Florence
Housing
Authority was chartered by the State of Alabama in 1935. It has a long,
rich history of accomplishments and service to the Florence Community.
The Authority has a total of 664 public housing apartments, and a
Housing Choice Voucher Existing Housing Program with 581 vouchers and
certificates currently under contract.
The first Executive Director, William F. Baker, was
hired in 1950. Under his leadership, Cherry Hill Homes and Carver Homes
were built. These housing communities contain 250 apartments.
In 1955, Karl T. Tyree, Jr. was hired as Executive
Director. The small office was located in the State National Bank
Building from 1955 to 1963, then moved to the First Federal Building in
Florence. Under Tyree's guidance, Handy Homes (50 units) was built in
1957; Carver Heights (150 units) was built in 1968; Magnolia Gardens I
(100 units) was built in 1976; and Magnolia Gardens II (114 units) was
built in 1982. Tyree retired in September of 1990. Shaler S. Roberts,
III was hired as Deputy Director in June of 1989 and became Executive
Director on October 1, 1990. In 1971, the Central Office was
constructed in downtown Florence, and has had additions built in 1980,
1989 and 1998.
During the period of the Urban Renewal Program, the
Authority received in excess of $8,400,000 in Urban Renewal Assistance.
The Authority cleared more than 30 acres for the addition of The
University of North Alabama campus. In addition, in the early 1970's
the entire downtown Florence area was renovated and revitalized with
the assistance of the Authority and HUD.
Florence Housing Authority is an important and
necessary public agency. The Authority currently houses or provides
assistance to 2,800 people, which is approximately 8% of the city's
population. In the fiscal year 1996, Florence Housing Authority
contributed directly $5,616,640.83 to the local economy. The Authority
is 100% federally funded, but was established under state law. The
Mayor of Florence appoints the five-member Board of Commissioners.
Currently, the Authority has 28 employees divided
equally between maintenance and administration. Many programs are
offered and supported by the Authority for residents of all ages, such
as the Northwest Alabama Community Health Clinic, Boys and Girls Clubs
of Northwest Alabama, Senior Services Center at Handy Homes, Senior
Food Program at Magnolia Gardens II and Public Transportation System.
There has also been a concentrated effort to improve
the Authority's apartments through annual modernization projects. The
Authority has spent in excess of $4.6 million to upgrade its apartments
and grounds over the last five years. This has included total rewiring
of all apartments, new bathrooms, kitchens, interior and exterior
doors, refrigerators and ranges, washer and dryer connections, and
handicap accessibility.
Finally, the Authority has been designated a
"high-performing" housing authority by HUD for eleven consecutive
years. This is the entire time the public housing management assessment
program has been in operation. This program measures all areas of the
Authority's operation from accounting to maintenance to resident
services to vacancy rates.
The Authority is fortunate to have a trained and
dedicated staff and an involved and knowledgeable Board of
Commissioners. Our mission statement is "Provide safe, well-maintained,
decent and affordable housing and social services to low-income
families, senior citizens and disabled persons in a fair, respectful,
progressive and professional manner," and we strive to maintain this
level of service every day.
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