The state Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities paid a visit to Fall River this week to the Fall River Housing Authority.
Ed Augustus has made it his goal to visit each of the state’s public housing organizations and hear from leaders on the successes and challenges facing local authorities.
The Fall River Housing Authority has space and vouchers to serve nearly 5,000 families. Over eighty percent of the city’s public housing is supported by federal subsidies, with the rest funded by the state. Executive Director Kevin Sbardella says his ask of the secretary was to change the process by which vacancies within state properties are filled.
Secretary Augustus says he understands the need for cities like Fall River to prioritize city residents first, but state law mandates equal access to state public housing vacancies.
The secretary toured the Maple Gardens Housing Project, which will soon be undergoing restoration thanks to a state rehabilitation funding program.
Secretary Augustus says that while the state is working to increase funding for public housing units, the future of federally subsidized housing could be in jeopardy due to the budget bill approved by Congress last week.
When it comes to creating more affordable housing, the secretary says the passage of the Affordable Homes Act last year is adding $5 billion toward housing construction over the next five years.
For those seeking public housing support in Fall River, Mr. Sbardella says it could take years for some residents to be placed in homes or be allowed to claim a Section 8 Home Choice Voucher. That wait can be stressful, but it is unavoidable based on the need for affordable housing.
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