ALEXANDRIA, La. (Alexandria Housing Authority) – The Alexandria Housing Authority (AHA) announced $67 million in upgrades to 556 housing units at multiple properties throughout the City of Alexandria. The upgrades are being funded under the relatively new Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program.
RAD, developed in 2012, is a federal program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to improve and maintain public housing buildings by using public and private debt and equity to reinvest in public housing properties. Under RAD, units are moved to a Section 8 platform with a long-term contract that must be renewed, which ensures the units remain permanently affordable to low-income households.
According to RAD, public housing units across the country need more than $26 billion in repairs because necessary maintenance and repairs have been perpetually delayed. Because of this, an average of 10,000 public housing units are lost per year, primarily due to disrepair and unsafe housing conditions.
“This project will provide immediate as well as long-term benefits to Alexandria,” said Executive Director Joseph P. Page. “The immediate benefits are the new jobs and spending during each construction phase. The long-term benefits are attractive, affordable housing for those with limited incomes, which can help prevent homelessness, revitalize neighborhoods, and be an asset to the broader community.”