Nogales Housing Authority reports near‑full occupancy, capital upgrades and upcoming HUD review

The Nogales Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Feb. 5 heard a director's report showing near‑full occupancy, steady voucher usage, ongoing capital improvements and an upcoming comprehensive compliance monitoring review by HUD field office staff.

Director’s report and key figures: The authority reported 218 leased units out of 220 available online, with six units offline for modernization and one unit in turnaround status, for a total inventory of 226 public‑housing units. The waiting list totals by bedroom size were reported as: one‑bedroom 79; two‑bedroom 49; three‑bedroom 14; four‑bedroom 3; five‑bedroom 1. Maintenance completed 75 of 78 submitted work orders, the director said.

Voucher programs and waiting lists: In the Housing Choice Voucher program the authority reported 56 of 77 vouchers leased, 21 vouchers available and 27 new applications on a recently opened waiting list. Project‑based vouchers were reported as 20 executed; stability vouchers reported 5 with 4 executed and 1 “poured out”; emergency housing vouchers totaled 15 with 10 executed under lease and one voucher removed after a tenant death.

Budgets and grants: The authority provided line‑item budget figures. For example, the director reported approximately $930,764.03 expended from $2,325,000 in allocated grant funds, leaving an available balance reported at about $724,905.97. Administrative, utility, insurance and ordinary maintenance lines were presented with current expenditures and balances; the director noted a prior typographical error in the packet and clarified the figures were for January. Board members questioned low spending in tenant services and ordinary maintenance; the director said tenant‑service spending is limited and cited a recent $495.44 charge for two nights at a local hotel to relocate a family after a unit flooded.

Capital projects and property improvements: The authority listed multiple capital and capital‑related activities: painting at several properties, sidewalk replacements, replacement of evaporative coolers at multiple sites, a completed roofing project, installation of railings to meet INSPIRE requirements, remodeling of 8 units with two more in process for a projected total of 10 by the end of next month, and lobby and interview office renovations to meet ADA requirements. The director said a security‑camera project is nearly complete at the authority’s 10 properties but that some installations are awaiting electrical work.

INSPIRE inspection and HUD review: The authority reported it had “passed our first inspection under INSPIRE with a final score of 80%,” and that a comprehensive compliance monitoring review by the HUD field office is scheduled for the week of Feb. 18–20. The director said the authority is awaiting official documentation of its PHA designation: “We were taken out of troubled status pending the physical part of it,” the director said, but added that no formal notice had been received.

Operational items and next steps: The director said staff are pursuing a barcode inventory system for appliances and tools to meet grant obligation deadlines; she noted some capital grants carry obligation deadlines (one cited as Feb. 16) and that failure to obligate funds by grant deadlines can result in penalties. She said the authority will continue capital projects and prepare for the HUD review.

Ending: There were no formal votes related to these items during the meeting. The board adjourned following routine closing procedures.