[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3587]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN HONOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF MONTEREY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 22, 2016

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Housing Authority 
of the County of Monterey's celebration of 75 years of service in the 
20th Congressional District of California. I have long argued that the 
biggest issue facing the economic future of my Central California 
region is affordable workforce housing. The Housing Authority of the 
County of Monterey was created on March 17, 1941. Its original purpose 
was to provide low-income rentals in the County of Monterey as an 
independent public agency. However, in the last 75 years, the Housing 
Authority has gone well beyond its original design.
  The Housing Authority has proven to be an invaluable asset in times 
of both war and peace. At the close of World War II, the Housing 
Authority's performance was exemplary in locating emergency housing for 
returning veterans and their families and they have continued to show 
this support for Monterey County for over seven decades. Throughout the 
years, the Housing Authority has expanded its programs to include low-
income rental apartments, low-income Housing Choice Voucher rental 
assistance to the private market, and development of affordable housing 
in concert with related non-profits. In addition, the Housing Authority 
provides property management services and tax-exempt bond financing for 
housing construction to its related non-profits.
  The Housing Authority is contributing to the reduction of 
homelessness in the County of Monterey through its collaboration with 
other local non-profits and governmental jurisdictions. The Housing 
Authority has provided transitional and permanent supportive housing to 
local residents who have found themselves homeless.
  The Housing Authority provides permanent and migrant housing for low-
income farmworkers who support the agricultural economy of the County 
of Monterey. The Housing Authority also provides housing for low-income 
persons with disabilities and senior citizens. As the population of 
seniors and the disabled grow in the County, the Housing Authority has 
risen to the challenge of housing these populations of citizens.
  Finally, the cost of rental housing has grown substantially in the 
last years, the need for affordable housing has also burgeoned. In 
partnership with its affiliated nonprofit development corporation, the 
Housing Authority has rehabilitated its housing units to insure that 
they remain an affordable housing option for generations to come. The 
Housing Development Corporation has assisted other housing authorities 
in the redevelopment of their obsolete housing units and has led the 
way in reuse of property.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for the whole House in recognizing 
the achievements of the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey. 
The Housing Authority has made endless contributions to Monterey County 
for the services it has provided for the residents of the 20th 
Congressional District of California.

                          ____________________