Report Card Time!
Students are not the only ones who hope for good grades on report cards. The Mt. Vernon Housing Authority (MVHA) just received a 95 on its recent state inspection report card.
Officially called the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), the inspection covers hundreds of items to determine the proper function of both building interior and exterior systems. The plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, appliances, doors, windows, walls, and ceilings are checked. Also inspected are roofs, bricks, siding, fencing, and sidewalks.
“This was a team effort. The Housing Authority staff, especially Paula Bullard and Albert Newman from our maintenance department, worked hard to make sure everything was in working order for the inspection,” Susan Reeves, Executive Director, said.
The MVHA has a total of 57 units, housing 115 people. The first 33 units were completed in October of 1974, and an additional 26 units were constructed in 1985. Tenants pay rent equal to 30% of their adjusted monthly income. Reeves started the job as Executive Director in 2021.
“With a score in the 90’s, we will not have another HUD inspection for three years,” Reeves said. “Scores in the 80’s are inspected every two years, and those 79 or below are inspected every year.”
The Housing Authority has been beneficial over the years by helping low-income families afford safe and clean housing. There are currently 29 people on their waiting list, and it sometimes takes two or more years to get an apartment there.
“The need for affordable housing in Franklin County is great,” Reeves said. “We could have twice as many apartments and keep them filled.”
