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Abilene Housing Authority - Brief History

  • 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!