1993 Reading Housing Authority Annual Report

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C /J x 1463 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive • Reading, MA 01867 -2399 • 617- 944 -6755 1992 -1993 ANNUAL REPORT The Reading Housing Authority is happy to announce that it has recently acquired three (3) additional units of family housing on Main Street. With this new acquisition the Authority curren operates 241 units of low- income housing: 80 units of elderly/ handicapped housing at Frank D. Tanner Drive; 13 units of famil housing: 6 at Waverly /Oakland Road, 4 at Parker /Pleasant Stree and 3 at Summer /Main Street; 8 units of Housing for People with Special Needs at Bancroft Avenue; 4 elderly units at Schoolhous condos; 136 rental assistance certificates and vouchers, which house people in private residences throughout the community and are supported by contracts through HUD's Section 8 Program and the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). The Reading Housing Authority, as a member of a 4 -Town consortiu comprised of Melrose, Reading, Saugus, and Wakefield Housing Authorities is a forerunner in the Federal government's restruct of the entitlement system. With the award of 100 vouchers from HUD, the four communities under the "Family Self- Sufficiency (FSS) Program" are working with governmental agencies, school systems, daycare providers and local business groups to coordina housing, daycare, education, training and the necessary social service components which would enable families to become fully employed and not dependent on welfare assistance within 5 -7 years. Ms. Barbara Zenn Rediker, LICSW, is the Program Coordin that is working with community leaders for the necessary trainin education, daycare and other support services necessary to enabl families to achieve self - sufficiency. The FSS orientation sessi were held in March 1993 and the program is operational with over 16 families enrolled in the program and over 40 more in process. In order to insure its success locally, Ms. Rediker will be speaking with local groups and civic organizations to enlighten them about the program and how they can help in this new and exciting reform program. ly S, ring e for ns The Board of Selectmen and the Housing Authority Board members have been working together on the inclusionary zoning for both the Pearl Street School and the Bear Hill sites. Although in preliminary stages, the Authority is excited about the new and varied housing opportunities that are possible with these linkage programs. The Board of Selectmen has promised their full support to the Authority as they negotiate with the developers for the mandated "inclusionary" housing units. r Equal Housing Opportunity TDD 617- 944 -9710