Wheeling Housing Authority Preparing To-Do List For 2019 | WTOV

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. — The Wheeling Housing Authority has five different properties for residents across the city. That can be expensive to keep up with, but the federal government has offered some financial help.

“It's the same as upkeeping a house. But we have 543 units to keep up,” said Joyce Wolen, executive director, Wheeling Housing Authority.

Late last week, Senators Joe Manchin and Shelly Moore-Capito announced more than $13 million to be distributed across the state to modernize public housing.

The housing authority in Wheeling received just $1.1 million.

It’s now time to start making a list of needs among their properties.

“We have a capital fund coordinator, and she goes to each one of our sites, and she will interview residents who are interested. They will provide their bird's eye view,” Wolen said.

In the last year, the housing authority has made repairs on roofs, fixed elevators, and redone bathrooms, among other things.

They know that money can start to add up, so having support from the federal government is critical.

“Our senators and the House of Representatives Advocate for Housing and advocating for good repair in our housing is critical because that's where a majority of the funding comes from,” Wolen said.

Most tenants pay rent, but unit upkeep and subsidies come from the federal government.

To make sure tenants have a safe and clean place to live, that relationship will need to continue.

“We can provide housing to the people in the most need,” Wolen said.

Wolen says they'll start to compile their to-do list for 2019 over the next few months.

###

• Print
• Email
• Tweet