Housing Authority of Savannah

 

 

Our History >>

The Housing Authority of Savannah was organized on January 10, 1938 as a public housing authority in accordance with the Georgia State Housing Authority’s Law of 1937, as established by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. It began with a resolution adopted by the Savannah City Council on December 22, 1937. The resolution stated the need for a body to address the shortage of safe and sanitary housing in the city.

Mayor Robert M. Hitch appointed Herbert L. Kayton as Chairman and Fred Wessels, D.T. Simpson, W. Hugh Stephens and Joseph F. Griffin as Commissioners. Mr. Kayton shortly after resigned the Chairmanship, but continued to serve on the Board while Fred Wessels became Chairman.

The Board executed the first cooperation agreement with the City of Savannah on November 28, 1938. This agreement assures residents of the Housing Authority that they will receive police and fire protection, refuse collection and all services available to citizens of Savannah.

The first employee of the Authority was W. Horace Stillwell who served as Executive Director from November 30, 1938 until June 1, 1959.

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HAS Mission >>

To effectively and efficiently address the housing needs of Savannah’s low income population while focusing on the educational, job training and economic self-sufficiency needs of the residents of public housing neighborhoods and the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF SAVANNAH:  2012 CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING GRANT RECIPIENT

 

The Housing Authority of Savannah is one of only thirteen public housing authorities across the nation to the receive a Choice Neighborhood Initiative Planning Grant. The FY 2011 CNI Planning Grant awarded to the Housing Authority of Savannah, during January, will support the development of a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan, which will transform Robert Hitch Village and Fred Wessels Homes, and the surrounding area along the Wheaton Street Corridor. Constructed and opened in 1955, Robert Hitch Village, with a total of 337 public housing units, was one of the Housing Authority of Savannah’s oldest neighborhoods when it was demolished in 2010. A stimulus grant secured under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funded the demolition, along with an extensive energy-efficiency renovation of neighboring Fred Wessels Homes, which includes 250 public housing units.

With the use of the CNI grant, the Housing Authority of Savannah, along with key stakeholders, who have shown incredible support and commitment, will develop a transformation plan that will be used to change the lives of public housing residents and families in the surrounding community.

Working with its key partners, HAS will commit $300,000 in Housing Authority net unrestricted assets, in combination with $569,684 in-kind funding from a diverse group of partners, to create a viable and implementable plan that will address housing, people, and their neighborhood. These partners include the City of Savannah, Savannah State University, Savannah-Chatham Public School System, Chatham Area Transit, Metropolitan Planning Commission, Trident Sustainability Group, CHSA Development, Inc., United Community Bank, and The Savannah Bank. Working with its partners, the Housing Authority will develop this comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy into a guiding document for the redevelopment of these two public housing communities, and the surrounding area along the Wheaton Street Corridor.

This transformation will continue the positive trends like the City-led major redevelopment of the Savannah Gardens area, the County’s total mobility plan for non-motorized transit options and the streetcar proposed for Wheaton Street and Waters Avenue.

The development of the Transformation Plan, along with the leveraged funding, will be used over a two-year planning period and directed toward creating a workable and implementable plan that will create a sustainable, mixed-finance neighborhood with safe streets, good schools, accessible transportation, and training as a means to jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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