CRHA board approves submission of FY 2026–2027 annual plan after FAR feedback and resident outreach
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Summary
The Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority board voted to approve Resolution 14‑98 to submit its proposed FY 2026–2027 annual plan to HUD after a presentation by Deputy Executive Director Kathleen Matthews and comments from FAR. The plan incorporates a city-requested sentence on consistency with the consolidated plan and staff said it will be submitted by Jan. 12.
The Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority voted to approve Resolution 14‑98, authorizing submission of its proposed fiscal year 2026–2027 annual plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Kathleen Matthews, deputy executive director for the Housing Authority, presented an updated draft and told the board the document had been posted Oct. 24 and revised with responses to written and hearing comments. "We started in August," she said, and staff held planning meetings in September and public meetings in November. Matthews said the authority hopes to submit the plan to HUD by Jan. 12.
Matthews said the plan required only a few changes this year because redevelopment reduced the number of substantive edits. She described the plan as a "living form" that includes meeting notes and written responses; materials still requiring signatures would be attached after board and executive director sign-off. She also offered translation assistance for residents who need help accessing the document.
The plan incorporates a city-requested sentence affirming consistency with the local consolidated plan and goals such as encouraging homeownership and preserving affordable housing. Matthews said Deputy City Manager James Friess signed on behalf of the city manager to confirm that addition.
FAR submitted a letter the night before the meeting that staff incorporated into the plan and staff invited FAR to follow up. "We tried to make sure that every question was answered," Matthews said.
Patricia Giles, executive director of FAR, praised the authority's early engagement with FAR interns and thanked the staff and interns for their review. "They were very instrumental in getting a lot of the legwork done on this," Giles said, singling out one intern, Tyrese, for detailed reading of the draft. Giles also urged broader resident education on rent statements and the hardships-exemption process and welcomed CRHA’s stated commitment to more staff training.
Board members and staff discussed recurring concerns raised by FAR about resident communication during redevelopment, clarity about potential changes to rent calculations, property maintenance, and on-site staff capacity. Michael (board member) summarized those points as central to FAR’s comments, saying they "jumped out to me as some of the biggest points of feedback." Matthews acknowledged the concerns and said CRHA will expand education programs, provide clinics and partner with property managers on eviction-diversion work to help residents understand rent calculations and available relief.
Matthews also described an initiative to pursue a youth workforce grant through the U.S. Department of Labor (a YouthBuild-style opportunity) and to partner with KTEC, FAR and residents to create on-site career-pathway opportunities tied to redevelopment. She said the grants coordinator and staff were monitoring the Labor Department's posting and would apply when it becomes available.
The board considered the plan and the chair introduced Resolution 14‑98, "approving the submission of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority proposed annual plan for fiscal year 2026 to 2027." Michael moved approval; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair announced, "Motion passes."
After approving the resolution, the board convened a closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss personnel matters exempt from public disclosure. Upon reconvening, the board certified that only those exempted matters were discussed, then adjourned the meeting.
The authority publishes the annual plan and related documents on cvillerha.com under About → Key Documents; Matthews said the site will include the updated attachments once signed. She also noted a recent donation from the American Heart Association of blood-pressure cuffs that will be publicized on the website.
What happens next: staff will collect outstanding signatures, attach the signed documents to the annual-plan filing and submit the package to HUD as planned. The document also remains open for resident access and translation assistance.
