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RRHA outlines redevelopment approach and voucher utilization; committee seeks follow-up on TPV outcomes
Summary
Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority leadership briefed the committee on redevelopment principles, tenant-protection vouchers, project-based vouchers and recent Creighton Court relocation data; RRHA said it serves about 10,000 families and reported a 97% utilization rate for its baseline Housing Choice Voucher allocation, while noting tenant-protection vouchers are tracked separately.
Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority (RRHA) leadership presented an update on redevelopment activity, voucher programs and anti-displacement measures and answered committee questions about utilization and return-to-site outcomes.
RRHA leadership (introduced as Nesbeth) said the authority serves roughly 6,000 public-housing residents and 4,000 Housing Choice participants ("Therefore, we serve over 10,000 families," the witness said), and confirmed that about 80% of RRHA's operating dollars come from HUD. The presentation summarized redevelopment tools — tenant protection vouchers (TPVs), project-based vouchers, conduit bonds and public‑private partnerships — and emphasized HUD requirements such as resident involvement, 1-for-1 replacement principles and long-term affordability.
RRHA staff reported Creighton Court Phase A had a 16% return-to-site rate so far (with leases being filled in phase A) and said that preliminary TPV experience is limited but being tracked. Fatima Smithers Highgrove (vice president for the Housing Choice Voucher program) explained the 97% figure as the utilization rate of RRHA’s baseline HUD voucher allocation: "HUD has awarded us a baseline of 4,060 vouchers. Right now, I'm utilizing about 3,967 of those vouchers. That's giving me that 97%." She added that TPVs are separate from the baseline total until they have been used for a year and that staff will return precise TPV relocation and utilization numbers for the committee.
Committee members pressed for data on how many displaced households used TPVs to secure housing, what percent were able to lease successfully with vouchers, and how RRHA is addressing landlord discrimination and finding units at deeply affordable rents. RRHA staff said they will provide detailed breakdowns on Creighton relocation outcomes and TPV usage for the committee's follow-up.
Next steps: RRHA will return data on Creighton phases two and three relocation outcomes, the utilization and success rates for TPVs, and details about how incentive programs and landlord engagement are being used to increase voucher placement.
