News & Publications

#HousersAtWork September Archives


Public housing agencies (PHAs) of all sizes are responding to the COVID-19 health crisis while continuing to house families and provide platforms for opportunity. NAHRO’s #HousersAtWork campaign shows how much our PHA members do for their residents and communities – especially during this pandemic. 

This page is an archive of the stories we shared in September, 2020. For more information on the campaign and how you can share your stories, visit www.nahro.org/news/housersatwork-phas-responding-to-covid-19/.

Questions about the campaign? Please contact Sylvia Gimenez at sgimenez@nahro.org.

District of Columbia Housing Authority

A new medical mobile van is meeting residents where they are as the District of Columbia Housing Authority collaborated with area hospitals to provide accessible healthcare and COVID-19 testing.

Omaha Housing Authority

Thanks to the Omaha Housing Authority and volunteers at Dream City Church for installing little libraries so residents can enjoy their favorite books or discover new ones!

Phoenix Housing Department

To keep their senior residents healthy, Phoenix Housing Department partnered with ASU Nursing students to provide free flu shots & blood sugar and pressure checks.

Cambridge Housing Authority

Cambridge Housing Authority is keeping residents safe from COVID-19 by distributing more than 3,000 masks made by Cambridge Volunteer Clearinghouse.

Topeka Housing Authority

Topeka Housing Authority staff partner with the Greater Topeka Partnership to launch an incubator program helping residents start their own businesses.

Huntsville Housing Authority

Huntsville Housing Authority staff helped residents register to vote by hosting an event handing out voter guides, hand sanitizer, and masks.

Allentown Housing Authority

The coronavirus pandemic is causing food insecurity issues for youth. That’s why Allentown Housing Authority partnered with The Caring Place to deliver free meals to kids ages 5-18.

Boston Housing Authority

The Boston Housing Authority partnered with Brighton Marine, Boston Veterans’ Services, VA Boston Healthcare, and We Soldier On to provide permanent, affordable housing to 25 eligible veterans.

Selma Housing Authority

Selma Housing Authority staff provided virtual learning supervision for K-6th grade students enrolled at Selma Schools to ease family stress.

Boulder Housing Partners

Boulder Housing Partners teamed up with the Boulder Shelter as they took a “Housing First” approach by building homes for the homeless in the Lee Hill community.

Jackson Housing Authority

Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department staff and the at Jackson Housing Authority prepared goody bags for residents with information on the health department programs, children’s health, and tips to quit smoking.

Waco Housing Authority

Waco Housing Authority used CARES Act funds and local partnerships to boost internet access for young students. “We wanted to make some way to assure ourselves that our kids…would have an opportunity through their schools, to move ahead.”

Housing Authority of Plainfield

COVID-19 can’t stop the Housing Authority of Plainfield! They recently broke ground on a multi-million dollar affordable housing redevelopment project.

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority partnered with CVS Health to renovate 230 low-income apartments and support community programming.

Casper Housing Authority

The Casper Housing Authority partnered with local nonprofit Seton House to launch a professional development class providing job training with Connections to Success.

Aurora Housing Authority

Residents received free, fresh produce this month thanks to Aurora Housing Authority and their partners from the City of Aurora, Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois, American Diabetes Association, and Top Box Foods.

Roanoke-Chowan Regional Housing Authority

Roanoke-Chowan Regional Housing Authority partnered with the Cultivator Bookmobile to provide free children’s books, Census 2020 outreach, and voter registration for Woodland residents.

Cambridge Housing Authority

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Cambridge Housing Authority celebrated their Latinx staff members who make a difference in the community each day.

Housing Authority of the City of Austin

Another backpack giveaway! About 130 kids from the Housing Authority of the City of Austin received backpacks with hand sanitizer, masks, and headphones before their first day of school this year.

Housing Authority of Champaign County

The Housing Authority of Champaign County launched 3 new Moving to Work initiatives – an Illinois Commitment Student Voucher program, the Community Improvement & Supportive Initiative, and the Good Steward Lease Program.

Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles

The Housing Authority of the City of LA counted 17 more households for the 2020 Census during an outreach event in partnership with the Mayor of LA, the LAPD Community Safety Partnership, and Mend Poverty. Games, prizes, and ice cream included!

Housing Authority of Salt Lake City

The Housing Authority of Salt Lake City hosted a virtual ribbon cutting for Pamela’s Place – a 100-unit permanent supportive housing development named for “Utah’s Mother Teresa.”

Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency

On International Literacy Day, the Nashville MDHA Jobs Plus program and their community partners delivered books to youth residents of all ages.

Philadelphia Housing Authority

This summer, the Philadelphia Housing Authority partnered with Philadelphia’s Work Ready Program to provide youth residents with job opportunities. “Our summer youth program is about seeing it, so you can be it.”

Maiker Housing Partners

In partnership with The Senior Hub, Inc. and The GrowHaus, Maiker Housing Partners supported senior residents with mobile food deliveries and a material aid program.

Worcester Housing Authority

The Worcester Housing Authority promoted safety in the Lakeside Apartments community with a free COVID-19 testing site, masks, and health information.

Housing Authority of the City of Tulsa

Thanks to the Housing Authority of the City of Tulsa and their partners at Rock Your Party and the Tulsa County Sherriff’s Office, youth residents enjoyed a COVID-19 style back to school celebration.

Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Forth Worth Housing Solutions kept their community informed with a virtual update on the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative and Cowan Place senior living development.

Fresno Housing Authority

Fresno Housing Authority hosted a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for The Monarch @ Chinatown, an innovative mixed-use affordable housing development on a formerly vacant lot.

Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority

The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority created a COVID-19 Housing Costs Relief Program, which covers up to 6 months of rent, mortgage, or utility cost assistance for struggling Norfolk residents.

Huntsville Housing Authority

To empower residents in their community, Huntsville Housing Authority partnered with Drake State to open an adult education center with GED classes, digital literacy, Ready to Work training, and more.

Sacramento Redevelopment and Housing Agency

The Sacramento Redevelopment and Housing Agency broke ground on their new Mirasol Village affordable housing development in partnership with HUD, the City of Sacramento, McCormack Baron Salazar, and other partners.

Housing Authority of Danville

The Housing Authority of Danville used CARES Act funds to start a mobile food pantry to support residents during COVID-19. “A lot of our residents… have been volunteering, coming in, helping to stock the food pantry… people have been really excited.”

Edinburg Housing Authority

To help residents during COVID-19, Edinburg Housing Authority provided personal care items and opened the new Simona Personal Care Closet in EHA’s main office.

Albany Housing Authority

Albany Housing Authority partnered with local recording artists on a COVID-19 gospel-rap music video. “Music breaks so many barriers and I feel it is a great vehicle to be pushing this mission forward.”

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

Thanks to the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Legacy Park senior residents received over 200 pounds of fresh produce from a local garden.

Framingham Housing Authority

Framingham Housing Authority shared their COVID-19 success story – 3,000 residents and 0 current cases. “I truly believe the biggest reason for the FHA’s success… was our communication with the residents and how quickly we acted.”

Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority

Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority added a banner as a finishing touch on their new EnVision Center, where staff members help families achieve self-sufficiency.

Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and Center For Victims served their community during COVID-19 with a socially-distanced movie and resource night for residents.

Greensboro Housing Authority

Greensboro Housing Authority staff support a thriving community garden for their Hall Towers senior residents.

Chattanooga Housing Authority

Chattanooga Housing Authority is offering new rent payment options during COVID-19, including 12-month repayment agreements and deferred late fees.

Greenwich Housing Authority

The Greenwich Housing Authority awarded $16k in college scholarships to student residents. “We don’t just say our children’s futures are important – we do something about it.”

Boston Housing Authority

Thanks to Boston Housing Authority and their community partners, BHA residents received free, healthy meals during COVID-19.

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