The Chattanooga Housing Authority is celebrating a major milestone after its Housing Choice Voucher Program earned a perfect score from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This marks the second year in a row that CHA has received a high performer status.
According to Michelle Brown, the director of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the achievement reflects months of hard work behind the scenes to improve efficiency, inspections, and overall service for thousands of local families.
“The CMAP certification is what we would consider the report card for the voucher program,” Brown explained. “We were thrilled to find out that this is the second year that we’ve reached high performer status, but this is the first time that we’ve reached a 100% score.”
The program currently serves more than 3,300 participants and works alongside roughly 700 landlords across the Chattanooga area.
Beyond the recognition, Brown says the Housing Choice Voucher Program continues to play a critical role in helping residents find affordable housing during a nationwide housing crisis.
The program allows families to search for housing with private landlords while receiving rental assistance through CHA.
“Housing affordability is a major focus, not just in this city, but throughout the nation,” Brown shared.
Even amid funding challenges and a temporary voucher freeze, the agency is continuing to partner with developers on affordable housing projects across Chattanooga, including mixed-income communities and new housing developments.
Brown also highlighted how important stable housing can be for families facing difficult situations.
“Housing stability is one of the major things that really can turn around a family situation,” Brown said.
Looking ahead, CHA hopes additional funding will allow the agency to continue expanding support programs and helping even more residents across the city.
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