Abilene Housing Authority - History Brief
1971 - | Abilene Housing Authority (AHA) came into existence as a department of the City of Abilene |
2008 - |
October 1, 2008, AHA separated from the City of Abilene to become a stand-alone housing authority |
2008 - | October 1, 2008, AHA hired Gene Reed as the first Executive Director |
2009 - |
April 1, 2009, AHA acquired the Stamford Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher program |
2009 - |
June 1, 2009, AHA provided Housing Choice Vouchers to 95 elderly families at the Sunscape Apartment Complex in Abilene, TX through HUD's "Opt-Out" program to avoid these families from having to move-out of their units |
2009 - |
August 2009, AHA was awarded 70 vouchers, by HUD, to administer the HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The program is designed to house homeless veterans. |
2011 - |
January 1, 2011, AHA acquired the Haskell Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher program |
2011 - |
November 1, 2011, AHA's acquisition of Brady Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher program takes AHA into its 20th county |
2013 - |
February 26, 2013, AHA organized the community presentation on Bed Bugs in conjunction with the City of Abilene, Legal Aid of Abilene & Pest Patrol |
2013 - |
May 6, 2013, the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau awarded AHA with the Hero of Tourism (HOT Host) award for bringing significant economic activity (two industry conferences) to Abilene, TX |
2013 - |
June 26, 2013, Congressman Neugebauer invited AHA Executive Director, Gene Reed, to testify at the Moving-To-Work (MTW) Demonstration Program Congressional Hearing in Washington D.C. |
2013 - |
On August 15, 2013, AHA held its inaugural Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program graduation for six FSS graduates at Abilene Christian University's Welcome Center |
2014 - |
January 1, 2014 AHA began administering the Money Follows the Person Demonstration program (MFP). This program assists families that want to move out of institutionalized settings and into a unit of their choice in the community with supportive services. AHA sets aside five Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) and five Public Housing units for the program. |
2014 - |
July 31, 2014, Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA) awarded AHA its first Tax Credit award! The project is a $7.1 million, 48 unit elderly complex to be built at 2109 N. 6th St. |
2015 - |
AHA's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program recognized by HUD, for the 7th consecutive year, as a "High Performer" housing authority |
2015 - |
AHA's Public Housing (LRPH) program recognized by HUD, for the 4th consecutive year, as a "High Performer" housing authority |
2015 - |
AHA recognized by HUD as an overall "High Performer" agency for the 4th consecutive year (due to both programs being rated as "High Performer" in the same year) |
2016 - |
On June 30, 2016, AHA purchased a new Administrative building for the HCV staff, located at 1149 ES 11th street, Abilene, Texas 79602 |
2016 - |
October 27, 2016, AHA and DMA Developments (development partner) complete construction of and begin leasing at Prairie Gardens Tax Credit Complex |
2017 - |
May 1, 2017, AHA opens new, 7500 square foot, HCV and Administrative office building to the public |
2018 - |
February 22, 2018, HUD awarded AHA five (5) additional HUD-VASH vouchers bringing AHA's total VASH vouchers to 185. |
2018 - |
On September 4, 2018 AHA was awarded 50 Mainstream Voucher Program (MSV) vouchers by HUD. The MSV program began on November 1, 2018. |
2018 - |
In September 2018, AHA purchased its first Commercial Real Estate building downtown at 309 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601. |
2019 - |
On January 15, 2019 AHA and thirteen (13) of its community partners began its first Homeownership Training Program. The eight (8) week course was designed to educate HCV & Public Housing participants on each step of the home buying process. By the end of the course, 21 participants completed all eight weeks and graduated! |