FWHS News - Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Jun 04 2021

2

New Luxury, Multifamily Community to Honor Juneteenth Advocate Opal Lee

By Kristin Sullivan | News

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 4, 2021 – Fort Worth Housing Solutions, the public housing authority for the nation’s 12^th largest city, and nationally recognized development partner AMTEX have finalized a deal to build a 339-unit, luxury, mixed-income community off Westport Parkway and what will become far North Beach Street.

The 19-acre development is the sister property to The Holston, a resort-style community of 265 units that opened in December and is currently 75 percent leased. The Holston is named for Barbara Holston, the longtime chief executive of the Fort Worth Housing Authority, the predecessor of FWHS.

The Opal will be named for Fort Worth’s Opal Lee, a 94-year-old retired educator and community leader who leads a national awareness campaign to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. The Opal will be the sixth property developed by FWHS and AMTEX, a company that ranks No. 6 in affordable housing production nationally, through a relationship that began eight years ago with development of the mixed-income Avondale Apartments in northwest Fort Worth.

The Opal announcement comes on the eve of national and local Juneteenth Celebrations, with Tarrant County events organized by Lee and the nonprofit she leads, Unity Unlimited Inc. The 2021 Juneteenth celebration gets under way Saturday, June 5, with a traditional Miss Juneteenth pageant at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognize a woman who has become a national icon in the Juneteenth movement by naming a beautiful new community in honor of Opal Lee,” FWHS President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “Ms. Opal has always advocated for opportunity, and residents who choose to make The Opal their home will love the access this community has to job centers, great schools and the thriving Alliance Airport area.”

AMTEX Founder and Chief Executive Officer Percy Vaz said that the tremendous demand for units at The Holston encouraged partners to fast-track development of The Opal. Construction is scheduled to begin by Nov. 1 with construction to take about 24 months and leasing to begin in 2023.

“AMTEX has been impressed with Fort Worth’s collaborative spirit that paved the way for The Holston and the tremendous demand for our Class A property that includes units reserved for moderate-income individuals and families,” Vaz said. “We’re proud to name the new development after Opal Lee and intend this to be a permanent recognition of her life’s work as a teacher, school counselor and advocate for history. She is a true inspiration.”

In a May 2021 video interview published by Southern Living, Ms. Opal – as she prefers to be called – recounts the story of how a mob, 500 strong, assembled at her family’s Fort Worth home when she was 12 and demanded that her family leave.

The family fled, and the mob “tore the place apart and burned the furniture,” she said. Since then Ms. Opal has always had a heart for people seeking safe, affordable housing.

“If we had been allowed to stay, they would have found out that we wanted the same thing they wanted: a decent job, a decent place to stay, food on the table,” Ms. Opal told Southern Living, later sharing: “I’m humbled by the naming of this property for me. I’ve lived in some really bad housing in my lifetime, and I am thankful that others are reaping the benefit of excellent housing developed today.”

Similar to the Holston, The Opal will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units to individuals and families who live and work in the thriving Alliance Corridor. The properties are near major employers including McKesson Corp., UPS, Nestlé and the Facebook Data Center.

Half of the units will be offered at market rate; the other half will be available to households earning 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income. The Opal will reserve 5 percent of the units for households earning 50 percent or less of AMI. In 2021, an individual earning $45,300 or less a year meets the 80 percent threshold; an annual income of $28,300 or less is 50 percent of AMI.

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions provides mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. The agency was established in 1938 to provide decent, safe housing for low- to moderate-income residents. Today, the FWHS portfolio includes 40 properties with almost 6,700 affordable units. The agency manages Housing Choice Vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. FWHS works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we serve on a daily basis. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

About AMTEX Development, LLC

AMTEX Development, LLC, is a Dallas-based, real estate development company that develops apartment homes in Texas and is part of the AMCAL Group of Companies. Founded in 1978, the AMCAL Group of Companies is one of the nation’s leading housing development companies, developing quality rental and ownership residential properties throughout California, Texas and Washington, including affordable housing, luxury apartment housing and student housing. The company has developed more than $2.5 billion in multifamily housing projects consisting of more than 10,000 apartment homes and is currently listed sixth on Affordable Housing Finance Magazine’s list of top developers. The organization’s mission is to improve the lives of residents and enhance their futures. Visit www.amcalhousing.com to learn more.

Media contacts:
Kristin Sullivan
ksullivan@fwhs.org
817-706-9811

Jennifer Gordon
jgordon@amcalhousing.com
818-706-0694 x 169

May 24 2021

1

FWHS Appoints Hector Ordonez Vice President of Finance and Accounting

By Kristin Sullivan | News

Fort Worth Housing Solutions has named Hector Ordonez, a finance and accounting professional with nearly two decades of public and private sector experience, Vice President of Finance and Accounting beginning June 1. Ordonez succeeds Riza Nolasco, who is retiring after 19 years with the agency.

Ordonez has served as assistant Chief Financial Officer for the Dallas Housing Authority since January 2020. He previously served as Director of Finance & Chief Procurement Officer for the Regional Transit District in Santa Fe, N.M., and as the Deputy Finance Director – Housing Controller in Eagle County, Colo. His early career included accounting positions with a Las Vegas resort and a CPA firm.

Ordonez describes himself as a servant leader with a business-like and values-driven approach. His work is shaped in part by his experience growing up in the Riverview Apartments in Avon, Colo., the community’s only “government apartments,” which he said gave his parents the ability to save for their own home.

“I am thrilled to join Fort Worth Housing Solutions and am looking forward to working with such an amazing and innovative group of people,” Ordonez said. “What a beautiful opportunity to be part of an organization that is in direct alignment of who I am as a person. I want my job to have meaning and to put my talents to work for something that matters.”

“FWHS President Mary-Margaret Lemons said Ordonez’s experience in the affordable housing arena and in the private sector made him the perfect fit for the agency as it moves beyond the era of traditional public housing communities and expands its portfolio of mixed-income, multifamily properties dispersed throughout the city.

“Hector is a consummate professional and a seasoned financial officer with a heart for, and a personal understanding of, the people we serve,” Lemons said. “We are fortunate to attract a talent like his to our organization. Hector will help ensure that our agency continues to provide safe, affordable housing solutions in areas of economic opportunity that help people flourish.”

At FWHS, Ordonez will lead and manage the agency’s fiscal business operations in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and current business trends, as well as direct the agency’s administrative services including Information Technology.

During his tenure at DHA, Ordonez helped lead a finance team responsible for a $245 million operating budget and a $100 million investment portfolio.

He possesses extensive knowledge of governmental financial reporting; multi-fund accounting; investment management; CAFR, PAFR & Budget Book preparation; grant application and administration management; strategic planning and the budgeting process. In addition, Ordonez is experienced in procuring, acquiring, implementing and completing large scale Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System implementations and other industry and department specific software in a timely, budget adherent and efficient manner.

Ordonez earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration-Accounting from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and earned his MBA with a dual specialization in accounting and finance from Regis University in Denver.

Apr 21 2021

7

Officials Celebrate Opening of Fort Worth’s Newest Affordable Housing Communities

By Kristin Sullivan | News, Press Releases

Majority of units available to residents who qualify for rental assistance

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 21, 2021 – Local and federal officials joined Fort Worth Housing Solutions and LDG Development, one of the nation’s largest developers of affordable housing, to officially open two of Fort Worth’s newest affordable housing communities – Patriot Pointe, off SE Loop 820, and Stallion Ridge, near the Fort Worth-Everman border.

Patriot Pointe, a multifamily community at 2151 S.E. Loop 820, near the Fort Worth VA Clinic.

“Patriot Pointe and Stallion Ridge represent an expansion of the Fort Worth Housing Solutions portfolio and will allow our agency to help more individuals and families find safe, affordable housing,” FWHS President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “These beautiful, new communities are in desirable locations with access to quality schools, job centers and amenities that families need. And we are especially pleased to reserve units for veterans who have given so much to our nation.”

The two, mixed-income, multifamily communities add 424 high-quality units to the city’s affordable housing inventory. The majority of units at both properties will be leased to working families with household incomes at 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income. Patriot Pointe offers units to residents participating in a special U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program that helps homeless veterans and their families find permanent housing.

Patriot Pointe is a 220-unit property at 2151 S.E. Loop 820, just west of the new Fort Worth VA Clinic. Stallion Ridge includes 204 units and is near Everman ISD schools and businesses along Everman Parkway and I-35 West.

Stallion Ridge, a mixed-income, multifamily community at 9000 Balch St., Fort Worth, Texas, 76140

Both properties offer business and fitness centers; large spacious floor plans with upgraded flooring, walk-in closets and energy efficient appliances; and a large swimming pool and playground area. Each location also has onsite property management staff focused on supporting the needs of families residing in the development. Monthly rental rates for the sites range between $820-$1350. Patriot Pointe welcomed its first resident in October 2020, while Stallion Ridge welcomed its first resident last month.

“LDG prides itself on ensuring that our properties are well maintained and that the families we serve have access to many amenities that are not often found in affordable housing developments,” said Justin Hartz, development director for LDG’s Texas market. “Having a dedicated on-site staff at each location that is focused on the needs of the residents they support also helps to ensure that over the years, our properties remain a place that residents are proud to call home.”

Financing for Patriot Pointe and Stallion Ridge was provided through Red Stone Company and Enterprise Community. FWHS also providing funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, program.

Chris Dischinger, co-founder and co-principal of LDG Development, says that as the country continues to work to identify ways to meet the growing demand for affordable housing, the partnership between FWHS is a model for other communities. LDG and FWHS previously partnered to develop the nearby Stallion Pointe community at 9053 S Race St.

“The COVID-19 pandemic was a vivid reminder that more needs to be done to ensure working families, especially members of the military who are making the ultimate sacrifice and are working to protect our country, have access to quality housing,” Dischinger said. “We are proud to once again partner with FWHS as it works to address the needs of the Fort Worth area.”

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. The agency was established in 1938 to provide decent, safe housing for low- to moderate-income residents. Today, the FWHS portfolio includes 40 properties with almost 6,700 affordable units. The agency manages Housing Choice Vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. FWHS works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we touch on a daily basis. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

About LDG Development

LDG Development is the nation’s largest developer of affordable housing. The company was founded more than 25 years ago by Chris Dischinger and Mark Lechner based on their shared belief that everyone deserves a quality place to live. Headquartered in Louisville, Ky., the company has created more than 16,000 units of high-quality affordable housing for working families and active seniors in seven states. The work of LDG is supported by more than 100 employees who are in the company’s Louisville; Austin; Nashville and Atlanta offices. For more information about LDG Development, please visit www.ldgdevelopment.com.

Media contacts:

Kristin Sullivan
ksullivan@fwhs.org
c 817-706-9811

Christi L. Robinson
crobinson@ldgdevelopment.com
c 502-609-9141

Apr 11 2021

1

$500 Landlord Sign-Up Bonus through June 30, 2021

By Kristin Sullivan | News

Landlords Needed for Family Unification Program

FWHS is offering a $500 bonus now through June 30, 2021, to landlord partners with homes, duplexes and townhomes available to voucher holders participating in the Family Unification Program.

Rent payments to landlords are guaranteed.

The program provides rental assistance to parents working to unite their children in one household and to youth who are aging out of the foster care system.

The FWHS Family Unification Program is a federally-funded rental assistance program operated in partnership with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. DFPS refers families and youth to FWHS and provides supportive services and guidance that leads clients to self-sufficiency.

Email RaVonda Thompson at rthompson@fwhs.org today to enroll and receive your $500 bonus.

Mar 08 2021

12

FWHS Opens Emergency Rental Assistance Application Portal

By Kristin Sullivan | News, Press Releases

Housing Authority Partners with City of Fort Worth to Distribute Federal Relief Funds

Fort Worth, Texas, March 8, 2021 – Fort Worth Housing Solutions has opened its portal for the federally-funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program and is now accepting applications for relief funds for residents who have fallen behind on rent or utilities payments because they have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Landlords whose tenants have fallen two months or more behind on payments since March 13, 2020, the date of the federal COVID-19 disaster declaration, also can apply for relief on behalf of their tenants. All payments will be made directly to landlords or utility companies. FWHS awards will not duplicate any other federally-funded rental assistance the applicant has received.

“Fort Worth Housing Solutions is pleased to partner with the City of Fort Worth to process applications for back rent and utility bill relief for individuals who have experienced loss of income during these difficult times,” President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “Each person needs stable housing to flourish, and we are glad to play a role in helping people get back on their feet during this pandemic.”

View an outline of the program, eligibility criteria and a list of required documents at https://www.fwhs.org/erap/. The page also includes a link to the Fort Worth application portal. Potential applicants who are unable to upload documents or complete the online application may email Fort Worth Housing Solutions at ERAP@fwhs.org for assistance.

Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional three months if the grantee determines the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability and grantee funds are available.

Funding for the program is provided by the U.S. Treasury Department through the City of Fort Worth, which has contracted with Fort Worth Housing Solutions, Housing Channel and Samaritan House locally to process applications and administer awards. Similar assistance is available through other municipalities and the Texas Rent Relief Program.

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. The agency was established by the City of Fort Worth in 1938 to provide decent, safe housing for low- to moderate-income residents. Today, the FWHS portfolio includes 40 properties with almost 6,700 affordable units. The agency manages Housing Choice Vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. FWHS works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we touch on a daily basis. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

Media contact:
ksullivan@fwhs.org, cell 817-706-9811

Feb 18 2021

2

Virtual Butler Place Video Screening, Panel Discussion Set for Feb. 24

By Kristin Sullivan | News, Press Releases

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 18, 2021 – Fort Worth Housing Solutions, the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fort Worth will present a free, virtual screening of the short documentary “Butler Place” at noon Wednesday, Feb. 24, followed by a panel discussion.

The video about Fort Worth’s first public housing project is co-produced by the City of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Housing Solutions and commemorates the 80-year old community that closed in December 2020. The event is part of the organizations’ Black History Month recognition.

To attend, register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bCvcZUITQNKcDazSiJd-TQ. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with details about joining the online event.

The panel discussion will be moderated by longtime journalist and media executive Bob Ray Sanders, now FWMBCC communication director. Panelists include:

Sonya Barnette, FWHS deputy director and senior vice president for public housing, housing operations and client services
Devoyd Jennings, president and chief executive officer of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce
Michael Morris, director of transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments

“Butler Place was more than a place to live. It was a community with a rich African-American history. It was our home,” said Jennings, who grew up in Butler with his brothers, Jerry and Melvin, and their mother Margaret. “It is time to move forward, determine the best use for the site and ensure that families can find affordable homes in areas with access to economic opportunity.”

FWHS President Mary-Margaret Lemons said the agency is working through federal processes and with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine next steps for the 42-acre site and its assets. The agency will move its headquarters from the historic Carver-Hamilton Elementary School building at 1201 E. 13^th St., to 1407 Texas St. later this year.

“Over the years, the way that we administer public housing has changed,” Lemons said. “We know that concentrating lower-income families in one area is not good for anyone. We want our residents to have access to green space, grocery stores, parks great schools, jobs and transportation. And we are increasing that access by expanding affordable housing options across the city.”

The documentary features interviews with former Butler residents as well as historic photos and video from Fort Worth ISD Billy W. Sills Center for Archives, Fort Worth Public Library Genealogy, History & Archives and Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society.

Many scenes of everyday life at Butler Place were never recorded or have been lost. The documentary includes drawings by Fort Worth artist Taylor McDaniel, who listened to interviews and re-created scenes of residents’ fondest memories.

The documentary was produced and edited by the Communications & Public Engagement Department and is narrated by City of Fort Worth employee Alexandra Thurston.

Butler Place opened in 1940 as one of the federal Works Progress Administration’s 52 low-income housing projects and was initially heralded as safe, stable housing for people who had lived in substandard conditions. The red brick community just east of downtown grew up around the Carver-Hamilton Elementary School and I.M. Terrell High School, a once-segregated school that educated generations of Fort Worth leaders.

Over time, Butler expanded to cover 42 acres. Eventually, highway construction separated the community from downtown. FWHS began helping residents lease homes of their choice across the city in 2012 through HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, program, and completed the process early this year.

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. The agency was established by the City of Fort Worth in 1938 to provide decent, safe housing for low- to moderate-income residents. Today, the FWHS portfolio includes 40 properties with almost 6,700 affordable units. The agency manages Housing Choice Vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. FWHS works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we touch on a daily basis. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

Media contact:
Kristin Sullivan
Ksullivan@fwhs.org, c 817-706-9811

Jan 25 2021

2

Fort Worth Housing Solutions Acquires New Downtown Headquarters

By Kristin Sullivan | News, Press Releases

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 25, 2021 – Fort Worth Housing Solutions, the city’s primary provider of rental assistance and affordable housing communities, is moving its headquarters to the renovated, open concept office building at 1407 Texas St. in downtown Fort Worth.

The move follows the December closing of Butler Place, the city’s last public housing community, located on 42 acres on the eastern edge of downtown. The 412-unit community opened in 1940 and was closed as part of FWHS strategy to deconcentrate poverty and allow residents to use rental assistance at homes of their choice across the city.

FWHS has operated from the historic Carver-Hamilton Elementary School building adjacent to Butler since 1995. The agency is working with its Butler Advisory Committee on preservation efforts related to the historic school building and with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on dispensation of the Butler property, which is currently restricted for public housing use.

“The 2020 closing of Butler was a milestone for our city – it gave families the opportunity to relocate to neighborhoods with better access to jobs, transportation, quality schools and services, such as grocery stores,” FWHS President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “This shift allowed our agency to move to a headquarters with better access for the people we serve and the modern amenities and technology we need to support them.”

The Butler site also includes the Amaka Early Childhood Learning Center, which is operated by the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth. FWHS leaders are in discussions with the YMCA about ways to provide early childhood education in the neighborhoods the agency serves.

The purchase of the Texas Street property closed Dec. 18, 2020. The FWHS Board of Commissioners approved a contract last week with Fort Worth-based Bennett Benner Partners to do interior design and renovation work.

The 26,000-square-foot building features office space, work stations and spacious conference and meeting rooms on three levels, including the basement, and includes a third-floor observation deck overlooking the city.

The Texas Street building was originally built in 1955 and renovated in 2015, when it housed Simpl.fi, a Fort Worth-based digital advertising business that has moved to the Historic Stockyards.

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. The agency was established by the City of Fort Worth in 1938 to provide decent, safe housing for low- to moderate-income residents. Today, the FWHS portfolio includes 40 properties with almost 6,700 affordable units. The agency manages Housing Choice Vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. FWHS works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we touch on a daily basis. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

Media contact:

Kristin Sullivan, FWHS communications manager

ksullivan@fwhs.org, cell 817-706-9811

Jan 13 2021

6

Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Development to Honor Legendary Basketball Coach

By Kristin Sullivan | News, Press Releases

210-unit ‘Hughes House’ to be Named for Famed Dunbar High School Mentor

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 13, 2021 – Fort Worth Housing Solutions will name the second mixed-income, multifamily development in the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative “Hughes House” in honor of Robert Hughes Sr., the winningest coach in the history of boys’ high school basketball.

Robert Hughes Sr.

Hughes, a former Stop Six resident, led the boys’ basketball program at Dunbar High School on Ramey Avenue from 1973 to 2005 and at the historic I. M. Terrell High School from 1958 to 1973, before the previously segregated campus closed.

Over his 47-year career, Hughes accumulated a 1,333-265 record, five state championships and 35 district championships. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. The 2019 documentary “5700 Ramey Ave.: The Story of Robert Hughes” memorialized his story.

Hughes House will be a 210-unit, mixed-use, mixed-income community at 4830 and 4908 E. Rosedale Street, east and west of Amanda Avenue, and on a portion of the former Cavile Place public housing site. Fort Worth Housing Solutions is seeking 9% low-income housing tax credits to help finance the development. The complex will include 166 units offered at reduced rents to qualified residents; 44 units would be available at market rates.

“Fort Worth Housing Solutions is thrilled to be able to honor Coach Hughes and his positive impact on generations of student-athletes who grew up in Stop Six and their families,” President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “The Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative builds on the cohesiveness and rich history of this southeast Fort Worth community. Hughes House will be a lasting reminder of Coach Hughes’ commitment to hard work and perseverance.”

Robert “Bob” Hughes Jr., Dunbar’s head basketball coach since 2005, said his family is ecstatic to learn that the next phase of Stop Six housing will honor his father’s legacy. In addition to Robert Jr., the senior Coach Hughes has two daughters: Carlye J. Hughes, the Episcopal Bishop of Newark; and Robin L. Hughes, dean of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior.

“My dad believed in a strong work ethic, pushing yourself to the limit and self-discipline – that’s all he knew. And that’s what I stress with my players,” Hughes Jr. said. “When you think of Stop Six, you think of my dad. He really put Stop Six, and Fort Worth, on the map, and it’s important to preserve that history.”

Hughes House is Phase II of the landmark Stop Six Choice Neighborhood effort that launched in 2020 when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded FWHS and the City of Fort Worth a $35 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. Former Cavile Place residents who relocated as part of the redevelopment process have the right to return to the community as new FWHS properties come online.

The HUD grant will be spread across six phases of development and is expected to leverage $345 million in investment for the neighborhood. In all, Fort Worth Housing Solutions will develop more than 1,000 new units of mixed-income rental housing across the community. The City of Fort Worth plans additional infrastructure improvements, including a new community hub and aquatics center.

Construction of Cowan Place, a 174-unit senior living community called for in Phase I, is scheduled to begin in late spring or early summer at East Rosedale and Stalcup Road.

Fort Worth City Councilwoman Gyna Bivens, whose district includes Stop Six, added: “Coach Hughes is arguably the most nationally-recognized figure to come from Stop Six. His leadership, dedication to his students and investment in their future is worthy of this recognition. We’re indebted to his family and so pleased that his contributions will be etched into the bright future of our community.”

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. The agency was established by the City of Fort Worth in 1938 to provide decent, safe housing for low- to moderate-income residents. Today, the FWHS portfolio includes 40 properties with almost 6,700 affordable units. The agency manages Housing Choice Vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. FWHS works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we touch on a daily basis. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

Media contact:
Kristin Sullivan
ksullivan@fwhs.org
cell 817-706-9811

Jan 11 2021

213

Fort Worth Housing Choice Voucher Wait List Opens, Jan. 25-29, 2021

By Kristin Sullivan | News, Press Releases, Uncategorized

Pre-applications Allow Qualified Residents to Join Lottery for Rental Assistance

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 11, 2021 – Fort Worth Housing Solutions, the public housing authority for the nation’s 13^th largest city, will open its wait list for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program between 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25, and 11:59 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. The wait list was last opened in November 2017.

Over the five-day period, qualified residents may apply online at www.applyfwhs.org. Disabled residents and others who need assistance applying may contact the housing agency at 817-333-3654. A team member will be available to assist from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 25-28. Individuals who previously applied for the HCV program must reapply.

FWHS will add a maximum of 5,000 qualified individuals to the wait list through Jan. 29. An applicant’s place on the list is based on a lottery system, not the time and date the pre-application was submitted. A pre-application does not guarantee a place on the list.

About 40 individuals leave the FWHS Housing Choice Voucher Program each month, making room for new participants pulled from the wait list. Applicants often must wait several years for his or her opportunity to obtain a rental assistance voucher. The “choice” portion of the program means that voucher holders may use their assistance to help cover rent at any property that accepts the voucher.

FWHS President Mary-Margaret Lemons

“Fort Worth Housing Solutions is pleased to be able to open our Housing Choice Voucher wait list for the first time in more than three years,” President Mary-Margaret Lemons said. “We know that thousands of Fort Worth families need assistance in covering rent, especially in these difficult economic times. Our agency is committed to making as many vouchers available as our budget allows each year.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded FWHS 5,104 vouchers. But the agency’s budget allows it to allocate only about 4,500 vouchers at any time. FWHS has aggressively pursued additional vouchers as they become available, especially for special populations such as those reserved for veterans, persons with disabilities or the chronically homeless.

What is the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

The Housing Choice Voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.

The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

Am I eligible?

Eligibility is determined by income and household size and is limited to U.S. citizens and certain non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family’s income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the Fort Worth area. For an individual it is $28,550 and for a family of four it is $40,750. View the 2020 HUD Income Limits here.

How much is a Housing Choice Voucher worth?

Voucher holders pay 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward their rent. FWHS determines the total rent based on what is considered reasonable. The housing authority pays the difference between the resident’s payment and the approved rent. The maximum rent FWHS can pay for new voucher holders is based on Small Area Payment Standards that are set to the ZIP code location of the rental property.

I’m a landlord? How Can I Join the Housing Choice Voucher Program?

FWHS is always recruiting good landlords who want to help individuals and families find safe, affordable housing with a guaranteed payment stream. FWHS landlords benefit from prompt rental payments directly deposited to a designated bank each month; payment adjustments if a voucher holder’s income is reduced and reported timely; regular inspection of units; and a requirement that voucher holders take a “Good Neighbor/Good Tenant” class.

For more information, please contact Landlord Liaison RaVonda Thompson at rthompson@fwhs.org.

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. The agency was established by the City of Fort Worth in 1938 to provide decent, safe housing for low- to moderate income people. Today, the agency operates 40 properties with almost 6,700 affordable units and manages Housing Choice Vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. Fort Worth Housing Solutions works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the more than 28,000 individuals we touch on a daily basis. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

Media contact:
Kristin Sullivan, FWHS Communications Manager
ksullivan@fwhs.org, 817-333-3405

Dec 21 2020

25

Fort Worth Housing Solutions Opens New Permanent Supportive Housing Community

By Kristin Sullivan | News, Press Releases

Converted Hotel Provides Efficiency Apartments to Chronically Homeless at Risk of COVID-19

FORT WORTH, Texas, December 21, 2020 – Fort Worth Housing Solutions, development partner Ojala Partners, LP of Dallas, the City of Fort Worth and a coalition of agencies that care for the homeless are celebrating the opening of Casa de Esperanza, the city’s largest permanent supportive housing effort to date.

The fast-tracked project is the result of collaboration between the public housing authority, social service agencies and the city, which provided FWHS $9.3 million in CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funding in September to convert an extended-stay hotel into a 119-unit assisted housing community. Residents have access to “wrap-around” services, including mental health support, healthcare, nutrition and job training. A majority of units will be leased by Dec. 30.

Greg Gibson, one of the first Casa de Esperanza residents

“It’s just fantastic,” said Greg Gibson, 59, who had been camping outdoors in various Fort Worth locations for the past eight years before he signed his lease Dec. 3. “Being able to come in and lock the door definitely puts my mind at ease… It looks like this is going to be really good for the homeless community to have something like this. I’ve never heard of it happening before, especially not this quickly.”

Casa’s single-occupancy units are available to residents who have been homeless for 12 consecutive months or more, are disabled, and either 65 years or older or who have health conditions making them vulnerable to COVID-19. Prospective residents are referred from a coordinated list managed by Tarrant County Homeless Coalition. Units include full-size beds, TVs, wi-fi service, baths and kitchenettes stocked with microwaves, cookware and a refrigerator.

“Our city, and members of the Fort Worth City Council, have been focused on increasing access to permanent supportive housing for our homeless neighbors and other vulnerable people for the past several years,” Mayor Betsy Price said. “It’s wonderful to see this most recent investment so rapidly provide homes to those in need, especially during 2020 and this holiday season.”

FWHS President Mary-Margaret Lemons said: “Our agency is proud to play a small part in this effort. It really took a village to get the project done on time and would not have happened without the City of Fort Worth, Ojala, Presbyterian Night Shelter, MHMR, JPS Health Network, DRC Solutions, Union Gospel Mission, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and many others.

“We are thankful for city’s investment of CARES Act dollars in permanent supportive housing that will serve the community for years to come, and we are grateful to each of our partners for supporting this monumental effort.”

The City awarded FWHS funding for the development in late September. The agency closed on the property, near Northeast Loop 820 and North Beach Street, Oct. 1. That left roughly eight weeks for Ojala Holdings to remodel units and gut and upgrade offices and common meeting areas.

“This property conversion required effective teamwork across all organizations – from the City of Fort Worth to Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the agencies that serve the homeless – to deliver quality homes to our residents on deadline,” said Matthew Vruggink, Ojala principal. “It has been incredibly rewarding to rehabilitate this property and know that we have played a role in helping people get their lives back on track.”

City officials have estimated that there are about 1,800 homeless persons in Fort Worth and that as many as a third are chronically homeless. Casa de Esperanza’s 119 units make it Fort Worth’s largest permanent supportive housing community to date, said Tara Perez, manager of the city’s Directions Home program.

Other smaller properties that provide similar services are the Palm Tree Apartments off Race Street; Samaritan House in the Near Southside; and the future New Leaf community to open in Spring 2021 off River Oaks Boulevard.

Gibson, 59, said he struggled with a lack of nutrition and mental health issues and did not think he would make it through another winter – until he heard that he had been approved to move to Casa de Esperanza.

“As I got older, it was just so much more difficult to bear the heat and the cold weather and the outdoor environment,” he said. “But this seems to take care of most of the issues I was having… It’s definitely going to add years to my life and improve my mental health, physical health.”

About Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives. Established by the City of Fort Worth in 1938, FWHS now operates 40 properties with almost 7,000 units and manages about 7,000 vouchers that help families and individuals cover rental costs. FWHS works closely with numerous partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of more than 28,000 individuals each day. Learn more at www.fwhs.org.

About Ojala Partners, LP

Ojala is a privately-owned, Texas-based, Texas-focused real estate development firm dedicated to acquiring, developing and redeveloping mission-driven, multifamily residential and very select commercial assets, using best-in-class practices in markets or sectors that typically draw lesser competition. We define mission-driven housing as safe, sustainable housing that integrates itself seamlessly within a community and is affordable to a diverse mix of individuals and families. Currently, Ojala’s portfolio consists of nearly 4,000 homes, of which nearly 2,100 are affordable at various income levels. Visit www.ojalaholdings.com for more information.

Media contact:
Kristin Sullivan, ksullivan@fwhs.org, 817-706-9811

Landlords Needed for Family Unification Program

Pre-applications Allow Qualified Residents to Join Lottery for Rental Assistance

In the News