Fayetteville council hears public housing plans

NWA Democrat-Gazette/STACY RYBURN Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan is shown in this file photo.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/STACY RYBURN Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan is shown in this file photo.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The City Council heard a few ideas regarding sources of revenue other than the federal government for public housing, and a contract to sell one of the Housing Authority's properties came into question Tuesday.

Mayor Lioneld Jordan called a special meeting Tuesday to get input from the council, Housing Authority officials, residents and their neighbors on the future of public housing in the city. Nearly 30 people spoke, with the meeting lasting until about 10 p.m.

Next time

The Housing Authority board will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting this week.

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Room 111, City Hall, 113 W. Mountain St.

Jordan said early in the meeting he did not want to jeopardize the Housing Authority receiving the money it needs for capital improvements. The authority is set to receive $281,425 from the federal government this year and needs Jordan's signature by the end of the month to receive it.

For more than a year, the Housing Authority has had a plan to move residents out of public housing at Willow Heights, 10 S. Willow Ave., and move them to another property it operates, Morgan Manor, at 324 E. 12th Place. Housing Authority board meetings in recent months have been packed, with members of the public at odds with the plan and how the board conducts its meetings.

Morgan Manor operates under a form of Section 8 called the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. The program combines public and private equity to provide assistance to low-income residents. The authority also owns Lewis Plaza at 401 S. Lewis Ave. and Hillcrest Towers at 1 N. School Ave.

The timeline on signing the contract for Willow Heights came up frequently. The authority is under contract to sell the property for $1.25 million to a private landowner. The contract was signed before an appraisal was made, authority officials said.

City Attorney Kit Williams also recommended the Housing Authority get out of the contract. He also recommended the authority abandon any pursuits, including RAD conversion, that would jeopardize the possibility of receiving grants.

For instance, Yolanda Fields, director of the city's Community Resources Division, said Community Development Block Grant money couldn't be used for Willow Heights because it is under contract.

Council recommendations included a resident engagement plan, more clearly defining the authority's goals, developing a plan to reach out to nonprofits and other agencies for assistance, clarifying its policy on deconcentrating poverty and others.

Housing authority officials said they could consider changes to the plan, which the board approved July 9, at its next meeting Thursday.

"A lot of information was passed back and forth. I will bring these items to the FHA meeting Thursday. It's clear that change in some form is pending and that will be a board decision," Chairman Mike Emery said. "I will be contacting HUD to get clarification on the Willow Heights contract."

The council also recommended the authority prioritize homeless people for housing vouchers.

Public comment ranged from replacing the Housing Authority board to testaments from public housing residents about living conditions.

Jennifer Cole said living in public housing is not a choice and that everyone deserves a decent place to live.

"These funds need to go to the upkeep and maintenance of these places," she said.

Jordan said he will make a decision on the plan and recommended changes after the Housing Authority's next meeting.

"We're going to make it better. We don't know exactly how yet, folks, but we're going to make it better. But it starts with these recommendations," he said.

NW News on 07/25/2018

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