Housing Authority looks to renovate low income homes
Columbia Housing Authority said some of its low-income units are more than 50 years old and in disrepair. During Monday night’s city council meeting, the housing authority will ask the city for support in securing funds to pay for multimillion dollar renovations.
The housing authority is in the process of applying for a low-income housing tax credit to fund renovations. It said an endorsement from the city council will make a big difference in the competitive application process. “The Columbia housing authority is requesting support from the Columbia City Council to endorse our applications for low- income housing tax credits to make renovations to our aging public housing properties,” said Phil Steinhaus, chief executive officer for Columbia Housing Authority.
The housing authority will ask the city council to advocate on its behalf to the Missouri Housing Development Commission — the agency that allocates the funding. “The application for low-income housing tax credits is very competitive and there are other organizations, private developers in Columbia who have also requested low- income housing tax credits. What we’re asking the city council to do is to make our projects a priority,” said Steinhaus.
The housing authority plans to renovate all 719 units in Columbia, most of them built in the 50s and 60s. The housing authority said the units have multiple issues: clogged and deteriorating popes, uneven floors, and floor plans that need modernization. The housing authority said the renovations will make a big difference in the neighborhood. “We believe that our investment here will spur investment by others in surrounding neighborhoods to say look how much things have improved here — I’m going to fix up my house, I’m going to fix up this rental property, I”m going to reinvest in the heart of Columbia,” said Steinhaus.
The Renovation project will consist of seven low income housing buildings. The housing authority said the renovations will take place in five phases. It said it has already secured funding for the first phase which will begin in the spring.
