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History

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!