Reading Housing Authority set to open waiting list

Apr. 12—The Reading Housing Authority has announced it will open its waiting list for public housing April 15.

One through four-bedroom units in RHA's Glenside and Oakbrook homes will be able for eligible individuals and families. A limited number of five-bedroom units also are available at Oakbrook.

In addition, single-occupancy efficiencies and one-bedroom apartments for 2-person families will be able in RHA developments designated for adults with a disability or those over the age of 62.

Because of the high demand for public housing, not all applications received are expected to be placed on the waiting list. A lottery-type selection process will be used if the number received exceeds more than the expected unit availability over a 12-month period. The acceptance of an application onto the waiting list is not a guarantee of housing assistance.

The demand for affordable housing in the post-pandemic environment is at an all-time high, said Stacey Keppen, executive director of the Reading Housing Authority. At the same time, she noted, the availability of such housing is at an all-time low,

"The housing authority plays a significant part in bridging that gap through our administration of several federally funded subsidized-housing programs, the operation of three non-subsidized rental communities and by issuing and managing housing vouchers that assist city residents in paying rent in the private market," Keppen said.

She and Lorena Keely, housing authority board chair, reported on the authority's programs and activities at a recent City Council meeting.

Keppen said two types of public housing programs are operated: A general occupancy program for income-eligible individuals and families and a mixed-occupancy program, for households in which the Head of Household is age 62 or older, or a person with a disability.

RHA operates a total of eight properties, including the 400-unit Glenside and 530-unit Oakbrook homes, which share a waiting list for units with one to five bedrooms.

"These properties start to assist low-, very low- and extremely low-income households by providing safe, quality housing where rents are based upon income," Keppen said.

The authority's mixed-occupancy developments for those over 62 or with disabilities include the Hensler Homes adjacent to Glenside and five high rises: Rhodes, Eisenhower, Hubert, Franklin Tower and Kennedy Towers apartments. These developments offer efficiency and one-bedroom units and also share a waiting list.

All properties are service-enriched, Keppen said. That means the housing authority or its community partners provide a myriad of services aimed at helping persons with disabilities live in a community setting and older adults to age in place and providing individuals and families with the services to enhance their economic self-sufficiency and address basic needs like food security, she said.

The housing authority's waiting lists are long, Keppen acknowledged.

When applications were last accepted almost a year ago, 2,296 applications were submitted within a week, she said. A lottery system was used to select the 600 households, or 26% of the applicants, that were placed on the list.

"This was great news for 26% of those that needed affordable housing" Keppen said, "but terrible news for the remaining 74%."

The average tenure for residents in public housing is driven by vacancies, she said. There was a less-than 8% turnover with only 121 households leaving Reading's public housing last year.

Of those, Keppen noted, 29 moved due to a lease termination, 11 because of health issues and 36 left by choice. Of the latter group, 11 households reached a place of economic stability where they no longer needed housing services.

More than 800 additional households are assisted by the federally funded voucher program, which provides assistance to families renting in the city.

"This program, too, is in overwhelming demand," Keppen said.

When the waiting list last opened in 2022, 3,651 applications were received within five business days, she said, of those 300 were randomly selected.

Most applications came from people already living in the city, she said, but a few came from those wanting to move into the city.

Different types of vouchers are available to meet the specific needs of various populations. For example, Keppen said, there are different types for persons with disabilities under age 60, seniors over 60 and those experiencing homelessness or behavioral health issues.

The housing authority operates under a five-year plan that will be up for renewal next year, Keely said.

As the board and staff begin drafting a new plan, she said, they identified four overreaching areas of concentration: providing housing choice, improving resident connections, delivering human services and building operational capabilities.

The overriding mission of the housing authority, she said, is to help people find a home, hope and achieve their aspirations.

"I would say absolutely, the council can be extremely confident that the housing authority is serving the city," Keely said, "serving the community and truly helping people not just find housing, but find homes where they can live out their lives, raise their families, achieve their hopes and work on goals for themselves, just as you and I can do in our own homes."

To apply

Online applications will be accepted from 8 a.m. April 15 to midnight April 17 at www.readingha.org.

Paper applications will not be accepted.

Preferences will be given to individuals and families who live in the city and to families with a household member who is actively serving in the military or is a veteran.

Eligible individuals will be offered the first unit for which they meet the criteria and cannot select a development, according to RHA policy.