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Mayor Newsom Announces Milestones in Housing Authority Reform Efforts
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| Henry A. Alvarez III named as new Executive Director |
06/12/08 - Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced completion of a series of initial milestones set forth to reform the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA), including the appointment of Henry A. Alvarez III as the new Executive Director of the agency. Joined by Housing Authority Commissioners and members of the transition team, Mayor Newsom also announced a doubling of residents on a recently created Rental Assistance Program (RAP) that aims to provide incentives to tenants to pay back their rent and remain current, as well as the renovation of over 410 Housing Authority units because of funds appropriated through HOPE SF and by the SFHA.
"San Francisco is making an unprecedented investment to rebuild our public housing," said Mayor Newsom. "I am excited that Henry Alvarez will be coming on board to provide the leadership and initiative needed to realize the goals of HOPE SF and reconnect the City to the Housing Authority."
"I am excited to work alongside Mayor Newsom and his administration," said Alvarez. "There is much to do and I am looking forward to working collaboratively with the community, residents, and the stakeholders to take the San Francisco Housing Authority to the next level. My skills and experience will lend themselves to this great opportunity."
Mr. Alvarez is a seasoned housing professional with 20 years of management and leadership experience. For the past four years, Alvarez served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Antonio Housing Authority. Prior to San Antonio, Alvarez served in several roles at housing agencies in Oregon and San Diego. He was instrumental in turning around agencies that were on the brink of being listed as "troubled" under HUD. In San Antonio, Alvarez was responsible for creating more than 6,400 units, 12,000 housing vouchers, and 3,200 affordable housing units that served more than 50,000 low- income residents. He is scheduled to begin his new post on July 14.
Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
Launched in February in HuntersView to get residents back in good standing as tenants, the RAP is a partnership with the Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH), Communities of Opportunity, and the SFHA to provide incentives to tenants to pay back their rent and remain current going forward. Through the RAP, the SFHA has been able to double the amount of residents on a payment program. This effort will help tenants transition to good standing and secure housing in the redeveloped HOPE SF housing complex.
Of the 151 units at Hunters View, 135 are now current on rent and participating in the payment program. All of the remaining residents have been engaged by outreach workers.
"The Rental Assistance Program is an excellent program," said Deva Youngblood, a Hunters View Public Development resident. "The program helps reclaim a future and removes the fear of getting evicted or becoming homeless. It provides a clean start."
Housing Back On-Line
Recently, the SFHA and the Mayor's SFHA transition team committed to fixing up vacant apartments and making them available to new residents quicker than in years past. Since January, staff has renovated over 410 units and made them available for rent. 70 of those units were paid for through last year's HOPE SF appropriation. The rest were paid for by the SFHA.
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