Latest news with #MikeAlberts
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JHA: Prospect Homes rehabilitation project down to 'small' details, new Section 8 vouchers issued
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – All major construction is complete on the Prospect Homes rehabilitation project. The Johnstown Housing Authority-owned public housing units were repaired and upgraded after substantial deficiencies were discovered, particularly ceilings that were in danger of collapsing, requiring all tenants to vacate the units in the spring of 2023. 'While it's essentially complete, all three contractors are still working up there, finishing up small punch-list items,' JHA Executive Director Mike Alberts said Tuesday during the board's regular monthly meeting. 'This could be things like 'Hey, you missed a second coat of paint on this wall' or 'Hey, this electrical outlet isn't working,' small items like that.' Along with the remaining small-detail construction items, JHA workers are taking care of other final matters, such as installing appliances. 'Before they're 'ready ready' we still have some more work to do,' Alberts said. Right now, JHA is focusing on finishing apartments of former Prospect residents who have expressed a desire to return to the community. Up to 20 families have already returned to the public housing complex as apartments have passed inspection. Vouchers issued JHA issued 17 new Section 8 rental assistance vouchers in March. 'Those were the first vouchers that have been issued in the Section 8 program in about a year,' Alberts said. 'We felt we were comfortable enough with the (federal) HAP (Housing Assistance Payments) funding where we think we could put more vouchers on the streets and not feel too far upside down.' There are 960 Section 8 vouchers allotted to JHA with 769 in use.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former tenants start moving back to Prospect Homes
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Approximately 45% of the residents who were displaced from the Prospect Homes almost two years ago have indicated that they intend on returning to the Johnstown Housing Authority-owned public housing complex when units are available. JHA Executive Director Mike Alberts said 25% have declined an offer to come back, while 30% are undecided or have not responded yet, when giving a presentation during the board's regular monthly meeting Tuesday. More than 200 people were required to vacate the buildings, beginning in March 2023, after multiple structural issues were found, specifically ceilings that were in danger of collapsing. So far, less than 10 families have received keys to move back into units, with JHA planning to pay the moving expenses for former residents who return to Prospect. 'They got the keys,' Alberts said. 'But did they physically move back in yet? Some of them might still be in that process.' Alberts said there are signs of 'normal activity' such as people going in and out of the units and CamTran buses making the rounds. Only a few buildings are ready for occupancy. Others will be habitable once construction work is complete. As of the end of January, 77% of the general contracting, 78% of the plumbing and 78% of the electrical was finished, according to Alberts. He said the original contracts call for all work to be done by March 12, noting that no extension has been requested as of this week. 'I feel like it's going good,' Alberts said. 'We were very, very excited to get the first ones done. Now it's just waiting for the next batch. We knew this was going to be a phase-in process. The first phase is done. Now we've got to wait for the next batch of buildings to be turned over to us, so we can go and do that. It's still some waiting. But overall, things are going well.' Tenants were relocated to other public housing units, Section 8 rental properties and residences not affiliated with JHA. The authority originally thought some buildings might be ready for occupancy by Thanksgiving, but that did not materialize. 'I just want to get it done,' said Jeffrey Matula Jr., leader of a group of former Prospect residents that formed after they were required to leave the complex. 'Everybody's frustrated. We just want back. It's all boiled into that, we just want back. We're tired of the games. We want our normality back. We miss our front porch, our yards. 'We miss kids being able to play with each other, not having to worry about being jumped, beat up on or picked on. We just want our normality back.'
