Housing Authority of the Birmingham District

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The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (sometimes called the Birmingham Housing Authority) is the public agency responsible for administering Birmingham's public housing projects as well as Section 8 vouchers for low-income renters in the city. The authority's headquarters office is located at 1826 3rd Avenue South. It is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor of Birmingham to staggared terms. The board appoints an executive director for administration of programs. Dontrelle Foster currently serves in that position on an interim basis.

The board was first incorporated in 1935 and first acted as the city's authority in implementing provisions of the Housing Act of 1937.

Several public housing projects funded by the Public Housing Administration were constructed in the 1960s, and were intended to replace "slum" dwellings demolished under the banner of "urban renewal". In Birmingham in that decade, this included 661 families displaced for expansion of the Medical Center, 109 for development of the BJCC, 600 from the proposed Park West development, 750 due to interstate highway construction, and 500 demolished as part of enforcement of housing codes by the Jefferson County Health Department. Acknowledging the need for low-cost housing, the Birmingham Association of Home Builders passed a resolution in 1967 asking city officials to actively encourage private enterprise to address it. Director Hugh Denman expressed serious doubt that homebuilders were prepared to develop housing that was accessible to families who paid an average of $32–36/month, utilities included, for public housing units.

In 2019 the board served approximately 5,000 households living in 14 public housing communities. It employs around 235 people, some on a temporary basis.

In 2021 the Housing Authority restructured itself. In 2024 the authority was awarded more than $53 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand its "Housing Choice Voucher" Section 8 program.

Executive directors

Board of Commissioners

Current

Former

See also

References

  • Isaacson, Lou (January 17, 1967) "Home builders speak out: City urged to reject low-rent housing plan." The Birmingham News, p. 2
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (February 6, 2014) "Fireworks at Birmingham Housing Authority Board as executive director rehired, mayhem, arrests follow." The Birmingham News
  • Johnson, Roy S. (September 20, 2019) "Johnson: What is HABD hiding by stalling on release of public records?" The Birmingham News
  • Johnson, Roy S. (March 19, 2020) "Lundy out as Birmingham Housing Authority president/CEO." The Birmingham News
  • Mann, Joshua (October 22, 2021) "Birmingham Housing Authority to undergo major reorganization." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Parker, Illyshia (January 17, 2023) "Birmingham Housing Authority submits application to HUD for $50 million grant." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (April 25, 2024) "‘We need somebody’: Birmingham public housing residents left without board representation." AL.com
  • Goffin, Isaac (June 6, 2024) "Birmingham Housing Authority to receive over $53 million for Section 8 expansion." CBS42.com

External links

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