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Housing Authority reports 93% occupancy, 214 vouchers; tenants praise renovations and community programs
Summary
The Queen Anne's County Housing Authority reported about 93% occupancy, 214 housing choice vouchers, renovations at Terrapin Grove, a new community garden, a community solar outreach, and other facility updates; tenants commended staff at the meeting.
The Queen Anne's County Housing Authority told the board it is about 93% occupied across its properties and administering about 214 Housing Choice Vouchers, the executive director reported during the meeting (date not specified).
The executive director said the authority's wait list decreased from roughly 200 applicants to 179 in August and reported 45 recertifications through August, including 17 completed in that month. Staff performed 105 housing choice voucher inspections through August, with seven inspections listed as overdue. Project-based vouchers at Slippery Hill have 11 of 14 units filled, the director said, with three units pending coordination with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Tenants and board members highlighted recent property upgrades. Debbie Brunetti, tenant council president at Foxtown, praised renovation work that she said included new carpet, painting and a new roof, adding: "They've made it a a very nice place to live." Brunetti said residents at Foxtown work together to maintain their property and thanked board members and staff by name for assistance.
Staff updates noted that facilities technicians now use tablets to respond to work orders and conduct inspections, which the executive director said improved real-time communication and reporting. Work orders peaked at 400 in May and had declined by August as maintenance completions began matching incoming requests. The director said preventative maintenance inspections — typically twice per year per development — generate higher volumes of work orders when performed.
The board recognized outgoing chair Judy Kropfelter with a plaque and presented community pride awards to residents who maintain gardens and tidy grounds at developments including Terrapin Grove, Graceville Terrace and Foxtown. At Terrapin Grove the authority installed a larger TV donated by Commissioner Steve Wilson; an electrician was scheduled to install a converter box to finalize the setup. The authority also reported a refreshed salon at Terrapin Grove with new sinks and cabinetry and a newly active community garden.
The executive director reported a Nexamp representative presented a community solar program to tenants; participation is open to anyone who uses the housing authority's code, and the authority benefits from enrollments. The director also said staff planned a meeting with a representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss use of veterans vouchers for homeless veterans.
Staff described an incident in which a tree fell across the entrance to Fisher Manor on a Saturday night; county roads crews cleared the road and assisted with cleanup, the director said.
Board materials for the meeting included the Housing Authority's HUD-required five-year plan outlining mission, goals and objectives for serving low-income households; the director drew the board's attention to those packet items and said HUD requires the submission.
The meeting included public comment in which tenants expressed gratitude for improvements and active communication with the housing authority. There were no formal votes recorded for the programs and updates summarized in this report.
