Archway Executive Committee hosts Housing Authority and Learns About GICH

On Wednesday, October 10, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee hosted the Housing Authority of the City of Dalton (HACD) at its monthly meeting.  Scott Painter, Executive Director of the Dalton Housing Authority, explained that the HACD is a local community housing authority whose mission is to provide quality and affordable housing to low income families and over time bolster them into home ownership.  Mr. Painter shared that the HACD currently operates 565 units, 350 of which need to be demolished and reconstructed.  He shared that the HACD got a new board in 2010 and, with the help of Ed Goodwin and Associates and Pennrose Properties, developed a new strategic plan in 2011.  The new plan focuses on redeveloping affordable housing in Dalton with new and modern neighborhoods.  The transformation plan has two phases.  Phase one focuses on building 72 new apartments for the senior residents in the community and phase two focuses on building housing units for families in the community.  The HACD’s strategy is to begin new housing construction in 2014 and to develop and implement a home ownership program in the future.  The project will cost about $10 million.  Funds for this project will be provided through a mix of city funding, bonds, private financing and equity, project based vouchers provided by HUD, and potential tax credits.

Mark Straub, Development Manager for Pennrose Properties, describes the HACD's transformational plan.

To supplement their local efforts, the HACD is leading an effort for the community to participate in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program.  GICH, a partnership formed between the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), the University of Georgia and select communities, provides participating communities with technical assistance and resources to support community housing.  Communities that are selected to participate in GICH commit to a three year training program.  In 2005 through 2008, Whitfield County participated and graduated from the GICH program.  However, since 2008, local leadership and boards have changed and HACD believes it is in Dalton-Whitfield’s best interest to go through the GICH program again.  GICH will make its initial site visit to the Dalton-Whitfield community on October 29, 2012, from 10:30 to 11:30 am at City Hall.