NEW: Gov. Patrick Pushes to Improve Housing Authorities in MA
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The proposed changes will modernize the structure of the housing authority system to ensure the safety net of public housing provides vulnerable families in Massachusetts, including seniors and persons with disabilities.
“This bill will simplify and professionalize our public housing system, improving transparency and accountability,” Patrick said. “We owe the residents and the public no less.”
The legislation in another large-scale change that consolidates the state’s 240 housing authorities into six regional housing authorities in hopes to increase transparency, accountability, performance, efficiency, innovation and cost savings in the state’s public housing system.
The six regional housing authorities will take over ownership, and fiscal and operational management of all public housing in the Commonwealth.
The new system will take effect in July 2014.
The reform is part of a series of reforms the Governor is proposing to make government work better, and is the latest step in the Administration’s efforts to upgrade oversight and management at local housing authorities, and address issues that plague some authorities while also providing another opportunity for municipalities to regionalize certain services.
“This proposal builds on our Administration’s regionalization agenda to increase efficiencies in the delivery of local services, while also addressing the capacity challenges some local housing authorities have had,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. “Housing authorities are an important part of the state’s housing infrastructure, and we need to provide solutions that will improve the effectiveness of these facilities for the long-term.”
“The reforms proposed by Governor Patrick will create significant and lasting benefits for local housing authorities and their residents,” said Aaron Gornstein, the Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development. “We will continue to make a strong commitment to revitalizing state public housing so that we can provide high quality housing for low income residents.”
Under the reformed system, each regional housing authority will consist of one executive director, a governing board, and central and regional management staff and local site managers. Current housing authority staff will have the opportunity to transition to positions within the regional housing authorities.
Through the regional housing authority system, local site managers and maintenance staff will effectively provide for the needs of the property and its residents.
Tenants and communities will find significant increases in operational capacity through the addition of regional staff and centralized back-office operations, including regional property managers, resident service coordinators, capital planning and project management staff and maintenance professionals with work crews. In addition, central staff will include senior managers, finance staff and functions such as human resources, accounting, and application and wait-list operations.
“The way the system is currently being managed is not cost effective,” said Alexa Daily of the Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. “The goal reform is transparency, economic efficiency and ultimately improved housing for our residents. As private property management of affordable housing has taught us the cost per unit reduces as the size of the entity increases.”
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Comments:
Stephen Quist
9:48am on Friday, January 11, 2013
This is like throwing out the baby with the bath water....because of corrupt chelsea housing authority all other housing authorities are now suspect?
Hardly..........
Worcester Housing Authority has been well run and postioned to succeed well into the future because of the hard work and dedication of Ray Mariano.......
If there are to be any changes to the structure of housing authorities then Ray Mariano had better have a seat at the table......he can teach the state all they need to know about running a successful housing authority...........
John Winsor
7:43am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
I wouldn't be too eager to think that Ray Mariano isn't as shady as his Housing Authority counterparts. One should look at some of the major projects the WHA has undergone (renovations, etc.), speak with the vendors project managers, see if he beat them up for money, and then track the money as to where it went.