NAHRO Testimony
Congressional Testimony
On May 22, 2024, Mr. Georgi Banna testified before the Housing Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. The hearing was titled, “PHA Oversight: How Scandals and Mismanagement Harm Residents and Taxpayers.”
NAHRO stands ready to partner with Congress in supporting PHAs to serve as stewards of public housing and other critical housing assistance programs that provide shelter for the most vulnerable in our communities.
Mr. Georgi Banna, General Counsel & Director of Strategic Initiatives, NAHRO
On July 20, 2021, Ms. Jennifer Keogh testified before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development. The hearing was titled, “Safe at Home: Preserving and Improving Federally Assisted Housing.”
Public housing is a critical piece of the affordable housing landscape…we need Congress to meet their obligation to provide safe housing to our residents and fully fund the $70 billion Public Housing Capital Fund backlog.
Ms. Jennifer Keogh, (former) Deputy Director, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA)
On March 24, 2021, Mr. Georgi Banna testified before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. The hearing was titled, “Preserving a Lifeline: Examining Public Housing in a Pandemic.”
PHAs continue to be on the front lines in addressing local affordable housing needs and are ready and able to assist their local communities and families find stability. Funding and creativity during and after the pandemic are needed so PHAs can devise housing solutions.
Mr. Georgi Banna, (former) Director of Policy and Program Development, NAHRO
On February 5, 2020, Mrs. Ann Gass, Mr. Bobby Collins, and Mr. Eugene Jones Jr. testified before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. The hearing was titled, “A Future Without Public Housing? Examining the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Eliminate Public Housing.”
Maintaining our housing assets is crucial, as the demand for affordable housing continues to increase.
Mrs. Ann Gass, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA)
Public housing has served as a vital resource for the working poor for nearly a century…many public housing units are coupled with self-sufficiency programs and have income rules that encourage wage growth for residents by allowing flat rents.
Mr. Bobby Collins, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the City of Shreveport
Increasing the supply of affordable housing by building new structures and purchasing and rehabbing old structures through various public/private partnerships eases the housing shortage for the vast amount of Americans.
Mr. Eugene Jones Jr.,(former) President and CEO, Atlanta Housing Authority
On November 7, 2019, Ms. Ivory Mathews testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in a hearing titled, “Examining Bipartisan Bills to Promote Affordable Housing, Access and Safety.”
These funds are very important to affordable housing providers’ ability to adequately comply with measures that will facilitate a safer home for all. Additional funding is critical to ensure all public housing authorities are able to purchase needed carbon monoxide detectors.
Ms. Ivory Mathews, (former) Executive Director of Columbia Housing
On April 30, 2019, Ms. Adrianne Todman testified before the House Committee on Financial Services in a hearing titled, “Housing in America: Assessing the Infrastructure Needs of America’s Housing Stock.”
Public housing is not just infrastructure, but also an economic engine…every $1 spent on public housing produces an additional $2.12 in indirect economic activity. Thus, a $70 billion infusion would result in $218.4 billion in total economic activity.
Ms. Adrianne Todman, (former) CEO of NAHRO
On September 21, 2016, Mr. Ailrick Young testified before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance. The hearing was titled, “The Future of Housing in America: A Better Way to Increase Efficiencies for Housing Vouchers and Create Upward Economic Mobility.”
Extra care should be granted to small and rural housing agencies. Rural communities typically have fewer resources to meet the growing demand for affordable housing, especially for aging populations. These communities have been severely hurt by funding cuts and costly HUD reporting requirements.
Ms. Adrianne Todman, (former) CEO of NAHRO