Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Angela Jones

Sacramento Housing Authority Moves to New Offices

2012-08-06T21:47:48Z

Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) will permanently close its Housing Authority program offices at 701 12th Street and 1210 G Street on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 5 p.m. and relocate to 630 I Street. The housing program services will open in the new location on Monday, August 13, 2012 at 1 p.m.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) and Conventional Public Housing Intake Program services operations will be moved to the new location which was the former site for the Agency’s administrative offices.

The Housing Authority owns the 12-story building on I Street which has undergone extensive renovation including the upper floors which will provide affordable housing for elderly residents. The housing program staff will occupy the first three floors.

The Housing Authority phone number and fax number will remain the same. The phone number is (916) 440-1390 and the fax number is (916) 449-1285.

For more information, contact Angela Jones, Public Information Officer, at (916) 440-1355 or ajones@shra.org.

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Disclosure: Angela Jones is the Public Information Officer for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency extends deadline for housing voucher wait list until June 15

2012-06-07T16:25:29Z

Sacramento, CA | Officials at Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency have extended the deadline to apply online for the Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly Section 8) wait list until Friday, June 15, 2012.

The deadline has been extended because many people are calling SHRA with concerns that some websites prompted them to order a credit report before they could fill out the wait list application.

Applicants should be advised that they do not have to pay anything to apply for housing and a credit report is not needed in order to fill out an application.

SHRA’s website does not request payment for a credit report. Applicants will not be placed on Sacramento’s Housing Choice Voucher Program wait list if they use any website that asks for an application fee, or requests payment for a credit report or solicits information through a survey.

Anyone who used one of these websites should apply again by going to www.sacwaitlist.com.

The best way to reach the correct website to fill out the application is to enter www.sacwaitlist.com into the website address bar, usually located at the top of your computer screen. Anyone who still needs help finding the website may call (916) 440-1390. Phones lines will be extended until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applications can be completed from any electronic device with Internet access including laptops, iPads and smartphones.

The Sacramento County Housing Authority opened its Housing Choice Voucher Tenant Based wait list on Monday, June 4, 2012. Applicants are instructed to apply online at www.sacwaitlist.com. The applicant deadline has been extended and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2012.

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Disclosure: Angela Jones is the Public Information Officer, SHRA

SACRAMENTO HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WINS STATEWIDE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR BOULEVARD COURT APARTMENTS

2012-03-22T20:54:29Z

The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency has been awarded the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) Award of Excellence for its successful redevelopment project, the Boulevard Court Apartments at 5321 Stockton Boulevard. The project is the winner in the category of Residential Redevelopment - Rehabilitation.

The California Redevelopment Association has honored the hard work and dedication of the professionals working in the redevelopment field since 1996. Each year CRA gives Awards of Excellence to recognize redevelopment projects from around the state that have significantly benefited their communities.

“SHRA is proud to share this award with Mercy Housing as the developer of this fantastic housing community,” said La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. “It was an extremely challenging project but thanks to a great partnership with extremely talented people diligently working through the process, we were able to accomplish our goal to create a wonderful place that provides safe, affordable housing with convenient access to public transit and retail services for Sacramento’s most vulnerable residents.”

The transformation of the former Budget Inn Motel creates 74 units of supportive housing for disabled formerly residents. Half of the units are studios and the other half are one-bedroom units. SHRA placed the obsolete motel in its strategic plan to revitalize Stockton Boulevard by targeting obsolete and crime-plagued motels for repositioning as development opportunities through adaptive reuse and redevelopment. The goal is to attract high quality design, reverse high crime rates, and boost economic viability on older commercial corridors. The development by Mercy Housing serves low income residents and also supports Sacramento Steps Forward, formerly the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Residents can receive supportive services on site. SHRA assisted the $24 million project with $6 million in construction financing plus $3 million in operating funds.

Award nominees are evaluated based on their efforts to improve physical conditions in their communities; the extent of community participation in and benefit from the project; the economic viability and fiscal stability of the project; and unique, effective project design solutions. Each project is further evaluated based on criteria specific to the eight award categories: Mixed-Use Development; Residential Development (new construction); Residential Development (rehabilitation); Community Revitalization; Public Spaces & Linkages; Commercial/Industrial Development; Special Citation; and Education, Marketing and Promotion.

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Disclosure: Angela Jones is the Public Information Officer for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

SACRAMENTO OFFICIALS BEGIN POST-REDEVELOPMENT TRANSITION

2012-02-07T20:13:55Z

Agency Will Continue Focus on Core Competencies of Affordable Housing, Community Revitalization, and Job Creation

Sacramento, CA | Officials of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) have transferred assets and debts formerly held by the Redevelopment Agency to the City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento as of February 1, the date on which all redevelopment agencies in California ceased to exist under AB 1X26, the Dissolution Act.

“We’re not going to pity ourselves over the unfortunate demise of redevelopment because there is still a great need for the things that redevelopment was able to accomplish,” said La Shelle Dozier, SHRA Executive Director. “We’re still here and we’re still in the business of serving people in need of affordable housing, and creating jobs to help grow Sacramento’s economy. We’re going to channel our energy and expertise into finding another way to keep renewing and rebuilding Sacramento’s communities so that they can thrive.”

The City Council and the Board of Supervisors each elected to serve as the Successor Agency for their respective redevelopment agencies and they are now responsible for paying the enforceable obligations of the former RDAs. SHRA will not administer the wind down activities of the City or County Successor Agencies but will provide supportive services during the transition.

SHRA has managed and administered housing and non-housing redevelopment on behalf of the City and County for nearly 40 years. As Successor Agencies, the City and County only elected to administer the non-housing functions of winding down the RDAs. Under the legislation, the City and County Housing Authorities will serve as the Successor Housing Agencies responsible for the housing assets and functions performed by the former RDAs. SHRA will continue to manage funded housing related activities on behalf of the Successor Housing Agencies including housing projects that were approved prior to June 29, 2011 when the Governor signed the Dissolution Act.

www.shra.org

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Disclosure: Angela Jones is the Public Information Officer for SHRA.

HUD AWARDS $300K CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS PLANNING GRANT TO SACRAMENTO HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

2012-01-23T23:07:20Z

SACRAMENTO, CA | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Ophelia Basgal joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui in Sacramento announced on January 10 that Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency will receive a $300,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant. Sacramento is one of 13 cities nationwide receiving this funding to begin grassroots efforts to revitalize the Twin Rivers Community Housing, a distressed public housing development at 321 Eliza Street, and transform the Sacramento River District-Railyards neighborhood.

“All across the country, local planners are serious about rolling up their sleeves to transform distressed neighborhoods into choice neighborhoods,” said Ophelia Basgal. “This community can now begin the comprehensive planning needed to turn the distressed housing at Twin Rivers Community Housing in the River District-Railyards area – a long-neglected neighborhood – into a viable and sustainable mixed-income community that supports positive outcome for families.”

Building on nearly 20 years of success through HUD’s HOPE VI Program, Choice Neighborhoods links housing improvements with a wider variety of public services including schools, public transit, and employment opportunities. The program is a centerpiece of the Obama Administration’s interagency Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, a collaboration between HUD and the Departments of Education, Justice, Treasury and Health and Human Services. With support from the White House Domestic Policy Council and White House Office of Urban Affairs, the interagency partnership supports local solutions for sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with the affordable housing, safe streets, and good schools all families need.

“With this funding, SHRA, the City of Sacramento and its partners will be able to put their full effort into creating a blueprint to provide critical social services, cradle to college education opportunities, and affordable housing in the River District,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. “The Choice Neighborhood planning grant will truly help transform and revitalize the River District.”

Sacramento is the only grant recipient west of the Mississippi.

“I am extremely pleased that HUD has selected Sacramento County to receive this very important grant,” said La Shelle Dozier, executive director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. “Working with our partners, this award will help us find ways to make our obsolete public housing community a more viable asset for the surrounding neighborhood as well as the low income families that we are serving.”

Key partners in Sacramento's planning effort are California Endowment, California State University – Sacramento, City of Sacramento, River District Property and Business Improvement District, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, Sacramento Steps Forward, Twin Rivers Unified School District, and UC-Davis Center for Regional Change.

As a result of partnerships like these, the Obama Administration is making it easier for local leaders who are working to redevelop neighborhoods to also access support for cradle-to-career educational programs through the Education Department’s Promise Neighborhoods initiative, public safety strategies through the Justice Department, and community health center improvements through the Department of Health and Human Services.

HUD received 71 submissions for FY 2011 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants from communities across the U.S. Successful applicants demonstrated their intent to transform neighborhoods while leveraging outside investments and other federal dollars to plan for high-quality public schools, outstanding education and early learning programs, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs and well-functioning services. HUD is focused on directing resources to address three core goals – housing, people and neighborhoods.

The communities awarded the planning grants announced today will build the capacity needed to undertake a successful neighborhood transformation and create a choice neighborhood. These grants enable communities to create a comprehensive Transformation Plan, or road map over the next 18 months to transform distressed public and/or assisted housing within a distressed community. This Federal support provides a significant incentive for the local community to take critical steps to create viable neighborhood transformation.

Congress approved the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative with the passage of HUD’s FY 2010 budget, and in FY 2011 authorized HUD to use $65 million to provide competitive grants to assist in the transformation, rehabilitation and preservation of public housing and privately owned HUD-assisted housing. Congress recently appropriated $120 million for Fiscal Year 2012. Choice Neighborhoods builds on the successes and lessons of HUD’s HOPE VI program and widens the traditional pool of eligible applicants beyond public housing authorities to include local governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit developers (who apply jointly with a public entity).

Sacramento’s application can be viewed at http://www.shra.org/Housing/PublicHousingProgram/
ChoiceNeighborhoodsInitiative.aspx.

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Disclosure: Angela Jones is the Public Information Officer for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. www.shra.org

HUD AWARDS SACRAMENTO HOUSING AUTHORITY HIGH PERFORMER DESIGNATION FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

2012-01-23T22:51:56Z

SACRAMENTO, CA | For the first time in its history, the Housing Authority of the City of Sacramento has received a High Performer designation on the Public Housing Assessment System Score Report from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Housing Authority received a PHAS total score of 90 out of 100. The assessment period covered the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.

“This is a great accomplishment for the Housing Authority,” said La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, a Joint Powers Agency which includes the Housing Authority. “We redoubled our efforts to improve our performance in all of the scoring categories and this time we’ve been rewarded for our hard work.”

The PHAS Indicators score in several categories including physical, financial, management and resident satisfaction. The City Housing Authority owns and maintains over 2,200 housing units, including two large housing communities that are more than 50 years old.

“A large percentage of our housing inventory is obsolete and maintaining these units is a huge challenge, particularly with the budget constraints that we are all experiencing,” said Nick Chhotu, Assistant Director of Public Housing for the Housing Authority. “I really want to thank our Housing Authority staff for overcoming the challenges and helping us earn this important award.”

The High Performer designation means that the Housing Authority will be eligible to apply for certain grants and to receive a higher allocation of capital funds.

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Disclosure: Angela Jones is the Public Information Officer for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. www.shra.org

Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency selected to receive $150,000 Community Challenge Planning Grant from HUD

2011-11-22T22:46:41Z

Sacramento, CA | The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency is a recipient of a $150,000 Community Challenge Planning Grant from the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities. The Agency will administer the grant on behalf of the Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento and is one of only two grantees in the state of California. The highly competitive 2011 Sustainable Communities grants totaled $97 million. Only 27 communities and organizations will receive the Community Challenge grants.

The goal of the Sustainable Communities grants is to help communities improve their economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools, and transportation. HUD’s Community Challenge Grants are intended to reform and reduce barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital and sustainable communities.

“On behalf of the Sacramento County Housing Authority and our partners, SHRA is pleased to be selected to receive this important award,” said SHRA Executive Director La Shelle Dozier. “This grant will greatly assist our efforts to strategically position Sacramento for the economic turnaround and to leverage other public/private investment that will help create the quality of life benefits of affordable housing, livable neighborhoods, and healthy lifestyles that our residents need and deserve.”

The grant awarded to SHRA will be used to successfully design a Transit Oriented Development Loan Fund in partnership with a broad range of community interests. The new program will partner with nonprofit and for-profit developers, capitalize on historically low land values, and address the current lack of available credit to acquire land for affordable housing. The fund will provide financing for strategic property acquisition in current and future transit corridors and to preserve and expand affordable housing opportunities in proximity to public transit. The commitments made through the TOD Loan Fund will ultimately leverage other public and private investment into the local housing market. The TOD Loan Fund will build upon local planning and policy initiatives that promote equitable TODs, help secure scarce developable properties near transit and position Sacramento for equitable development and inclusive TOD communities when the market returns.

Additionally, the grant will address a key component of successful TOD neighborhoods which is local jobs and neighborhood services by evaluating the opportunity for creating a food distribution hub near a TOD neighborhood. In addition to providing jobs for local residents, the food hub will also provide access to local fresh fruit and vegetables in urban neighborhoods currently lacking full service grocery stores.

Core partners include California Endowment, Clearinghouse CDFI, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, Teichert Construction, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Valley Vision, Sierra Health Foundation, Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization, Merchants Bank, Housing California and Farmers Bank, Five Star Bank.

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Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency Receives National Award for Its Successful Reorganization of Electronic Waiting List Applications

2011-07-29T22:00:34Z

Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) has been named a 2011 recipient of the prestigious National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Merit Award for its efforts to reorganize electronic database waiting lists for the Sacramento region. SHRA received the award for the Access Code for Wait List in Administrative Innovation category. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in housing and community development programs throughout the nation.

“I am very proud of this unique model that the Sacramento Public Housing Authority has developed for our applicants,” said SHRA Executive Director La Shelle Dozier. “This process has created greater efficiency and better service in the way we help place families into housing where they choose to live.”

SHRA officials say because families went to the housing site to obtain an access code, those who applied were more likely to become residents. This means less staff resources were necessary. Almost twice as many families became residents with the access codes than before the access codes were implemented.

“We are extremely pleased with the way applicants respond to this electronic application process,” said MaryLiz Paulson, SHRA Assistant Director. “Using computers and Internet technology has turned out to be a highly preferred and practical way for applicants to quickly and easily complete the first steps to get placed on the wait list and subsequently into a safe, affordable place to live.”

The award was presented at NAHRO’s National Conference in Louisville, KY.

Disclosure: Angela Jones is the Public Information Officer for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

New senior apartments break ground on Auburn Boulevard

2011-04-12T17:57:00Z

Officials from the County Redevelopment Agency (www.shra.org) and developer BRIDGE Housing Corporation broke ground today on a new 138-unit apartment complex for low income seniors in the Old Foothill Farms community at 5400 Auburn Boulevard, the site of a former Kmart retail center.

“I think this project is going to be a great synergy for the community and for this corner,” said Supervisor Susan Peters whose district includes the Old Foothill Farms community.

The development is the first project that BRIDGE Housing will build in Sacramento. President and CEO Cynthia Parker says the apartments will be a catalyst for revitalizing the area.

“This is a first step to attracting other development and that’s what we’re celebrating today,” said Parker.

In 2008, the Redevelopment Agency began acquiring parcels at this location. Since that time, SHRA worked diligently to develop a plan for the revitalization of the property that would also impact and benefit the Auburn Boulevard corridor and incorporate the needs of the community. After careful analysis, the proposed use for the site included new construction of a senior apartment complex to anchor the first phase of redevelopment of this property. The Agency assisted the project with $8.5 million in redevelopment funds.

“This is where redevelopment gets involved in breathing new life back into our older commercial corridors,” said La Shelle Dozier, SHRA Executive Director. “We depend heavily on redevelopment funds to come back into the community so we’re working hard at the state level to preserve this flexible tool that we use in creative ways to make these types of project come to fruition.”

Other project funding includes an award of 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Tax Credit Allocation Committee, construction lending from Wells Fargo Bank and equity investment from Wachovia Affordable Housing Community Development Corporation

This site which is largely comprised of the former K-Mart parking lot has been a major cause of concern for residents and frequent travelers since the store closed in 2000. The loss of jobs at the McClellan Air Force Base and the resulting change in business environment for these commercial corridors left very little hope for a successful and vibrant re-use of this property. Residents, business owners and community leaders sought out suggestions and answers to address concerns of this community.

The Foothills Farms Senior Apartments will include 138 affordable senior apartments on 4.5 acres of this site. There are a total of four buildings, three of which will be three-stories and served by elevators. The fourth building is a two-story. These buildings will be linked together with breezeways at the second story level, and will surround a main courtyard designed with gazebos, a patio area. Additional amenities for the senior residents include a clubhouse, swimming pool, bocce court and community gardens. The clubhouse will be appointed with a full kitchen, library, crafts room, and common laundry facilities.

The project is expected to be completed next summer. Prospective applicants may call (916) 484-4007 or visit http://www.bridgehousing.com/FoothillFarms for information.

SHRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HONORED AS NCBW BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR

2010-11-25T00:16:58Z

La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency has been named Business Woman of the Year by the Sacramento chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

“I am truly humbled to be chosen for this wonderful award,” said Ms. Dozier. “I feel privileged to be in a position that allows me to make a positive difference for people who are most in need of help to better their lives. I could not have achieved this honor without the support of my wonderful family and the dedication of those with whom I am fortunate to work with SHRA.”

Ms. Dozier oversees redevelopment and community development strategies in the City and County of Sacramento, and the provision of housing for more than 50,000 low income residents. She administers a $269 million budget and a workforce of 291 employees.

According to the NCBW, the awards luncheon has been the philanthropic arm of the Sacramento Chapter since the event debuted in 2001. The event supports educational programs, public service campaigns and scholarships.

More than 100 nominees were considered for Women of Excellence awards in two special categories: Business/Business Woman of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award. The luncheon brings together business and community leaders who gather to celebrate the accomplishments of their colleagues and was attended by nearly 600 participants.

SACRAMENTO HOUSING AUTHORITY OPENS WAIT LISTS ON NOV 29

2010-11-22T21:35:34Z

Editor's Note: The Sacramento Press is not affiliated with The Sacramento Housing Authority. Please visit http://www.sacwaitlist.com for more information.

The Sacramento Housing Authority will open wait lists for Public Housing and Downtown Elderly Project Based vouchers in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/formerly Section 8) programs for online applicants at 12:01 a.m., Monday, November 29, 2010.

Wait lists will open for public housing that is owned and managed by the Housing Authority.

Another wait list will open for project based vouchers in housing designated for Elderly families. The head of household spouse or the co-head of household must be at least 55 or older to apply and priority is given to families aged 62 and older.

The vouchers are not transferable to other housing on the private market.

Applicants may apply online directly to the communities where they want to live.

Online pre-application submission is recommended since applicants will be placed on the wait lists according to the date and time the application is submitted, and by the number of bedrooms needed.

A confirmation receipt is immediately issued after the pre-application is submitted online.

To apply online for all wait lists opening on Monday, use any computer with Internet access and go to www.sacwaitlist.com.

The wait lists will remain open until further notice.

Paper pre-applications are available for the newly opened waiting lists at most community centers in the greater Sacramento area.

A complete list of the community centers is available at www.shra.org. On the website, click the Apply for Housing tab in the left menu.

Housing and Redevelopment Agency partnership renovates foreclosed home with NSP funds

2010-07-08T21:31:43Z

The first foreclosed home purchased by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency is under renovation and will soon be for sale and occupancy at an affordable price under a partnership program that SHRA developed using the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The home is located at 3525 34th Street in Oak Park.

SHRA has partnered with NeighborWorks Homeownership Sacramento as a volume builder under the Property Recycling Program. The PRP works with governmental, non-profit and for-profit partners to provide access to properties and funding to remove the blight of foreclosures through redevelopment activities, acquisition and rental of affordable housing, and acquisition and rehabilitation of single family homes for sale throughout Sacramento. The PRP is complimentary to the other programs funded under the NSP, all of which seek to reduce the impacts of foreclosures.

“This partnership program is a huge a win-win effort for Sacramento’s neighborhoods ravaged by foreclosure, vacant properties and parcels, and investors who have no connection to the community,” said SHRA Executive Director La Shelle Dozier. “We’re working with organizations whose mission mirrors our own which is to invest in areas where the market alone cannot ensure change and to provide affordable housing opportunities that help hard-working, deserving families realize the American dream.”

SHRA officials say that over the next year, the Agency will be collaborating with NeighborWorks Sacramento to renovate and resell approximately 30 homes like this first home which the Agency purchased from Wells Fargo through the National Stabilization Community Trust. The NCST is designed to facilitate the transfer of foreclosed and abandoned properties
from financial institutions nationwide to local governments to promote productive property reuse and neighborhood stability.

“Under the NCST, Wells Fargo also provided an investment of $750,000 to NeighborWorks which leveraged other funds to buy the property,” said Chris Pahule, Assistant Director of Housing and Community Development. “With this partnership strategy, modest income families will have great opportunities to buy quality, energy efficient homes.”

SHRA is administering $3 million in NSP funds allocated to the PRP. To date, 59 properties have been acquired and six are under construction. The Agency estimates the program will address 100 properties over the next five years.