Housing authority reports progress and financing hurdles on MAPS4 homelessness projects

The Oklahoma City Housing Authority presented a quarterly update to the MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board on Sept. 4, reporting project openings, current financing arrangements and pauses while developers pursue tax credits and other funding.

The authority’s representative, Greg Shin, told the board the operating agreement calls for up to 500 supportive housing units, renovation of 1,500 public housing units and development of 150 workforce housing units. “We agreed to provide up to 500 supportive housing units, and we would renovate 1,500 current public housing units, and also, develop 150 workforce housing units,” Shin said.

Shin outlined spending from the first MAPS allocation of $10,762,400, including $512,400 for administration (now fully expended), $1 million committed to Oak Grove (expanded from 288 to 306 units with new construction on-site), $2.5 million committed to Creston Park (temporarily paused while financing is reworked), $1.75 million in a revolving predevelopment fund, $3 million expended on the Vita Nova motel conversion, and $1.9 million on Dorset Place, a 70‑unit veterans community that opened last week and moved its first seven residents into permanent supportive housing.

Shin said Dorset Place’s phase 1 opened with 37 occupied units and a 33‑unit phase 2 planned. He said the Housing Authority has “hundreds of HUD VASH” vouchers that veterans may use but characterized Dorset Place as an additional choice for veterans seeking permanent housing.

Shin described why Creston Park is paused: unfavorable terms in the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency’s 2023 qualified allocation plan (QAP) increased costs (for example, requirements such as storm shelters and other amenities) and an $8–$10 million funding gap remained. He also cited the federal Build America, Buy America (BABA) sourcing requirement, which he said has increased some costs by roughly 25 percent by forcing use of U.S.‑made materials that are in short supply.

“We have preliminary approval from HUD on that, but we're waiting on the final written approval from HUD, and then we can begin the demolition of those homes in later this year,” Shin said of Creston Park, adding that the authority hopes to start demolition in the fourth quarter and then reconfigure financing and unit counts.

Shin reviewed projects in the second MAPS allocation (another $10,762,400), saying the authority has expended $149,450 of $512,400 in administration so far and has committed funds to Will Rogers Courts (a HUD Choice Neighborhoods program, planned in phases), a 38‑unit We Host Alliance supportive housing project across from the Homeless Alliance campus (about $1.2 million in MAPS funds toward a $6.5 million development cost, with contracts under negotiation), a 132‑unit Shiloh Flats workforce housing project (MAPS committed $1 million), and an unnamed family workforce housing project currently estimated at 24 units. Shin said about $5.5 million of the second allocation remains to be committed.

Shin and the board discussed timelines and leverage: Vita Nova’s $3 million MAPS investment is part of an approximately $16 million project; Dorset Place’s $1.9 million MAPS investment fits into a roughly $4.7 million total budget for 70 units; Oak Grove preliminary budget was described as about $71 million. Shin estimated that MAPS investment to date ($8.88 million across the cited projects) is leveraging about $86.5 million in additional funding — about $10.30 per $1 of MAPS funds — but noted many figures are preliminary and subject to change as tax credit allocations, contractor costs and federal requirements evolve.

Board members pressed for clarity about Creston Park demolition and community engagement. One board member noted the site “still hasn't been demolished yet” and asked whether demolition had begun; Shin said neighborhood engagement and HUD’s final written approval remain steps before demolition can start. Board member Chelsea expressed frustration later in the meeting about Creston Park delays and stressed concerns about equitable benefits for nearby residents.

Shin said the authority is pursuing multiple approaches — new construction, motel conversions, third‑party developers with subrecipients named in the operating agreement (Mental Health Association, Pivot, and the Homeless Alliance) — to accelerate unit delivery while preserving MAPS compliance requirements.

The update was informational; board members did not take a formal vote on any project changes during this item. Shin offered to return with updated financing plans and unit counts when available.