Wichita Housing Authority approves sale of 29 public housing units to support new affordable housing models

The Wichita Housing Authority Board on Dec. 2 approved sale contracts for 29 scattered-site public housing properties identified for disposition under HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) repositioning.

Carmen Hoffine (Real Property Section Manager) reviewed the RAD history: the authority converted several multifamily senior sites under RAD in 2021 but found the remaining scattered-site single-family portfolio financially infeasible for RAD financing due to rehabilitation costs and management challenges. HUD approval of inventory removal was sought for a subset of properties.

An RFP process produced proposals and an affordable housing review board selected purchasers: Patterson Home Solutions LLC (3 properties), Seek First Rentals LLC (6 properties), and ownership entities related to Large Enterprise (20 properties). The staff recommended and the board approved sale contracts; net sales proceeds will be used in accordance with HUD Notice PIH 2020‑23 to fund Section 8 rental projects and related activities. The board recorded a unanimous vote 7–0.

Officials said there is no impact to the city general fund and that proceeds must be applied to HUD‑approved affordable housing activities. The sales allow the housing authority to reallocate resources toward scalable Section 8 models and larger rehabilitation efforts that RAD financing could not support on scattered single‑family portfolios.

The board authorized signatures on the five sale contracts and instructed staff to proceed with HUD-required steps for the dispositions.