The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has designated the Chester Housing Authority (CHA) as “troubled.” The agency gave the CHA a Public Housing Assessment (PHA) score of 53% in April 2023, mainly due to poor physical conditions. The PHA measures each housing authority’s performance in four categories: capital fund, financial, management and physical condition. An overall score below 60% earns a spot on the troubled list. HUD regulations require that CHA improve by 2025. If it fails to do so, it’s unclear how 2,500 Chester families living in CHA-managed properties or receiving housing vouchers would be affected. The federal agency could seize control of the authority, appoint a receiver to manage it or seek proposals for an outside party to take over. HUD negotiated a recovery agreement and plan with CHA in January, and CHA executive director Steven Fischer said progress is already underway.
Source: WHYY; 5/6/2024