PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SPOKANE HOUSING AUTHORITY: On Monday, February 25, 2013, HUD
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Sandra Henriquez, issued a
letter to all Public Housing Authorities regarding the potential impact of the
Sequestration Legislation (federal budget cuts to all programs) and revenue
saving steps Housing Authorities are encouraged to take if they have not already
done so.
Over the past 3 years, Spokane
Housing Authority (SHA) has been proactive in taking all of the steps HUD
has encouraged Housing Authorities to take to reduce program costs in order to
maximize our assistance to the clients we serve.
SHA currently serves
approximately 5,000 households (over 10,000 individuals) in five counties area
of Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Lincoln, and Whitman. By implementing several cost saving
measures we have been able to continue to serve our entire allocation of Section
8 Housing Choice Vouchers.
To date no households have been terminated as a
result of budget cuts that SHA has faced over the past 6
years. The Sequestration cuts proposed
will not have an immediate impact on the clients we serve nor on our
existing program administration; SHA will continue to monitor the situation
closely, projecting potential future impact to administration of vital basic
housing services if continued cuts are sustained.
SHA will continue to look for
additional opportunities to streamline administrative client services,
collaborate with community partners to promote self-sufficiency, and ask clients
and housing providers to understand our challenge with the goal of keeping
housing affordable.
