Housing authority says HUD removed troubled status, outlines RAD/Section 18 conversion

Jedidiah Jackson, executive director of the Saint Charles Parish Housing Authority, told the council that the agency has made measurable operational improvements and is now out of HUD's troubled status. "Our PHAS score jumped from 24 in 2023 to 65 in 2024," Jackson said, and added that HUD has officially informed the authority that it is no longer in troubled status.

Jackson provided program details: the authority directly serves 53 families at its boutique property and supports about 241 families through the Housing Choice Voucher program, with a public-housing operating budget of over $700,000 and roughly $360,000 in HUD capital-project funding for the year. He said the authority tightened financial controls, improved vouchering, and raised its data-accuracy PIX score to 99.8%.

Looking ahead, Jackson described a RAD/Section 18 conversion pathway that would convert roughly 90% of units to project-based rental-assistance vouchers and 10% to tax-credit and HOME subsidy-based units. He said the authority has received a CHAP (commitment to enter into a Housing Assistance Payments contract) and plans to submit comprehensive financing with developer partner Standard Enterprises later this year. "We have improved in almost every single metric where improvement was mandated," Jackson said.

Council members asked clarifying questions about financing, who will manage renovations (Jackson answered that Standard Enterprises will be the developer/manager under parish oversight), and HUD subsidy structure. The presentation concluded with council appreciation for the housing authority’s reported progress; no formal council action was taken at this time.