camps.
Upon completion of the program, the youths will receive a certificate of completion and a $500 stipend.
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City of Birmingham Awards CARES Act Funding to Help HABD Clients Impacted by COVID-19
Through CARES Act funding, the city of Birmingham Department of Community Development awarded an $820,000 grant to help HABD clients who are behind in their rent and/or utility bills because of COVID-19. The Emergency Solutions grant was awarded to HABD's subsidiary Magic City Housing Development Corporation (MCHDC) and will be distributed to clients who show proof that the pandemic affected their ability to pay their rent or utilities. Past due utility bills such as water, gas and electricity are eligible. The City of Birmingham received approximately $6.2 million to assist landlords and tenants through the Birmingham Emergency Rental Assistance.
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Summer Youth Program Participants Get Guitar Lessons!
HABD's Summer Youth Program participants at Tom Brown Village are getting guitar lessons through a partnership with the Firehouse Community Arts Center and Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center. They'll be getting free lessons every Monday during the summer program.
In the photo below (on the left) are Summer Youth Program participants Trey Ridgeway and Tyler Cunningham. Cunningham is a student at the Firehouse Community Arts Center and is one of the guitar instructors for our Summer Youth Program! HABD's Summer Youth Program runs through July 23rd.
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