Cochise County housing director previews 5-year plan, cites voucher growth and waiting-list strain

The Housing Authority of Cochise County told the Board of Supervisors on March 20 that it will submit a HUD five-year plan that emphasizes maintaining program performance, ensuring housing quality, and expanding assisted housing while managing a waiting list of nearly 800 households.

"Our mission is to provide safe decent sanitary housing conditions for low fam low income families and to manage resources efficiently," Housing Director Anita Baca told the board during a work session in the Supervisor's Hearing Room.

Baca said the authority's priorities for the five-year plan (HUD form 50075) include remaining a high performer under HUD's Section 8 Management Assessment Program, conducting required inspections, affirmatively furthering fair housing, promoting self-sufficiency through the Family Self-Sufficiency program and applying for additional vouchers if they become available.

The housing authority reported several program changes and expansions since the last five-year plan. It increased its HUD VASH vouchers for veterans from 25 to 98, and absorbed Douglas's voucher allocation after Douglas divested, adding 193 vouchers into the combined Cochise County inventory. Baca said the agency also added roughly 210 housing choice,…