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Berks County Housing Authority outlines HUD programs and explores RAD conversion to preserve public housing
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Summary
BCHA CEO Gwen Becker told commissioners the authority manages vouchers and 209 public-housing units, is exploring RAD conversion that could transfer HUD-owned properties to local control, and cited capacity and funding gaps as barriers to serving more households.
Gwen Becker, chief executive officer of the Berks County Housing Authority, told the county commissioners on April 16 that the authority is managing housing choice vouchers, public housing properties and special-purpose vouchers while exploring several strategies to preserve and expand affordable housing in the county. "We're currently building capacity to request HUD's permission" for mortgage assistance and to pursue Rental Assistance Demonstration conversion, Becker said.
Becker framed RAD conversion as a path for BCHA and its nonprofit development arm, Berks Housing Opportunities (BHO), to take ownership of HUD-held public-housing properties without acquisition cost and convert funding streams so units remain designated for low- and moderate-income households. "The authority and its nonprofit development partner will take ownership of approximately $33,000,000 worth of housing stock," Becker said, and she added that RAD could allow the authority to use program income to create additional affordable housing.
The presentation included program counts and operational details. Becker said BCHA administers general-purpose Housing Choice Vouchers supporting about 398 families and individuals, manages nine public-housing developments totaling 209 units and holds 25 VASH vouchers for veterans. She noted a federal moratorium on new public housing and said HUD holds deeds while BCHA manages properties on HUD's behalf.
Commissioners asked about fair market rents and inter-agency portability. Becker directed commissioners to a published April 1 chart for detailed rent figures and estimated a one-bedroom fair-market rent in the county around $1,200 per month. A commissioner asked whether county and city voucher authorities could agree to port vouchers interchangeably as occurs in the Lehigh Valley; commissioners said they hope to pursue such an agreement to increase flexibility for renters.
Becker also described property types (apartments, townhouses, designated elderly/disabled units, and three mobility-accessible homes at Norman Commons) and BHO-owned scattered-site homes. She said BCHA is evaluating whether RAD conversion is feasible for its small-authority model and cautioned the process could take up to two years. "We are in the exploratory stage of seeking RAD conversion permission from HUD," she said, and pledged to keep tenants, the BCHA board and the community informed.
The presentation concluded with a request to visit berksha.org for updates and an offer to answer commissioners' questions; commissioners thanked BCHA for its work and emphasized alignment with county housing initiatives.
The commissioners did not take formal action on the RAD concept during the meeting; Becker said the authority will continue feasibility work and community engagement.
