Ann Arbor Housing Commission (AAHC) seeks to provide desirable housing and related supportive services for low-income individuals and families on a transitional and/or permanent basis. The AAHC is overseen by a board that's appointed by the city council. Day-to-day operations are handled by a staff that's led by executive director Jennifer L. Hall.

The city owns and the AAHC operates approximately 360 low-rent housing units located within the city in 63 buildings at 18 sites.

Timeline

April 2009 The City issues an RFP on behalf of the Commission soliciting a comprehensive evaluation of the Commission, including its staffing, board, and operations, as well as the creation of a strategic plan and specific recommendations.

June 2009 Schumaker & Company begins work on the evaluation.

Jan. 6, 2010 The housing commission approves a reorganization that outsources maintenance, adds a financial analyst and a program manager to the Section 8 housing program, and makes the executive director and deputy director positions full time.

Jan. 11, 2010 City Council is presented with the plans for reorganization at a work session. Staff from Schumaker & Company also present their independent report on the state of the Commission.

Feb. 2010 The Schumaker Report is released. Its four major findings are:

  • The Ann Arbor Housing Commission operates in a state of constant financial instability;
  • The AAHC has been organized to address problems and resulting chaos, not to prepare for the future;
  • The AAHC has failed to secure funding sources other than Federal Housing and Urban Development grants;
  • Much of the current public housing stock can be better maintained but is outdated and inherently sub-standard.

The report lists recommendations, the majority of which are labeled high priorty. The Commission has adopted some of the recommendations (see above).

Feb. 27, 2010: City administrator Roger Fraser sends a confidential memo to Council stating that board members had not addressed serious problems at the Commission and were having difficulty managing the process to hire a new director.

On March 15, 2010, the City Council unanimously dissolves the AAHC board, citing concerns raised in the Schumaker report. Especially at issue is the board's previous inability to pursue non-HUD funding.

May 12 2010 The AAHC interviews its only candidate for executive director, current interim director Marge Novak.

Family housing sites

Housing for single families, couples, persons with disabilities and persons over the age of 62

  • Miller Manor: 727 Miller Ave, Ann Arbor 48103
  • Baker Commons: 106 Packard, Ann Arbor 48104
  • Broadway Terrace: 1504-1506 Broadway, Ann Arbor 48105
  • Evelyn Court: 909 Evelyn Ct, Ann Arbor 48103
  • White State Henry Apartments:
    • 1514 and 1520 White Street, Ann Arbor 48104
    • 1521 State Street, Ann Arbor 48104
    • 701-719 Henry Street, Ann Arbor 48104
  • South Seventh: 221-253 S. Seventh Street, Ann Arbor 48103
  • West Washington: 805-807 W. Washington Street, Ann Arbor 48103

Board of commissioners

The Ann Arbor Housing Commission board meets monthly on the 3d Wednesday. The board was dissolved on March 15 2010, and most members were not re-appointed.


The previous board was removed by the Ann Arbor City Council:

In the news

The Ann Arbor Housing Commission’s new board is moving ahead with the selection process for its new executive director, but is now considering only one candidate for the job – interim executive director Marge Novak.

News references

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