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Concord Housing Authority wins state match for Ever Gardens sprinkler retrofit and warns of Section 8 funding squeeze
Summary
The Concord Housing Authority reported a $300,000 local commitment plus an initial $450,000 state match for a sprinkler retrofit at Ever Gardens, bringing available funding to $750,000 (potentially $1,050,000). Authority leaders also warned of federal Section 8 payment reductions that could lengthen waiting lists and reduce voucher usefulness.
Stefan Bader, speaking for the Concord Housing Authority, said the authority secured a $300,000 local contribution from the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust and an initial $450,000 award from a state High‑AP program to support a retrofit sprinkler project at Ever Gardens.
"The sprinklers won't necessarily put out a fire by themselves, but what they will do is slow the spread of a fire dramatically, and they'll give residents enough time to get out of a burning building before they're overcome by smoke," Bader said, describing life‑safety benefits for buildings built in the 1960s. He said the state program could provide additional funds if engineering and bids show higher costs, potentially raising the total to about $1,050,000.
Bader also warned of two external pressures that could slow capital work: a state hiring freeze at the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities that delays state approvals and a reported reduction from HUD in Section 8 housing assistance payments. He said HUD is asking housing authorities to consider reducing payment standards — the rent level the program will cover — which could make it harder for voucher holders to find rental units and would lengthen waiting lists across the state.
Housing authority officials said they are exploring regional options, including pooling HOME‑consortium funds to create tenant‑based rental assistance, but cautioned there is no immediate local budget to backfill federal cuts.
The authority noted the sprinkler retrofit will cover 52 units and that visible construction at the site is unlikely for at least a year while state approvals and design work proceed.
