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Newington Housing Authority director outlines needs, vouchers and capital projects
Summary
Melinda Harvey, executive director of the Newington Housing Authority, described three senior housing properties, a 1.5–2 year waitlist with more than 200 applicants, administration of 33 HUD housing-choice vouchers, a roughly $683,000 operating budget, and planned capital upgrades funded by grants and loans.
Melinda Harvey, executive director of the Newington Housing Authority, briefed the Newington Town Council on Sept. 24 about the authority’s three properties, operations, funding and capital priorities.
Harvey said the authority manages Kellerer Park, Cedar Village and New Meadow Village, serving primarily seniors (62 and older) and adults receiving federal disability benefits. She told the council the authority operates with a small staff—four part-time employees plus maintenance staff—and has kept each of the last 16 years in the black. Harvey said the authority administers 33 HUD housing-choice vouchers (Section 8 style vouchers) for the town and that the housing authority’s waiting list is about 1.5 to 2 years long with over 200 people on it.
On finances, Harvey cited an annual budget figure in the neighborhood of $683,000; she explained that some funding streams (state subsidies tied to past grants and CHFA loans) require set-asides and reserve accounts. She described recent capital projects: major renovations across the portfolio in the mid-2010s, new roofs and windows in many buildings, upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, added security camera systems, generator backups at key sites, and ongoing capital-needs assessments identifying long-term projects including roofs and accessibility improvements.
Harvey said staffing capacity constrains expansion: adding more units would likely require full-time staff and restructured operations. She also flagged practical upgrades under consideration—replacement of aging interior apartment doors, AEDs for common areas, and security-camera enhancements—and described the authority’s approach to rent calculation (30% of adjusted income or a base rent, whichever is higher) and a mixed set of temporary and permanent subsidy slots from past state programs.
Councilors praised the authority’s maintenance record and asked about expansion options, the capital-needs timeline and the potential to host property tours for residents to better understand low-income elderly housing.
Harvey’s presentation was followed by questions from councilors and public appreciation for the authority’s work.
