The major stakeholders in Public Housing, Affordable Housing, and Community Development were encouraged by appropriations contained in the Obama Stimulus Package dedicated to programs like CDBG, Neighborhood Stabilization, and the Public Housing Capital Fund. The Capital Fund received $4 billion: $3b is being distributed by formula and $1b by competition.

This achievement represented considerable effort by a number of stakeholders, especially PHADA, CLPHA, NAHRO, NLIHIC, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). We were fortunate to have the U.S. Governors Conference, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Center for American Progress supporting additional dollars for Public Housing Capital Improvement.

Housing Authority Insurance is pleased to have played a useful role in this effort. HAI sponsored the Summit on the Future of Public Housing in the summer of 2008. The Summit explained the need for the infusion of significant dollars into the public housing capital fund.

HAI also funded The Economic Impact Study that CLPHA initiated. This study was referenced by industry groups, the governors, and the House Appropriations Committee to justify adding dollars for the Capital Fund in the Stimulus Package. That study pointed out that every dollar spent by a public housing authority had a $2.12 multiplier effect within a local community.

HAI’s position is that coordinated efforts by industry stakeholders strengthen their ability to achieve desired outcomes. HAI made a commitment in 2005 to become involved in the effort to improve the economic and political environment facing the housing industry and continues to support joint efforts on behalf of PHAs. Stay in touch with our Legislative Affairs efforts by checking out the Legislative Affairs section of www.housingcenter.com.