Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Recent changes in regulations approved by the Indiana General Assembly increase the number of members on housing authority boards.
Warsaw Housing Authority Executive Director Laura Kaufman told the local board Monday of the change made this month in Indianapolis. House Enrolled Act No. 1952 is an amendment to Indiana Code. Currently, housing authorities have five members - one of whom must be an agency client. The change will enlarge the board to seven members. The WHA also has a city council representative on its board, but that position is a nonvoting one.
WHA members are appointed by the Warsaw mayor, and the change is effective July 1.
In other business, WHA's sister agency, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, is hoping to purchase a house on East Center Street for use as transitional housing.
The two-family home has three bedrooms on each side, and families qualifying for transitional housing would be able to live in the home from six months to two years and would receive counseling/training through Project Independence, a program coordinated by Combined Community Services.
Kaufman said the city has earmarked $21,000 toward the purchase and Kosciusko County Foundation granted HOW $5,000. Another $1,000 is being sought from a third source and the agency plans to apply for an Indiana Housing Finance Authority grant in July. The property owner is willing to hold the house for sale until October, according to a purchase option between HOW and the owner.
A proposed 80-unit low-income apartment complex suffered a setback last week when IHFA failed to grant a requested tax credit to the developer, Herman Associates.
The complex, expected to be constructed on Husky Trail, could get the needed tax credits when the developer reapplies in August.
The WHA reported that 170 of its 175 available rental-assistance slots are filled, with use expected to be at 100 percent by June 1.
The WHA board of commissioners meets at 5:15 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month in the law offices of Lemon, Armey, Hearn & Leininger. Board members Bob Kline, Dennis Cultice and Axa Troncoso were present Monday. Tom Lemon, Sherri Ruggier-Milton and city council representative Bill Rhoades were absent.
