Swearengin: Housing program to bring 750 jobs to Fresno

Source: The Business Journal

The Fresno Housing Authority has received a big boost in financial support of local public housing rehabilitation. The Department of Housing and Urban Development selected the authority to be a part of its Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program that allows the authority to use private sector funding as well as equity in current developments to pay for affordable housing building improvements. The local economy will receive a positive jolt in the form of 750 new jobs for construction and installation workers, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin reported. The result is that public housing in Southeast Fresno, Orange Cove and Mendota could see improvements started in 2014. Without the RAD program, needed rehabilitation of the buildings could have taken as long as 30 years. That was a troubling prospect for the Fresno Housing Authority. The authority reports that the stock of public and affordable housing across the county is aging and deteriorating. Cost of the needed improvements has soared to more than $100 million. However, the authority only receives $3 million a year for capital improvements. In addition, communities needed alternatives as the state’s redevelopment funding came to a halt last year. “This is a unique opportunity to reinvest in our properties in the city of Fresno and throughout Fresno County,” said Preston Prince, Fresno Housing Authority chief executive officer and executive director. “RAD will enable us to create communities that have a more distinct sense of place for our residents.” The authority saw a potential solution in the RAD program, applied to it, and was recently selected to participate. Fresno County was one of 65 housing authorities selected in the first round of RAD. “RAD is a better, smarter way to preserve affordable housing stock,” said Carol Galante, U.S. Federal Housing Administration commissioner, who was in Fresno Friday for an informative gathering and celebration of Fresno’s participation in RAD. Swearengin, also on hand, pointed out that that RAD help both low-income renters and the workers who will make improvements to public housing. “I am a very happy mayor today,” Swearengin said. The new funding resources will be used to make improvements to housing units including upgrades to kitchens and bathrooms and the addition of laundry rooms. Infrastructure improvements are part of the plan and include repair and replacement of sewer and water lines. Buildings will be renovated to provide access to backyards. The authority has engaged multiple stakeholders in the process to ensure the many needs are addressed. Public housing including in the rehabilitation projects include Cedar Courts I and 2, Viking Village and Inyo Terrace in Southeast Fresno, Kuffel Terrace and Annex and Mountain View Apartments in Orange Cove, and Rios Terrace 1 and 2 and Mendota Apartments in Mendota. On Friday, Galante, media and housing industry guests toured Cedar Courts located at 4430 E. Hamilton Ave. in Fresno. Located near the Fresno Fairgrounds, Cedar Courts was constructed in 1954 and has 149 units in 74 duplexes of family housing ranging from one- to five-bedrooms. Ken Cobarrubias, Cedar Courts property manager, said the housing development needs new landscaping and some changes to the housing including a second bathroom added to units of three bedrooms or more. Also, water coolers would be replaced with air-conditioning units. In addition, a larger meeting room is planned along with a field for children to play on. Cobarrubias said Cedar Courts, which bases rent on 30 percent of the family’s gross monthly income, has a waiting list in the thousands. Prior to the tour, Galante and Mayor Swearengin held a roundtable with local housing leaders and advocates to discuss the Obama Administration’s implementation of the Rental Assistance Demonstration. “Thanks to President Obama for allowing us to rebuild our public housing, said Henery Perea, District 3 supervisor and chairman of the board during a press conference. “This will benefit us.” The goal of the demonstration is to preserve and enhance the country’s affordable housing stock. Attendees agreed that with the loss of redevelopment money preservation of public housing is vital. “We need to be more creative with the loss of redevelopment funds,” said Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, who was on hand for the roundtable discussion. HUD also selected Santa Barbara for its Rental Assistance Demonstration. “We use what we have and enhance what we have,” Schneider said.

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