by Antonio D. Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Housing Authority of Texarkana Texas
THE NEW AND IMPROVED HOUSING AUTHORITY OF TEXARKANA, TEXAS PIVOTS TO ADDRESS “THE NEED”
The Housing Authority of the City of Texarkana, Texas (HATT) positions itself and its affiliates to become major players in the workforce housing market. As of today, there is an affordable housing crisis. Communities across the country are facing low-wealth housing shortages. There is not a single county in the United States that can fill 100% of its low- wealth population’s need for safe, affordable housing. HATT and its affiliates have pledged to continue their efforts to positively address the needs of low-wealth individuals and families in Texarkana USA and beyond. The Housing Authority of the City of Texarkana, Texas, has pivoted its approach and methodology in providing new, innovative and affordable housing solutions. For over 80 years, HATT has served low-income families and seniors in Texarkana through accessible housing and Section 8 vouchers. Under the leadership of CEO Antonio Williams, and the housing authority’s board of commissioners and directors lead by Chair, Melva Flowers, the housing authority has effectively eliminated its public housing program and moved into the realm of asset management and development. These strategies allow the HATT to remain vital and current to its local communities, in addition to making a greater difference in the industry.
“Although the HATT (a Public Housing Agency) continues to provide affordable housing to our low-wealth individuals in Texarkana, Texas, we have a more entrepreneurial approach to the day-to-day, utilizing cutting edge real estate business, financing and customer service techniques and practices while considering our bottom line as we move strategically towards the future,” Williams says. “Since money is vital to put new strategies in motion, we have diversified our operations as we continue to pursue unrestricted revenue streams to create workforce and affordable homes locally.” Since the change in its business approach, the HATT has also created additional affordable housing in North Texas. Here’s the path they paved to get to where they are today. Conversion Completion Step one in this shift was to take care of our local clients in Texarkana, Texas by exiting the public housing program and completing a major construction modernization on the entire portfolio. Through a two-phase, $34 million effort, HATT has successfully closed on the conversion of all its HOPE VI and public housing properties under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. The housing authority officially closed on its last conversions in Texarkana in June 2019 and is now 100 percent complete with the plan’s execution.
16 | Texarkana Community Directory | Spring 2022
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