October is Housing America Month

Earlier this month, Dunedin Mayor Dave Eggers and the City Commission declared October as “Housing America” month. The Housing America campaign, spearheaded by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and supported locally by the Dunedin Housing Authority (DHA), aims to inform the public and decision makers of the critical need to address the nation’s housing and community development concerns.

Darrell Irions, who serves as DHA’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “The housing authority’s board and staff are grateful to the Mayor and Commission members of Dunedin for their unwavering support of affordable housing. The city’s chamber provides a powerful platform for raising awareness of the plight of those in need of decent and sustainable affordable housing.”

Public housing, a $1 billion asset in this country, is home to over two million people, more than 40 percent of whom are children. Local housing authorities, like DHA, are the local administrative agencies for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Housing authorities provide rental housing or rental assistance to low-income individuals and families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

More information about the national Housing America campaign can be found at www.housingamericacampaign.org.