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The urban renewal agency requests funding for renovation of 23 of the 376 units of public housing proper. The funding "drawdown" will come from the $2.5 million set-aside from the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund (CAHF) to Redevelopment of public housing. The Housing Authority also manages 300 housing vouchers, including the Friendship Court 150-units acquired originally as public housing. $81K will go to Centennial Contractors, with a 45-page contract from 4 months ago that itemizes the apartments. The report graphics show one unit at in-the-news Crescent Halls but I can't find it in the listing. The improvements in the 30+ year old apartments include bathroom vanities, plumbing, electrical, and floor repairs. Over the years there have surfaced many complaints about lack of maintenance and security. $110K will go to CRHA for non-labor administrative support. In past years the Housing Authority has received $5 million annually from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Since formed in 1954, CRHA has had only HUD funding until 2007 when Mayor David Brown connected a local funding stream. On Jan. 7, 2013 City Council raided the Redevelopment fund. But funding resumed in City Manager Sep. 14, 2014 Housing Authority review with $200K for a Redevelopment Coordinator and Modernization Coordinator, $125K from CAHF and the rest from Human Services and Self Sufficency position.
The latest agenda on Tuesday is different from past reports, which avoided any mention of history. CRHA was formed "by referendum vote of the citizens of Charlottesville in 1954." Times are slowly changing. The Housing Authority page on the City website has been revamped and now includes a mention of history. It also further proves CRHA is a local City agency. Because of urban renewal and public housing, the Housing Authority is the most controversial of the city's departments, the most shrouded in secrecy and misinformation. Some people think it's a federal agency with HUD funding. Some say CRHA is an independent quasi-pseudo government body. So when you complain to the City, they say it's a federal or rogue agency. Complain to HUD, they say it's a local issue. This "artificial wall" of separation was debunked by the urban renewal chairman Dave Norris on Dec. 20, 2012, and by others as well. From 1954 to 2007 all the funding came from HUD. But all the property came from City Council's acquisition and disposition of land. The 1954 referendum authorized Eminent Domain to seize and sell real estate for the first time in City history. The Affordable Housing Report postponed from the last meeting is postponed again apparently. The Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) had not weighed in on the subject. The report shows the housing charities are charging poor people for the home repairs the housing fund is supposed to pay for. Also the nonprofits seek to place the poor in a permanent disadvantage as a way to collect back the equity in order to keep your house affordable.
From the 41-minute video. Final item + 3 speakers. Friday February 23, 2018. The local public housing department's (CRHA) request for $191K funding to repair 23 units will come through the Consent Agenda March 5. Mayor Walker thinks the Housing Authority is a "separate entity" from City Council (about minute 12). Councilor Mike Signer asked how the "independent agency" has spent City funds in the past (minute 6). The latest urban renewal director Grant Duffield did not know. City manager Maurice Jones talked about the 2014 funding of 2 positions. If CRHA is a separate entity from the City, why are they asking for money from the City? Why does Councilor Wes Bellamy serve on the corporate board of a separate entity? Why does City Council appoint all 7 of the CRHA corporate board members, the urban renewal commissioners? In fact, the separation exists only in the psychology of City Council. CRHA was created as a local City department by referendum in 1954. All the funding came from HUD until 2007. All the Eminent Domain has come from City Council. City Council owns all the public housing and all the vacant super-blocks. In 2007 Mayor David Brown connected the local agency with federal funding...with local funding for the first time. Logically HUD would reduce its contribution. At the end of tonight's meeting, Brandon Collins spoke, who works for City Council under the guise of the Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR). At one point he actually said, "Trust Us." He said recent resolutions of the urban renewal commission has designated 1976 Crescent Halls as first priority for "redevelopment". Walt Heinecke said he's received feedback from the public. Their desire was that the Council create a Human Rights Commission (HRC) to address Housing and Employment discrimination. City Council chose explicitly to exclude housing and the Housing Authority. On Dec. 20, 2012 the urban renewal chairman Dave Norris and his colleauges passed unanimously Resolution 1313 that CRHA has always been a City department, and the "separate entity" is an "artificial wall" of separation. Resolution 1312 was the Barment Policy. Chairman Norris also asked repeatedly that the HRC apply to CRHA. The Daily Progress omitted this news. But Blair's Blog recorded the history. The City Market West 2nd Street SUP (Special Use Permit) will come back to Council on March 19. At the last meeting it failed on a 4 to 1 vote.
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