Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw Housing Authority Executive Director Laura Kaufman told the agency's board of commissioners Monday that they are nearing the end of the fiscal year "in pretty good shape."
The figures are at -$706.17 for the year thus far, with the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. "We should break pretty close to even this year, which is a big improvement from last year," Kaufman said. The agency expenditures can be plus or minus 5 percent without penalty from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, she said.
WHA provided its clients with nearly $600,000 in rent assistance this year, with the federal funds being used to pay local landlords considered a boost to the local economy, board members said.
The WHA has 175 Section 8 vouchers available for its clients to use in obtaining reduced rents in the community. Section 8 is a federal program that provides improved living conditions for low- income families by helping with rent and utility payments. There are 188 people currently in the program, but Kaufman expects to end the month with 10 or 11 clients leaving the program for various reasons and only six or seven new people coming on board.
"I'm very happy with the numbers," Kaufman said.
The number of clients being served by the WHA is nearly 100 more this year than last year, board member Dennis Cultice said.
"We won't be out of business any time soon," Kaufman said. "There's an endless flow of people."
Part of the increase is attributed to Kaufman, who took over the agency more than a year ago. However, Kaufman told board members that she can't take all the credit. She said availability of apartments from non-HUD people moving out of affordable units and bringing landlords onto the program who hadn't participated before has been a big help.
In other business, Kaufman said the recipients of the first loans in the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation programs administered by WHA's sister agency, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, have nearly all repaid their loans. OOR 3 recipients will soon be ready to begin making payments.
Also, HOW will submit a housing grant for a rehabilitation project in Winona Lake for $250,000 and Pierceton, where one grant is under way, is interested in doing another project in the spring, Kaufman said. "They've gotten really good feedback from their citizens."
The agency also received a grant for $117,000 for transitional housing and will purchase a house on Center Street.
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 are Bob Kline, Sherri Ruggier-Milton, Dennis Cultice, Tom Lemon, Axa Troncoso and Joel Curry. Bill Rhoades is the Warsaw City Council representative to the board.
