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Topeka Housing Authority reports occupancy growth, new projects and supportive services
Summary
Trey George, CEO of the Topeka Housing Authority, told the governing body the authority improved public-housing occupancy during 2024, moved families through Section 8 and VASH programs, is issuing tenant-protection vouchers for Timberly, and has tax-credit applications pending for Van Buren and Fremont Hill sites.
Trey George, president and CEO of the Topeka Housing Authority, updated the governing body on the agency’s 2024 performance and ongoing projects, saying occupancy rose and new developments are under application.
George reported public-housing occupancy climbed from just over 90% at the start of 2024 to just under 96% at year-end, leaving about 33 vacant apartments. He said the housing authority’s internal target is 98% occupancy to maximize public-housing funding and that maintenance teams prepared 47 homes for occupation during the year. Section 8 activity included about 70 move-ins and nearly 400 total families leasing up in 2024; the Section 8 wait list remains closed with more than 2,000 names.
George outlined partnerships and services the housing authority operates: Pine Ridge programs (including early-learning Pine Ridge Prep with roughly 300 graduates and 51 preschool slots), a nurse-practitioner-led Pioneers Family Health Center with about 2,500 unique patients and 10,000 encounters since opening in 2017, a book-distribution project in partnership with the public library and United Way, and after-school programming at the Deer Creek Community Center. He also described the Sunflower Music Festival partnership that supplies music lessons and instrument loans for participating children.
On specific developments, George said the authority will issue tenant-protection vouchers for Timberly residents; HUD’s relocation team will meet families March 26 and vouchers will be issued March 28 to help residents find new housing. He said the authority submitted a 9% tax-credit application in February for Van Buren School Building (11 duplexes, 22 homes) and a 4% tax-credit application for a Fremont Hill property intended to include about 76 new homes with rental assistance available for a majority of units and supportive services on-site provided by a partner agency.
George closed by offering tours of housing sites and urging council members to call with questions about affordable-housing operations and programs.
Speakers at the council then asked clarifying questions about Pine Ridge age ranges, program outcomes, timelines for Van Buren if tax credits are awarded and other operational details; George responded that the Van Buren project would likely begin construction in early 2026 if awarded credits and that Pine Ridge Prep serves 3- and 4-year-olds (with prenatal-through-age-3 services at the Parents & Teachers facility).
