Texas Public Housing Authorities: Assessing Their Effectiveness in Affordable Housing Efforts at the Community Level

Date

2006-05

Authors

Green, Elvia Ebby

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Abstract

This applied research project focuses on Public Housing Authorities as affordable housing providers. There are 3,300 Public Housing Authorities in the United States of which 424 are in Texas. This research project has three purposes 1) to review literature on affordable housing to identify the ideal characteristics of an effective affordable housing program; 2) to assess Texas PHA's using the ideal characteristics; and 3) to provide recommendations for improving Public Housing Authority programs to better meet the affordable housing needs of their communities. The survey research method was used. Surveys were mailed to executive directors of the 424 Texas Public Housing Authorities. Sixty-two of the executive directors completed and returned the survey. The majority of Public Housing Authorities administer Public Housing and the Section Housing Choice Voucher program. Both of these are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devleopment (HUD). HUD evaluates the performance of Public Housing Authorities on how they administer these programs. However, the performance of Public Housing Authorities, as affordable housing providers within their respective communities, is generally not evaluated. Due to a high demand for affordable housing, it is crucial that Public Housing Authorities find new and innovative ways to increase the supply of affordable housing in their communities. The practical ideal type developed in this project will be used to evaluate Texas Public Housing Authorities as affordable housing providers and to provide recommendations for improving and expanding programs to meet the affordable housing needs of their communities. Based on the findings of this research, it was found that there are very few Public Housing Authorities in Texas who are engaged in housing development initiatives to expand the availability of affordable housing.

Description

An Applied Research Project Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University-San Marcos, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Spring 2006.

Keywords

affordable housing programs, housing initiatives, Public Housing Agency, Public Administration

Citation

Green, E. E. (2006). Texas public housing authorities: Assessing their effectiveness in affordable housing efforts at the community level. Masters of Public Administration, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX.

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