Mandatory Conversion Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Michael E. Pierce
Executive Director
Mobile Housing Board
151 S Claiborne Street
Mobile, AL 36602
251.434.2201
Mobile Housing Board Low Income Public Housing
Mandatory Conversion Announcement
Section 33 of the U.S. Housing Act requires Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to convert certain distressed public housing units to Section 8 tenant-based assistance if it would be more expensive to modernize and operate the distressed development for its remaining useful life than to provide tenant-based assistance to all residents; or if the PHA cannot assure the long-term viability of a distressed development. Public housing units that meet all the following conditions are considered distressed and subject to required conversion: (1) The units comprise a general occupancy project, (2) The development is on the same or contiguous site and (3) The development has a vacancy rate at or above 12 percent for each of the last three years.
Based on the criteria listed above it is mandatory MHB convert Thomas James and R.V. Taylor public housing units to tenant-based assistance. MHB does not require tenants to accept tenant-based voucher and are able to move to other public housing residential communities. It could take up to five years to move every family in both communities; therefore, we do not anticipate moving any families within the next 8-12 months.
MHB is still in the application phase and developing the five-year demolition plan. However, MHB will ensure current residents affected by the conversion are engaged and kept informed throughout the process.
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