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Housing Authority seeks $75,000 for transitional vouchers and proposes Peaslee Tech efficiency units for permanent affordable housing
Summary
The Lawrence‑Douglas County Housing Authority asked AHAB to continue funding New Horizons transitional vouchers ($75,000 request) and described a separate proposal to place two 240‑sq‑ft Peaslee Tech efficiency homes on HA‑owned lots using a $180,000 AHAB request to fund two units.
Galal O'Bade, vice president of program operations for the Lawrence‑Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA), presented two items: a request to continue funding the New Horizons transitional voucher program and a proposal to add two efficiency homes to the public housing stock.
O'Bade said New Horizons is a 24‑month transitional voucher program created in 2016 at the city and county’s request. It offers rental assistance and case management and, on average, houses 6–7 families per year from the LDCHA waitlist. Since inception the program has housed 55 households (about 200 people) and LDCHA reported that 85% of families transition from New Horizons to permanent vouchers. LDCHA requested $75,000 to continue serving the same number of families; the county approved a matching $75,000 at its recent meeting.
Separately, LDCHA described a partnership with Peaslee Tech to build two 240‑square‑foot efficiency homes as permanent affordable units. Peaslee Tech has a revolving grant model where a $90,000 per‑unit grant funds construction; LDCHA seeks $180,000 to finance two units and offered HA‑owned land (three possible sites) and operations/maintenance administration. LDCHA noted one preferred site (800 Garfield) was in a floodplain so they identified alternate parcels and said HUD approval may be required for properties with declarations of trust.
Board members asked about site readiness, sewer/water hookups and whether LDCHA would absorb operating costs; LDCHA said public housing subsidy and internal maintenance teams would cover operations if the units enter the public housing stock.
