BHA Administrator Bill McGonagle is pleased to announce a new draft Designated Housing Plan for its federally funded elderly/disabled public housing developments. The Plan governs the percentage of elderly and non-elderly disabled households living in BHA’s 36 federal elderly/disabled public housing developments located throughout Boston.

In an effort to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to comment, the BHA has extended the public comment period until February 5, 2015.  After the public comment period, BHA will review comments, prepare responses and will submit the final Plan upon completion to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval.

A number of recent studies have highlighted the need for additional affordable housing for the elderly on both the local and national level. Under the proposed Plan, the ratio of elderly to non-elderly disabled heads of household in the federal elderly/disabled public housing developments would increase to 80% elderly/20% non-elderly disabled. In conjunction with this shift, BHA will provide three hundred thirty (330) Section 8 vouchers to the non-elderly disabled who are not housed as a result of the Plan so that there will be no net loss of affordable housing to the non-elderly disabled. All BHA residents and applicants affected by the proposed Plan will be notified well in advance of any changes. 

Draft Designated Housing Plan
Exhibits
Valadus Consulting also created video exhibits titled benchmarking, interview, supply and demand.
 
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Matthew Steele, Civil Rights Policy Manager, by email or phone at 617-988-4379. Written comments should be submitted by email or delivered to 52 Chauncy Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 by no later than 5 p.m. on February 5, 2015.

The BHA also distributes news and public review information through its online mailing list.