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CLPHA Begins Nationwide Search for Next Executive Director
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 19, 2025) -- The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) today announced that CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman plans to retire at the end of 2025. Zaterman has led CLPHA, a national non-profit membership organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis, and public education, for over thirty years. The CLPHA Board of Directors has engaged Sally M. Sterling Executive Search to lead its nationwide search for a new executive director.
“For over three decades Sunia has been one of the most influential leaders in the housing industry,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, CLPHA Board President and Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority CEO. “CLPHA, under Sunia’s leadership, has helped shape the evolution, innovation, and development of public and affordable housing. Our housing industry will forever be grateful for her advocacy, dedication, and commitment, as well as the many significant contributions that Sunia has made which have been so beneficial to communities across the nation. CLPHA’s Board of Directors deeply thanks her for her stewardship, vision, and friendship, and wish her all the best in her next chapter.” Under Zaterman’s leadership CLPHA has been at the vanguard of the public and affordable housing industry’s most successful advancements, pushing for the tools and resources that PHAs need to evolve with national trends and respond to local challenges. Throughout her tenure CLPHA has been a staunch advocate for considering affordable housing for low-income households a key aspect of the social safety net on par with Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. At the beginning of Zaterman’s tenure, she established and directed the Housing Research Foundation (HRF), a CLPHA affiliate, to serve as the information and technical assistance clearinghouse for the nascent HOPE VI program under a cooperation agreement with HUD. HRF was instrumental in bringing new tools and ideas to PHAs on public/private finance, urban design, community building, resident service supports, and peer learning. “Sunia will leave CLPHA with a legacy of compassion, leadership, and transformative impact upon her retirement,” said La Shelle Dozier, CLPHA Board Vice President and Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency Executive Director. “Throughout her significant career at CLPHA and many years in the public and affordable housing industry, Sunia has ensured that improving the life outcomes of low-income individuals remains at the heart of CLPHA’s mission. Countless individuals served by PHAs have enjoyed increased housing stability, economic security, and access to critical services thanks to the initiatives and innovations that CLPHA has championed under Sunia’s leadership. Our industry will miss her greatly.” Under her leadership CLPHA was instrumental in the creation and subsequent expansions of the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration, a HUD program that allows PHAs greater flexibility to develop local solutions for local housing challenges. MTW PHAs have pioneered and scaled successful programs and greater efficiencies that improve lives and more effectively address the nation’s housing crisis. Many initiatives stemming from MTW PHAs have been adopted into law and regulations. CLPHA supported the creation of the MTW Collaborative, a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of current and future MTW agencies. CLPHA continues the partnership with the Collaborative through a management agreement. “During her extraordinary tenure as CLPHA’s executive director Sunia has played a critical role in improving national housing policy and strengthening the affordable housing industry,” said Joshua Meehan, MTW Collaborative Board President and Keene Housing Executive Director. “Her leadership at CLPHA has consistently supported public housing authorities in doing better work for the people we serve. Her focus on amplifying the role public housing authorities can play in improving educational, economic, and health outcomes for residents and voucher holders is especially noteworthy and appreciated, and I know the entire industry is grateful to her for her hard work and dedication. I wish her the very best in her well-deserved retirement.” Recognizing the need for PHAs to expand cross-sector collaboration to better serve residents and create platforms for opportunity, under Zaterman’s leadership CLPHA developed Housing Is, an initiative to foster collaboration across the health, education, and housing sectors through shared goals, focused resources, and coordinated efforts. At its core, Housing Is helps build a future where systems work together to improve life outcomes. Housing Is has convened 11 national summits with a wide array of cross-sector partners. CLPHA continues its partnership with Housing Is under a management agreement. “Sunia has been a champion of housers and affordable housing for decades,” said George Guy, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) President and CEO/Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Housing Authority. “Sunia has helped cultivate collaboration and innovative ideas that have provided useful resources and tools to assist agencies in serving their communities. She is a true servant leader. I am grateful for her hard work, her leadership, and her tireless advocacy on behalf of public housing agencies and the residents they serve." During Zaterman’s tenure CLPHA was also instrumental in the creation of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), a HUD program that preserves and improves affordable housing by allowing PHAs to leverage public-private partnerships to convert public housing units to long-term, project-based Section 8 rental assistance. CLPHA convened the RAD Collaborative, an initiative to build a community of practice and support to recapitalize the public housing portfolio, and offered stakeholders national and regional conferences, webinars, and policy analysis. Building on the successes of RAD to leverage private investment and responding to the need for expanded recapitalization tools and resources, CLPHA spearheads, under Zaterman’s leadership, the 10 Year Roadmap for Housing Sustainability. The Roadmap convenes a broad-based coalition of experts in housing, finance, development, and cross-sector approaches to develop and advance a 10-year reinvestment plan that establishes a sustainable, affordable, and service-enriched housing platform for residents to achieve their life goals. "Congratulations to Sunia on her upcoming retirement,” said Mark Gillett, Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) Immediate Past President and Oklahoma City Housing Authority Executive Director. “Her years of work with CLPHA reflect a deep commitment to housing policy and public service. Sunia has played a consistent role in shaping national conversations around affordable housing. As she steps into retirement, her presence in the field throughout her long career is much appreciated. We wish her the very best in the next chapter." In addition to her leadership of CLPHA, Zaterman currently serves on the board of the Emerald Cities Collaborative. She has also served on the Harvard Joint Center on Housing Studies' America's Rental Housing 2024 Advisory Group, Convergence Collaborative on Social Determinants of Health, American Rescue Plan Evaluation National Expert Panel, and Johns Hopkins HOPES Policy Advisory Board. She began her career in housing as a New York State governor’s fellow at the New York State Housing Finance Agency. She also served as the judiciary committee clerk in the Texas State Legislature. Zaterman served as the executive director of the Travis County, TX Housing Authority, and the director of research and development Alexandria, VA Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She was nominated for the Hanley Award for Vision and Leadership in Sustainable Housing. Zaterman holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree in history from Barnard College. In advance of Zaterman’s retirement, CLPHA has begun a nationwide search for its next executive director through Sally M. Sterling Executive Search. To inquire about the position, email [email protected].
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Throughout her tenure Zaterman has remained a steady and thoughtful steward of the needs of CLPHA members, who today number more than 85 of the largest and most innovative public housing authorities (PHAs) across the country. CLPHA’s members collectively own and manage nearly 40 percent of the nation’s public housing stock, administer more than a quarter of the Housing Choice Voucher program, and provide a wide array of other rental assistance. Above all, CLPHA under Zaterman’s leadership has centered the needs of low-income families that PHAs serve when charting the organization’s goals and priorities.|
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CLPHA, PBCHA, and Sponsors Support Continuation of 2025 Competition
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2025) – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to announce that four graduate student teams have been selected as finalists of the 2025 Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. The four finalists include two teams from the University of California, Berkeley and one team each from the University of Kansas and Yale University. The 2025 competition partnered with the Palm Beach County Housing Authority (PBCHA) in Palm Beach County, Florida. CLPHA was chosen to host the competition after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was unable to continue as host. “CLPHA is honored to serve as host for the Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition,” said Sunia Zaterman, CLPHA executive director. “CLPHA hopes this competition will inspire and support students in fields such as architecture, planning, policy, and finance in advancing affordable and sustainable housing for low- and moderate-income Americans. We also thank PBCHA and the numerous sponsors whose gracious contributions have enabled us to continue this competition.” Each year, the Innovation in Affordable Housing competition invites graduate students enrolled in accredited educational institutions in the United States to form multi-disciplinary teams to respond to an existing affordable housing design and planning issue. The competition requires teams composed of graduate students in architecture, planning and policy, finance, and other areas to address social, economic, environmental, design, financial, and construction issues in addition to an affordable housing design challenge. The theme for the 2025 competition is “designing for disasters.” The graduate student teams were challenged to address the lack of affordable housing in Palm Beach County due to a shortage of land for development, while also considering the property is subject to Florida weather related to heat, heavy rains resulting in flooding, hurricanes and high winds, as well as post-disaster safety concerns. The student teams were tasked with redeveloping an underutilized 13+ acre of land owned by PBCHA that currently has a 134-unit public housing development and a maximum density of 350 units. “PBCHA wishes to thank CLPHA for stepping in at a crucial juncture so that the Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition would continue this year,” said Carol Jones-Gilbert, PBCHA CEO. “We are proud to partner with CLPHA for the 2025 competition. The challenge to design affordable and sustainable housing in disaster prone areas couldn’t be timelier with natural disasters increasing in intensity and frequency.” On May 8, the finalist graduate student teams will present their final projects to a jury of practitioners. Jurors will determine the winning team later in May. That winning team will be awarded a cash prize and present their design at CLPHA’s Summer Meeting, hosted by Atlanta Housing, on June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, GA. The jurors include:
The design competition is supported by sponsors from across the architecture, real estate, and finance sectors, including Bank of America, CSG Advisors, Enterprise, Merritt Community Capital Corporation, The Pacific Companies, Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments, Redstone Equity Partners, Related California, and US Bankcorp Impact Finance. |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About the Palm Beach County Housing Authority Located at 3333 Forest Hill Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida, PBCHA advocates for those who need housing and strives to provide Palm Beach County residents with affordable housing options, self-sufficiency programs, and leadership opportunities. The agency is committed to providing quality living environments through new and existing housing developments. To contact PBCHA, call 561-684-2160 or visit the website at pbchafl.org. |
Grant to Support Policy Agenda Addressing Homelessness for Infants, Toddlers, Expectant Parents, and Their Families
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(Washington, D.C.) February 3, 2025 – We are pleased to announce that the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI) has awarded $150,000 to support the work of Housing Is to strengthen the intersection of housing and early childhood development. Housing Is received this grant from PCI to work with a coalition of organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse America, Zero to Three, and our long-time partner SchoolHouse Connection, to build a policy agenda addressing homelessness for infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families and promoting strong early childhood development and economic security among this population. Each year, more than 364,000 infants and toddlers experience homelessness in the U.S., and nearly 70,000 babies are born to parents who experienced homelessness during pregnancy. Homelessness during pregnancy or in the first three years of a child’s life has lifelong consequences on physical health and mental well-being. These years are foundational to development, and trauma—including homelessness—can disrupt this growth, leading to long-lasting effects. Homelessness is preventable, and stakeholders must take action to address it. Homelessness in early childhood—recognized as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)—can lead to developmental delays, physical and mental health issues, and lasting effects on well-being. If partners act early—before families reach a crisis point—they can prevent and solve homelessness and mitigate the resulting impact on the developing child. “Housing Is is proud to receive this grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative and to join this coalition focused on improving housing opportunities and life outcomes for some of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals: infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, president of the Housing Is board of directors and CEO of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. “The early childhood, housing, and homelessness sectors must work together to build a coordinated, holistic support system for these children and their families. Public housing authorities play a critical role in providing affordable housing to this population, and Housing Is will represent the voices of PHAs and other housing organizations in this coalition. PCI’s support will enable Housing Is and our coalition to build and disseminate a policy agenda and messaging campaign that will address homelessness for these infants and young children and their families.” “Housing Is extends our gratitude to the Pritzker Children’s Initiative for their recognition of our work to align sectors that serve low-income families,” said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), which manages Housing Is under an operating agreement. “As Housing Is has stressed throughout our ten-year history, systems that serve low-income individuals are stronger and more effective when they work together. With this grant, PCI is helping Housing Is to further our mission to improve life outcomes for low-income families through cross-sector collaboration.” |
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About Housing Is |
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(Washington, D.C.) January 21, 2026 – La Shelle Dozier, CEO of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), released the following statement regarding Secretary Scott Turner of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s testimony at the House Financial Service Committee’s hearing entitled “Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration” today: "We thank Secretary Turner for appearing before the House Financial Services Committee today to address the critical issue of housing affordability. We agree with the Secretary’s assessment that a severe lack of housing supply is the primary driver of the current housing affordability crisis facing millions of Americans. It is heartening to see bipartisan legislation such as the ROAD to Housing Act and the Housing for the 21st Century Act being introduced in this Congress. "Every day, public housing authorities work tirelessly on the front lines to ensure that America’s most vulnerable families—including seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities—have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing. Public housing is not just a roof over one’s head; it is a vital foundation for economic stability and community well-being. "To address this crisis effectively, we must prioritize the preservation of our existing public housing portfolio. Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY), whose district includes the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), noted during his questioning that it would take nearly 100 years to recapitalize NYCHA’s public housing portfolio at current capital funding levels. This is unacceptable. “The 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability found that the baseline cost to preserve the nation's current public housing portfolio is $169.1 billion, or approximately $188,000 per unit. Per unit costs to rehab a home built with low-income housing tax credits or build a new single-family home today range from $217,000 to $600,000. When comparing these figures, preserving our current public housing portfolio is among the most cost-effective and fiscally responsible method to ensure long-term housing affordability for low-income Americans. "Public housing remains one of our nation's most enduring and essential assets. We look forward to working with Secretary Turner and the Administration to find a sustainable path forward that preserves this critical resource for the next generation of American families." |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
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Winning Team Awarded $15,000 and Will Present Their Design at CLPHA’s Summer Meeting, Hosted by Atlanta Housing
UC Berkeley Team Gold Earns Second Place; University of Kansas and Yale University Teams Named Runners-up
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 22, 2025) – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to announce that the University of California, Berkeley’s Team Blue has been named the winner of the 2025 Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. The first-place team, comprised of Omeed Ansari, Yameen Arshad, Balaji Balaganesan, Harrison Haigood, and Chelsea Hall, will be awarded $15,000 and present their winning design at CLPHA’s Summer Meeting, hosted by Atlanta Housing, on June 13 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 2025 competition partnered with the Palm Beach County Housing Authority (PBCHA) in Palm Beach County, Florida. CLPHA stepped in to host the competition after it was terminated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"CLPHA congratulates UC Berkeley Team Blue on winning the 2025 Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “Their ‘Mango Commons’ design incorporated innovative, climate-resilient design, thoughtful integration of resident services and programs, and comprehensive financing solutions that brought PBCHA’s community to life. This first-place team and all participating university teams represent the best and brightest in the future of affordable housing development, design, and planning, and CLPHA is honored to celebrate their ingenuity and hard work.”
Each year, the Innovation in Affordable Housing competition invites graduate students enrolled in accredited educational institutions in the United States to form multi-disciplinary teams to respond to an existing affordable housing design and planning issue. The competition requires teams composed of graduate students in architecture, planning and policy, finance, and other areas to address social, economic, environmental, design, financial, and construction issues in addition to an affordable housing design challenge.
The theme for the 2025 competition is “designing for disasters.” The graduate student teams were challenged to address the lack of affordable housing in Palm Beach County due to a shortage of land for development, while also considering the property is subject to Florida weather related to heat, heavy rains resulting in flooding, hurricanes and high winds, as well as post-disaster safety concerns. The student teams were tasked with redeveloping an underutilized 13+ acre parcel of land owned by PBCHA that currently has a 134-unit public housing development and a maximum density of 350 units.
UC Berkeley Team Blue’s winning design, named Mango Commons, is rooted in disaster resilience, long-term sustainability, and community cohesion. The 350-unit, three-phased redevelopment plan for PBCHA is innovative and resident-driven. Mango Commons makes use of built and natural systems for climate resilience, underpinned by the site’s self-sustaining circular economy. In its design, the project boasts large outdoor verandas to build social resilience and hearken to Southern “front porch” culture. Mango Commons also leverages community gardens, tech education, and culinary programming to promote food security, self-sufficiency, and intergenerational activities for the entire community. Lastly, for its financing, it incorporates a unique option-to-buy program and a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for ownership.
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“Competitions like this are so important for students to be able to address real-life situations and learn through doing,” said UC Berkeley Team Blue Faculty Advisor Lydia Tan. “UC Berkeley’s Team Blue this year was exemplary—the team dug deep into the local issues facing the Palm Beach County Housing Authority and the community, talking with a plethora of local stakeholders in an effort to truly understand the local ecosystem. The team’s ultimate proposal is realistically executable, would result in an amazing environment for current and future residents, and can act as a catalyst to bring the local community even closer together. Thanks to CLPHA and all of those who picked up the task of carrying out the competition so that all the students who competed could have their ideas shared with the public.” The University of California, Berkeley’s Team Gold earned second place in the competition and will be awarded $5,000. Runner-up teams from the University of Kansas and Yale University will be awarded $2,500 each. Eleven teams entered the competition from universities including Columbia University, University of Florida, University of Iowa, and University of Maryland College Park. On May 8, the finalist graduate student teams presented their final projects to a jury of practitioners. The jurors included:
The design competition is supported by sponsors from across the architecture, real estate, and finance sectors, including Bank of America, the Cooper Housing Institute, CSG Advisors, Enterprise, Merritt Community Capital Corporation, The Pacific Companies, Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments, Palm Beach County Housing Authority, Redstone Equity Partners, Related California, and US Bankcorp Impact Finance.
Media Contact: (916) 716-9088 |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities About the Palm Beach County Housing Authority Located at 3333 Forest Hill Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida, PBCHA advocates for those who need housing and strives to provide Palm Beach County residents with affordable housing options, self-sufficiency programs, and leadership opportunities. The agency is committed to providing quality living environments through new and existing housing developments. To contact PBCHA, call 561-684-2160 or visit the website at pbchafl.org. |
CLPHA Begins Nationwide Search for Next Executive Director
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 19, 2025) -- The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) today announced that CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman plans to retire at the end of 2025. Zaterman has led CLPHA, a national non-profit membership organization that works to preserve and improve public and affordable housing through advocacy, research, policy analysis, and public education, for over thirty years. The CLPHA Board of Directors has engaged Sally M. Sterling Executive Search to lead its nationwide search for a new executive director.
“For over three decades Sunia has been one of the most influential leaders in the housing industry,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, CLPHA Board President and Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority CEO. “CLPHA, under Sunia’s leadership, has helped shape the evolution, innovation, and development of public and affordable housing. Our housing industry will forever be grateful for her advocacy, dedication, and commitment, as well as the many significant contributions that Sunia has made which have been so beneficial to communities across the nation. CLPHA’s Board of Directors deeply thanks her for her stewardship, vision, and friendship, and wish her all the best in her next chapter.” Under Zaterman’s leadership CLPHA has been at the vanguard of the public and affordable housing industry’s most successful advancements, pushing for the tools and resources that PHAs need to evolve with national trends and respond to local challenges. Throughout her tenure CLPHA has been a staunch advocate for considering affordable housing for low-income households a key aspect of the social safety net on par with Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. At the beginning of Zaterman’s tenure, she established and directed the Housing Research Foundation (HRF), a CLPHA affiliate, to serve as the information and technical assistance clearinghouse for the nascent HOPE VI program under a cooperation agreement with HUD. HRF was instrumental in bringing new tools and ideas to PHAs on public/private finance, urban design, community building, resident service supports, and peer learning. “Sunia will leave CLPHA with a legacy of compassion, leadership, and transformative impact upon her retirement,” said La Shelle Dozier, CLPHA Board Vice President and Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency Executive Director. “Throughout her significant career at CLPHA and many years in the public and affordable housing industry, Sunia has ensured that improving the life outcomes of low-income individuals remains at the heart of CLPHA’s mission. Countless individuals served by PHAs have enjoyed increased housing stability, economic security, and access to critical services thanks to the initiatives and innovations that CLPHA has championed under Sunia’s leadership. Our industry will miss her greatly.” Under her leadership CLPHA was instrumental in the creation and subsequent expansions of the Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration, a HUD program that allows PHAs greater flexibility to develop local solutions for local housing challenges. MTW PHAs have pioneered and scaled successful programs and greater efficiencies that improve lives and more effectively address the nation’s housing crisis. Many initiatives stemming from MTW PHAs have been adopted into law and regulations. CLPHA supported the creation of the MTW Collaborative, a non-profit membership organization that advocates on behalf of current and future MTW agencies. CLPHA continues the partnership with the Collaborative through a management agreement. “During her extraordinary tenure as CLPHA’s executive director Sunia has played a critical role in improving national housing policy and strengthening the affordable housing industry,” said Joshua Meehan, MTW Collaborative Board President and Keene Housing Executive Director. “Her leadership at CLPHA has consistently supported public housing authorities in doing better work for the people we serve. Her focus on amplifying the role public housing authorities can play in improving educational, economic, and health outcomes for residents and voucher holders is especially noteworthy and appreciated, and I know the entire industry is grateful to her for her hard work and dedication. I wish her the very best in her well-deserved retirement.” Recognizing the need for PHAs to expand cross-sector collaboration to better serve residents and create platforms for opportunity, under Zaterman’s leadership CLPHA developed Housing Is, an initiative to foster collaboration across the health, education, and housing sectors through shared goals, focused resources, and coordinated efforts. At its core, Housing Is helps build a future where systems work together to improve life outcomes. Housing Is has convened 11 national summits with a wide array of cross-sector partners. CLPHA continues its partnership with Housing Is under a management agreement. “Sunia has been a champion of housers and affordable housing for decades,” said George Guy, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) President and CEO/Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Housing Authority. “Sunia has helped cultivate collaboration and innovative ideas that have provided useful resources and tools to assist agencies in serving their communities. She is a true servant leader. I am grateful for her hard work, her leadership, and her tireless advocacy on behalf of public housing agencies and the residents they serve." During Zaterman’s tenure CLPHA was also instrumental in the creation of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), a HUD program that preserves and improves affordable housing by allowing PHAs to leverage public-private partnerships to convert public housing units to long-term, project-based Section 8 rental assistance. CLPHA convened the RAD Collaborative, an initiative to build a community of practice and support to recapitalize the public housing portfolio, and offered stakeholders national and regional conferences, webinars, and policy analysis. Building on the successes of RAD to leverage private investment and responding to the need for expanded recapitalization tools and resources, CLPHA spearheads, under Zaterman’s leadership, the 10 Year Roadmap for Housing Sustainability. The Roadmap convenes a broad-based coalition of experts in housing, finance, development, and cross-sector approaches to develop and advance a 10-year reinvestment plan that establishes a sustainable, affordable, and service-enriched housing platform for residents to achieve their life goals. "Congratulations to Sunia on her upcoming retirement,” said Mark Gillett, Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) Immediate Past President and Oklahoma City Housing Authority Executive Director. “Her years of work with CLPHA reflect a deep commitment to housing policy and public service. Sunia has played a consistent role in shaping national conversations around affordable housing. As she steps into retirement, her presence in the field throughout her long career is much appreciated. We wish her the very best in the next chapter." In addition to her leadership of CLPHA, Zaterman currently serves on the board of the Emerald Cities Collaborative. She has also served on the Harvard Joint Center on Housing Studies' America's Rental Housing 2024 Advisory Group, Convergence Collaborative on Social Determinants of Health, American Rescue Plan Evaluation National Expert Panel, and Johns Hopkins HOPES Policy Advisory Board. She began her career in housing as a New York State governor’s fellow at the New York State Housing Finance Agency. She also served as the judiciary committee clerk in the Texas State Legislature. Zaterman served as the executive director of the Travis County, TX Housing Authority, and the director of research and development Alexandria, VA Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She was nominated for the Hanley Award for Vision and Leadership in Sustainable Housing. Zaterman holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree in history from Barnard College. In advance of Zaterman’s retirement, CLPHA has begun a nationwide search for its next executive director through Sally M. Sterling Executive Search. To inquire about the position, email [email protected].
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### About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities |
Pew Charitable Trust's state policy news outlet Stateline quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman and CLPHA member executive directors in an article about the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on public housing authorities.
Zaterman told Stateline that PHAs need $5 billion in emergency supplemental funding due to several challenges PHAs are facing during this crisis, including a "significant reduction" in rental income, a dramatically reduced workforce, massive cleaning-related expenses, and communications challenges with residents while PHAs' physical offices are closed. PHAs also need a further $3.5 billion in emergency supplemental funds for the for the Housing Choice Voucher program.
“I’m worried,” Emilio Salas, acting executive director of the Los Angeles County Development Authority, told Stateline. “Tremendously.”
Douglas Guthrie, president and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, told Stateline that his PHA is working hard to address his city's homelesssness crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We can't wait for waivers from HUD to do what needs to be done today,” Guthrie said. “Shelter is the most important thing right now.”
Andrew Lofton, executive director of the Seattle Housing Authority, told Stateline that PHAs are also preparing for the inevitable surge of residents who test positive for COVID-19: "It’s just a matter of time."
Read Stateline's article "Public Housing Authorities Hit Hard by the Pandemic."
As of January 1, 2020, California has a state-wide law prohibiting landlords from rejecting potential tenants solely on their use of a housing voucher. The law, known as Source of Income (SOI) protection, replaces SOI ordinances that were previously in place in several California cities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Clara County to cover voucher holders across the state.
A recent HUD-commissioned study on landlord acceptance of voucher holders in five cities found that those cities with an existing SOI law protecting voucher holders had higher rates of landlord acceptance compared to those cities without SOI protection. While cities with SOI laws devote varying amounts of resources to enforcement, HUD’s study suggests awareness of local SOI protections meaningfully deter discrimination by landlords. The Poverty & Race Research Action Council maintains an updated list of all SOI laws in place across the country.
In an effort to call attention to the affordable housing crisis during the 2020 election cycle and to spur presidential debate moderators to ask candidates about their affordable housing plans, the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Our Homes, Our Votes: 2020 campaign placed a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times on December 16 & 17. The ad featured OHOV: 2020’s letter urging PBS NewsHour, Politico, and debate moderators to ask presidential candidates how they would address the nation’s affordable housing crisis during the next debate, which will be held on December 19 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. CLPHA joined more than 1,000 organizations as co-signers to OHOV: 2020’s letter.
Following the devastating November fire at the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority’s (MPHA) Cedar High apartments, Minneapolis’s Star Tribune reported on the chronic federal underfunding of public housing that contributes to the massive, nationwide capital needs backlog at public housing communities and requires PHAs to make tough choices about building maintenance and repairs.
“Our priority is to make sure that life and safety are always taken care of,” said MPHA Interim Executive Director/CEO Tracey Scott in an October interview with the paper. “Quite simply that’s the hard choice you have to make because you would like to replace a kitchen cabinet but that has to come second to life and safety. We have to make choices.” MPHA estimates that its properties need an estimated $152 million in maintenance and renovations.
New York City Housing Authority Chair & CEO and CLPHA Board Member Greg Russ, MPHA’s former Executive Director/CEO, underscored the difficult choices housing authorities have to make when it comes to prioritizing maintenance and renovation projects: “We don’t have enough funding to keep basic systems in place nationally and have to pick and choose when we do get the capital money.” Russ added that inadequate federal funding is why MPHA and other agencies employ the RAD program to diversify and their funding sources so that they can afford the important and expensive rehabilitation of their properties.
CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman said that more “organized political will and bipartisan support” is needed in Congress in order to increase funding and fully address PHAs’ capital needs. “We are at the turning point in part because the affordable housing crisis is so heightened in our communities,” Zaterman said. “This is such an essential resource, the understanding that we have to invest is more pervasive and people are beginning to understand that ... but we haven’t had the reflection in our funding yet.”
Scott further stressed the effects that insufficient federal funding has on her agency’s ability to house and serve their low-income residents. “We’re a public agency and the mission is that we provide quality, well maintained homes for families to thrive and these are members of our community that need support and that helping hand,” she said, “We are providing a roof today, but if we don’t maintain it there would not be a roof tomorrow.”
CLPHA Members Elm City Communities, Miami-Dade Public Housing & Community Development Also Featured
Affordable Housing News magazine featured Executive Director Sunia Zaterman in its Fall 2019 issue, where Zaterman discussed CLPHA’s priorities, goals, and strategies for preserving and improving public and affordable housing. “We are very focused on appropriations and polices that support public housing authorities and the people they serve,” said Zaterman, adding that “[f]rom the beginning, we’ve been very focused on supporting the most innovative housing authorities in the country.” She cited programs like the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and Moving to Work (MTW) as flexible, locally-oriented policies that innovative housing authorities are using to improve their housing stock and resident outcomes. Zaterman also emphasized the public housing portfolio’s capital needs backlog of more than $50 billion and the chronic underfunding of public housing programs, issues that are at the center of CLPHA’s advocacy efforts.
The article also highlights CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative, which seeks to broaden and deepen efforts to align housing, education, and health organizations to produce positive long-term outcomes for low-income individuals and families. Zaterman discussed some of the Housing Is Initiative’s work, including the Housing Is Summit, an annual convening dedicated to collaboration among the housing, education, and health sectors, and the creation of a data sharing agreement template for housing authorities and school systems so that they can identify shared issues and interests and develop evidence-based interventions. “We understand that housing is absolutely essential and foundational, but often, for families and special needs populations, is not sufficient in and of itself,” Zaterman said. “Our goal with the Housing Is Initiative is to improve and enhance our partnerships in healthcare, education, and workforce development to improve life outcomes for families, seniors, and persons with disabilities who reside in assisted housing.”
Read Affordable Housing News' article (on pages 20 and 21).
CLPHA members Miami-Dade Public Housing & Community Development (Miami-Dade PCHD) and Elm City Communities (ECC) were also featured in Affordable Housing News’ Fall 2019 issue. Read about Miami-Dade PCHD’s RAD-assisted Liberty Square redevelopment on pages 34-36 and about ECC’s employment of MTW flexibilities to create innovative resident programming and redevelop its public housing portfolio on pages 64-65.
From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:
Her exceptional, person-centered public service throughout her career earned San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) President and CEO Lisa Jones the John Craven Public Service Memorial Ruby Award on the same night that three SDHC collaborative developments that produced more than 400 affordable rental homes also received recognition from the San Diego Housing Federation.
“These awards are a product of the leadership and commitment of our City Council, Mayor, and Board of Commissioners; the outstanding work of our staff and community partners; and our shared focus on the needs of the people we serve,” SDHC President and CEO Jones said. “We thank the San Diego Housing Federation for recognizing these efforts and congratulate our development partners and all who were nominated and honored with Ruby Awards this year.”
The San Diego Housing Federation’s annual Ruby Awards recognize excellence in affordable housing and community development in the San Diego region.
Through the John Craven Public Service Memorial Ruby Award, the San Diego Housing Federation honored Ms. Jones for her leadership in expanding access and opportunity for the individuals and families SDHC serves, her work to strengthen SDHC’s connection to the community as a trusted, collaborative partner, and several initiatives she has led. These include her leadership of SDHC’s swift response in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods in January 2024 to assist hundreds of families displaced from their homes. City Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee presented the award.
Additional Ruby Awards presented this year recognized affordable rental housing developments to which SDHC awarded financing and/or rental housing vouchers that made the projects possible.
Project of the Year – New Construction (90 or more units)
The Harrington Heights development by Chelsea Investment Corporation produced 270 new affordable rental homes for San Diegans with very low income (25 percent to 50 percent of the Area Median Income) or experiencing homelessness. Forty apartments are set aside for individuals with developmental disabilities. SDHC awarded 115 federal rental housing vouchers to help many Harrington Heights residents pay their rent, with 75 housing vouchers designated for households that experienced homelessness (including 10 for veterans) and 40 housing vouchers assisting households with extremely low income that have not experienced homelessness. SDHC also awarded an $8 million loan to support the development, consisting of federal and City funds that SDHC administers: federal HOME Investment Partnership Programs that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards to the City of San Diego and the City’s Affordable Housing Fund.
Project of the Year – New Construction (Less than 90 units)
Community HousingWorks developed Jacaranda on Ninth to create 87 new affordable rental homes for San Diegans with very low income (25 percent to 40 percent of the Area Median Income) or experiencing homelessness. SDHC awarded 14 housing vouchers to the development that are set aside for San Diegans who experienced chronic homelessness and 73 for residents with extremely low income, but who did not experience homelessness. SDHC also awarded a loan of up to $5 million toward the development, consisting of funding from the HUD HOME program, the City Affordable Housing Fund and the State of California’s Local Housing Trust Fund. Financing also included SDHC’s authorization of $21.2 million in tax-exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and $10.2 million in taxable bonds, which the City Council approved in its role as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego. Private sources of funds, such as revenue from the development, are used to repay the bonds. SDHC, the City of San Diego and the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego are not financially liable for these bonds.
Project of the Year – Rehabilitation
Developed by Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation and Housing Innovation Partners, Serenade on 43rd created more than 40 new affordable rental homes and rehabilitated 20 existing naturally occurring affordable housing units, adding requirements that they remain affordable for 55 years. A stylish, art-inspired development that blends seamlessly into a bustling City Heights neighborhood near transit, Serenade provides affordable rental homes for 64 families with low income, of which 32 families previously experienced homelessness. SDHC awarded 32 rental housing vouchers to help pay rent for residents who previously experienced homelessness. SDHC also supported the development with a $2 million loan, consisting of funds from the HUD HOME program and the City’s Affordable Housing Fund.
Additional Ruby Awards honorees included several individuals who have a positive impact on affordable housing and its residents, including Simonne Ruff, Director of the San Diego/Orange County program for Corporation for Supportive Housing, who earned the Housing Champion award. The awards program stated, “Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to maximizing housing as a critical social determinant of health, with a driving passion for creating opportunities to thrive.”
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We are pleased to congratulate eleven CLPHA members who received FY25 Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator (ROSS-SC) grants:
These awards will place service coordinators directly in communities to support residents in reaching their goals on the path to self-sufficiency and economic independence. HUD announced $37 million of ROSS program funding to 114 organizations nationwide, following a delay in the FY25 NOFO and subsequent award announcement.
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From the Los Angeles County Development Authority:
The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) and the Los Angeles County Community Development Foundation (LACDF) proudly awarded scholarships to students in the LACDA’s Public Housing and Section 8 Programs. The Resident Scholarship Program accepted scholarship applications in November and recently awarded five students with a $1,000 scholarship to ease the financial burden of pursuing higher education. Scholarship recipients are either currently attending or will be enrolled at Cal State LA, Cal Poly Pomona, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Habor College, and the Universal Technical Institute.
The Resident Scholarship is awarded by the LACDF, a nonprofit organization created to inspire and provide positive life-changing opportunities to the LACDA’s Public Housing residents and Section 8 participants. All high school and college students living in a County Public Housing or Section 8 household, are encouraged to apply. These scholarship opportunities provide recipients with financial support to ease their college experience and cover costs to avoid debt. Scholarships are provided by the generous donations of donors such as Edison International, California Community Foundation, and LACDA employees.
“The Resident Scholarship Program celebrates the hard work and bright futures of students in our Public Housing and Section 8 Programs striving to continue their higher education,” said Emilio Salas, LACDA Executive Director. “Through our partnership with the LACDF, residents are provided with resources and support to dream big, reach their goals, and succeed.”
From the Los Angeles County Development Authority:
The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) and the Los Angeles County Community Development Foundation (LACDF) proudly awarded scholarships to students in the LACDA’s Public Housing and Section 8 Programs. The Resident Scholarship Program accepted scholarship applications in November and recently awarded five students with a $1,000 scholarship to ease the financial burden of pursuing higher education. Scholarship recipients are either currently attending or will be enrolled at Cal State LA, Cal Poly Pomona, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Habor College, and the Universal Technical Institute.
The Resident Scholarship is awarded by the LACDF, a nonprofit organization created to inspire and provide positive life-changing opportunities to the LACDA’s Public Housing residents and Section 8 participants. All high school and college students living in a County Public Housing or Section 8 household, are encouraged to apply. These scholarship opportunities provide recipients with financial support to ease their college experience and cover costs to avoid debt. Scholarships are provided by the generous donations of donors such as Edison International, California Community Foundation, and LACDA employees.
“The Resident Scholarship Program celebrates the hard work and bright futures of students in our Public Housing and Section 8 Programs striving to continue their higher education,” said Emilio Salas, LACDA Executive Director. “Through our partnership with the LACDF, residents are provided with resources and support to dream big, reach their goals, and succeed.”
From the New York City Housing Authority's press release:
On Friday, May 8, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) closed on the financing for a $349 million Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) project that will bring comprehensive renovations to over 1,200 residents living in four residential buildings at Moore Houses and East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue in the Melrose section of the Bronx. The buildings have now converted to Project-Based Section 8 through the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, unlocking funding that will allow the PACT partner team – Mega Group Development, Brisa Builders Development – to address the capital needs of the development and begin fully rehabilitating apartments, shared spaces, grounds, and building infrastructure to improve residents' quality of life. A PACT first, the comprehensive renovations to Moore Houses and East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue will fully electrify all four buildings for heat, cooling, cooking, and hot water service. The PACT program maintains residents' rights and preserves affordable rents for all households.
“This $349 million closing represents top-to-bottom building and home improvements for the residents of Moore Houses and East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue, shaped by their input and managed by a team they helped select,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg. “Congratulations to each of the residents, and to NYCHA, Mega Group, Brisa Builders, and Cornell Pace teams, on this important milestone – I look forward to seeing much-needed improvements made in the coming years, including electrification, upgrades to community spaces, flood protection, and more.”
“With this financial closing, we're unlocking the necessary funding to complete comprehensive renovations to Moore Houses and East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Through the PACT modernization of these two developments, we'll be making critical quality of life improvements to residents' homes and buildings, as well as common areas and outdoor spaces. This will also be the first time that a NYCHA project has electrified more than one building, as we bring heating, cooling, cooking, and hot water services online in all four buildings, allowing for a greener, more efficient future and reliable utilities while also activating new indoor amenity spaces for resident use.”
“This financial closing brings the PACT program to a total of $10.3 billion unlocked citywide for improvements to NYCHA campuses, buildings, homes, and most importantly, for the communities that call them home,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer Jonathan Gouveia. “PACT has brought sweeping improvements to the doorsteps and into the homes of so many NYCHA residents, making a tangible difference in their lives, and we're looking forward to continuing this progress at Moore Houses and East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue.”
“The tenant association is excited and eagerly anticipating the upcoming repairs that the PACT partners will be implementing here at Moore Houses,” said Moore Houses Tenant Association President Rosa Pinero. “We’re looking forward to the positive impact this will have on the community. It’s awesome to see real investment here – making it safter, cleaner, and more pleasurable for our tenants – and the new landscaping and building updates will have a big impact on our daily lives. We have maintained a great relationship with the PACT partners in a way that allows us to feel seen and heard, and we’re thrilled that our development will finally receive lasting changes that will benefit our residents for many years to come.”