EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This is a very exciting and challenging time for the Keene Housing Authority. Despite legislative efforts to de-regulate the assisted housing industry, the amount of Federal and State regulations and administrative burden is more than ever. This challenges the KHA’s ability to provide permanently affordable housing for our community and region, but also has provided some unique opportunities and successes as well.

A very special opportunity that the KHA has accomplished this year is the inauguration and administration of the SPECTRUM Housing Program, authorized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's “Moving To Work” demonstration program. The Affordable Housing Act of 1996 authorized a special demonstration project competition to allow local housing authorities to develop and carry out housing subsidy and public housing programs designed to remove the long standing disincentives inherent in the welfare and public housing systems. Out of the approximately 3,500 local housing authorities in the United States, the Keene Housing Authority was one of 21 such local housing authorities selected for this unique opportunity, and has instituted an innovative and completely different plan for Public Housing and Section 8 recipients that will support and reward family efforts towards self-sufficiency.

The “Moving to Work” demonstration does not utilize any additional subsidies or funds from Federal or State sources, nor does the Keene Housing Authority use any local tax dollars to provide this housing or provide these services. In fact, the KHA is one of the highest real estate tax paying entities in the area, with over $250,000 per year in property taxes being paid to Keene and other towns in the area.

The SPECTRUM Housing Program includes changes in the way rents are calculated, greatly increases the support that families receive, and vastly changes the availability and coordination of job skills workshops, family skills training, homeownership opportunities, and other activities. We anticipate that this program will result in a larger percentage of our served population achieving self-sufficiency, and result in more of our local population that had been just utilizing human services resources becoming more productive members of our community.

The KHA has also entered into local collaborative efforts such as the Monadnock Partnership, the Pilot Health LLC, and others, in a conscious effort to maximize the impact that local non-profits have on our constituencies. In addition, we have formed a non-profit subsidiary, Monadnock Affordable Housing Corporation, that provides management, maintenance, and janitorial services to other non-profits in the area.

All in all, the KHA is providing valuable services and affordable housing resources in our community and region, and will strive to continue that tradition in a creative and cost effective manner.

P. Curtis Hiebert
Chief Executive Officer