DHA Awarded $5 Million in Highly Competitive HUD Mobility Grant to Support Families Moving to High-Opportunity Areas

Funds will expand housing choices for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) families with children by increasing access to high-opportunity areas.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas was recently awarded a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help HCV families gain greater access to high-opportunity areas.

DHA is one of only seven public housing agencies (PHAs) awarded across the country, and the funds are designed to enable PHAs to provide critical housing mobility counseling and financial assistance to support families’ housing choice. The highly competitive grant approval process required DHA to submit a comprehensive mobility plan for HUD review.

“The receipt of mobility grant funding will be transformative in DHA’s ability to assist families in transitioning to high-opportunity areas. At DHA, we believe everyone deserves a place to call home with access to great schools, job opportunities, transportation, healthy food and health care resources. Access to high-opportunity areas is critical to the success of our families, allowing everyone the chance to thrive,” says Troy Broussard, chief executive officer and president of DHA.

As a leading public housing authority, DHA is laser-focused on creating inclusive, sustainable housing solutions and opportunities for families to enhance their quality of life and achieve a brighter future.

Recent research underscores the positive impact of lower-poverty neighborhoods on academic achievement and long-term success, allowing families to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Families living in lower-poverty neighborhoods experience better health outcomes, such as lower rates of hospitalization, reduction in obesity and diabetes and improved mental health.

The HCV program offers families with vouchers the opportunity to live in a neighborhood of their choice. Yet, they often face barriers that limit their ability to move into high-opportunity areas. In addition to funds designated for mobility-related services for families, the mobility grant will address strategies to increase landlord participation in high-opportunity areas, reducing barriers for families looking to access areas with low poverty rates, high-performing schools and abundant amenities.

DHA has 90 days to create a comprehensive implementation plan detailing how the grant funds will be maximized to help North Texas families find affordable housing in high-opportunity areas through mobility counseling, housing search and financial assistance. There will be a six-month planning period ahead of funds being released.

“We are excited that HUD found merit in our competitive application and proposed mobility plan to support the families we serve. We look forward to implementing a comprehensive plan that will enable us to continue to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of our clients, breaking down barriers and providing access to greater opportunities and brighter outcomes,” concludes Broussard.

About DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas (formerly the Dallas Housing Authority)

DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas provides quality, affordable housing to low-income families and individuals through the effective and efficient administration of housing assistance programs. The agency aims to create opportunities for program participants to achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence. DHA provides housing opportunities to ~55,000 people through public housing developments and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs. Our mission is to provide affordable, quality housing and access to supportive resources across North Texas. DHA is governed by its Board of Commissioners and administers housing programs funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. DHA is an independent, local government entity that is separate from the Dallas City Housing/Community Services department, which is governed by the City of Dallas. For more information about DHA, please visit www.dhantx.com.