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CRHA reports rising arrears and voucher capacity challenges; cites $4M capital project delayed by HUD processes
Summary
Executive Director Don Sales reported 72 nonpayment notices, 24 UD filings, eight pending court dates and roughly $230,000 in tenant accounts receivable; he also described HCV capacity limits, port voucher debts, redevelopment progress and a $4 million capital renovation delayed by HUD actions.
Don Sales, executive director of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, told the board the agency is addressing rising tenant accounts receivable and voucher capacity shortfalls while moving forward on major capital projects.
Sales said staff issued 72 nonpayment notices this month, filed 24 UD (unlawful detainer) actions and have eight pending court dates. "That is roughly $62,000... a worth of our total Tenet accounts receivable, that is a little over $230,000 which is about 10% of all the rent that we charge for the entire year," he said, describing how the agency is using repayment agreements and hardship provisions to avoid eviction when possible.
He reported the public housing wait list is "a little bit over 2,400 families," and said the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is operating near capacity with roughly 450 participants and spending of about $496,000; voucher wait lists and rising rents limit the ability to lease up additional vouchers.
On ported vouchers, Sales said CRHA is owed money by other housing authorities ("probably about 20 housing authorities that owe us around $100,000" overall) and the agency is pursuing collections. He said the SysRAP program has seen lease‑up delays (search periods increasing to a year) and staff plan to tighten search requirements and bring an amendment to council for first reading in December.
On capital projects, Sales said CRHA has a roughly $4,000,000 renovation program for Mickey Madison Riverside and scattered sites and noted the agency received an Emergency Safety Solutions grant to fund security cameras (primary) and some fencing. He cautioned that HUD must sign ACC amendments and process an annual plan amendment before CRHA can expend an additional $250,000 of capital funds; those administrative steps are on hold while HUD staffing is limited during the federal shutdown.
Why it matters: rising arrears, constrained voucher capacity and ported‑voucher debts affect thousands of households and the agency's ability to keep families housed. The capital projects and safety grant are intended to improve resident safety and housing quality, but require HUD action before contracts can proceed.
The meeting included questions about whether halting evictions would help; Sales said total cessation could worsen nonpayment behavior and described targeted hardship accommodations and individualized repayment plans.
