Gainesville Housing Authority has provided affordable, safe housing for 56 years

Malcolm Kiner
·4 min read

The Gainesville Housing Authority was created by an emergency resolution by the City Commission on Aug. 1, 1966, which declared the need for a housing authority in Gainesville and created one. In section 1(b), the resolution states, “There is a shortage of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations in the City of Gainesville, Florida available to families of low income at rentals they can afford.”

Fifty-six years later, that statement remains true, and the Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) is still committed to providing affordable, safe and sanitary housing to all of our program participants. GHA operates over 2,100 affordable housing units, of which we administer more than 1,700 Housing Choice vouchers. Governed by our Board of Commissioners, who are appointed by the mayor, the authority has been led by CEO Pamela Davis for the last 10 years.

One of three homes that the Gainesville Housing Authority completed in North Lincoln Heights in 2021.
One of three homes that the Gainesville Housing Authority completed in North Lincoln Heights in 2021.

GHA’s mission is to function as a performance-driven, customer-focused sustainable business, advocating for, preserving and developing quality affordable housing and self-sufficiency opportunities. GHA provides a wide array of supportive services to our residents and was awarded the Job Plus grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2019.

A significant focus of the agency is self-sufficiency with an emphasis on financial literacy, education services, employment services, youth services, and entrepreneurial training and development. Since 2012, GHA has contracted resident-owned businesses to provide services for the authority, allowing economic empowerment for residents and resulting in over $2.3 million in contract business. Currently, GHA is designing the E.L.I.T.E. Force Job Training Center located along East University Avenue to provide our residents and Gainesville community members with access to training for in careers such as the apartment industry.

A table set up for information about the Job Training & Entrepreneurial Program at the Gainesville Housing Authority's Black Owned Business Celebration, in the Pine Meadows neighborhood in Gainesville on Feb. 4.
A table set up for information about the Job Training & Entrepreneurial Program at the Gainesville Housing Authority's Black Owned Business Celebration, in the Pine Meadows neighborhood in Gainesville on Feb. 4.

GHA formed a non-profit, the Gainesville Housing Development and Management Corporation (GHDMC), in 2014 to provide, develop and manage affordable housing opportunities and properties for low- and moderate-income persons and/or families. GHDMC currently owns and operates 10 properties throughout the county, including an 18-unit townhome community, Stone Hill Townhomes, in the city of Alachua.

GHDMC recently completed the new construction of a duplex in southwest Gainesville. These two new affordable housing units are for those with special needs, including the elderly, disabled and veteran individuals.  

In 2020, along with our development partner, Pinnacle Housing, we completed the first phase of our Woodland Park redevelopment. The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve is a 96-unit mixed-finance development. The development consists of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units and was financed with Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve was competed in summer 2020. It was the first phase of the redevelopment of Woodland Park, a housing development for low-income residents that was built in 1970.
The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve was competed in summer 2020. It was the first phase of the redevelopment of Woodland Park, a housing development for low-income residents that was built in 1970.

We are focused on completing Phases II & III of the Woodland Park redevelopment; these next two phases have the potential to bring up to 144 new affordable units into our community. The Low Income Housing Tax Credits process is arduous, and we are thankful for the support of the city of Gainesville as we prepare for the next tax credit application process.

The GHA Board of Commissioners adopted a strategic business plan in 2020. This plan outlined the goals and objectives of the authority for the next five years. Among those goals was to increase the number of housing opportunities by 500 units.

To date, we have brought an additional 208 affordable housing opportunities to the Gainesville community through new construction and our voucher program. GHA renewed our commitment to our core purpose through our strategic business plan, which is the exact purpose we were created for 56 years ago.

The resident's party room at The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve, built by the Gainesville Housing Authority. The development is replacing the Woodland Park housing development for low-income residents that was built in 1970.
The resident's party room at The Grove at Sweetwater Preserve, built by the Gainesville Housing Authority. The development is replacing the Woodland Park housing development for low-income residents that was built in 1970.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to solving the affordable housing crises, whether it’s housing for low-to-moderate-income families or providing workforce housing opportunities. We would like to thank the efforts of the city of Gainesville and the Alachua County Commission, as well as all the other non-profit affordable housing practitioners in our community.

GHA will continue to pursue our vision to be the leader in developing affordable housing to ensure that all Gainesville residents have access to high-quality housing, providing a foundation for improving their quality of life and achieving self-sufficiency.

Malcolm Kiner is vice president of real estate development for the Gainesville Housing Authority.

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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Malcolm Kiner: Gainesville Housing Authority established 56 years ago