St. Paul Public Housing Agency

Today, St. Paul PHA welcomed Mysee V. to the PHA’s Board of Commissioners.?Commissioner Vang filled the seat vacated by Yer Chang, who had served on the PHA Board for nine years.?Commissioner Vang is a Strategy Consultant & Program Manager at Securian Financial.?She also serves as treasurer on the board of Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together (HWAT).? Congratulations, Commissioner Vang!?

On Wednesday, Housing Policy Director Lisa Feidler and HCV Programs Director Corina Serrano joined colleagues from across the state at the MN NAHRO (https://mnnahro.org/) Day at the Capitol.?This event provides an opportunity to advocate for the tools and resources needed to help housing agencies across MN meet the needs of the communities they serve. Thank you to Senators Erin Murphy and Sandy Pappas and Representative Samakab Hussein for giving us the opportunity to highlight the important work of PHAs and HRAs statewide!?

Last week, St. Paul PHA Executive Director Louise Seeba joined fellow MN NAHRO (https://mnnahro.org/) members Melissa Taphorn (Washington County CDA Executive Director), Kurt Keena (Red Wing HRA Executive Director) and Jill Keppers (Duluth HRA Executive Director) at the Minnesota Senate to provide testimony in support of a request for $100 million in state funding for the Publicly Owned Housing Program (POHP).? POHP funds support capital improvement projects in publicly-owned housing.?St. Paul PHA has received nearly $16 million in POHP funding since 2012, including two awards totaling about $8.5 million in 2024.?These funds have made numerous improvements to St. Paul PHA-owned housing possible, and the PHA greatly appreciates this vital source of state support.

Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties Head Start recently welcomed Governor Tim Walz to the McDonough Community Center to remind parents to claim the Minnesota Child Tax Credit.?PHA Board Chair Missy Staples Thompson and Executive Director Louise Seeba attended the event. Head Start is a no-cost to participants, publicly funded, child and family development program that has served PHA families and children since 1978.?The program operates at all of the PHA’s four family developments. ?St. Paul PHA is proud of this long-standing partnership and appreciates the generous support that Head Start has provided to PHA residents. ?

As a panelist at PHADA’s 2025 Commissioners conference in Miami, St. Paul PHA Executive Director Louise Seeba had the opportunity to share the PHA’s successes and insights for the process before, during and post-RAD conversion.?The session, “Unlocking the Potential of RAD: Asset Management and Operational Excellence Post-Conversion”, was well attended by commissioners, executive directors, and housing authority staff.?The panel was moderated by Lucie Du (Du & Associates), and other panelists included Gerald Cichon (CEO, Housing Authority of the City of El Paso) and Anthony Scott (former CEO, Durham Housing Authority).?PHA Board Chair Missy Staples Thompson along with PHA staff Alicia Huckleby, Ana Matos and Mai Moua also attended the conference. Louise’s participation in these national conferences is an important way the PHA provides leadership in the affordable housing industry.

Congratulations to Louise Seeba for completing the intensive Executive Director Education Program (EDEP) presented by the Public Housing Authority Directors Association (PHADA_USA) and Rutgers University!?EDEP class of 2025 graduates were celebrated at a luncheon during PHADA’s 2025 Commissioners’ Conference in Miami on January 7.?Each graduate received a PHADA/Rutgers University Certificate. Since 1994, EDEP has offered a comprehensive professional development curriculum for current and aspiring housing authority executive directors.?EDEP completion is a significant professional milestone in the industry, and the St. Paul PHA is very proud of Louise’s achievement.??

This month the St. Paul PHA hosted its annual bike giveaway at four family housing sites, in partnership with “Free Bikes 4 Kidz”.?A total of 67 youths were matched with a fitted bike and helmet. Since 2012, a total of 2,509 bikes and helmets have been given to PHA families. A new addition to bikes, this year’s giveaway events included free books! Families could pick out free books to take home – parents too! Books were provided by The Free Book Buggie and Next Chapter Books. Thank you Free Bikes 4 Kidz? (FB4K?), TWO MEN AND A TRUCK?, Saint Paul Police Department ACOP, The Free Book Buggie (https://lnkd.in/gQwwfuQq), Next Chapter Booksellers and PHA staff for helping to make this year’s bike giveaway extra special for families!

On December 4, St. Paul PHA and Ramsey County staff gathered at the PHA’s Edgerton Hi-Rise community room to celebrate the completed modernization of both of the building’s elevators. The hi-rise at 1000 Edgerton Street was built in 1974, with 14 floors and 221 apartments. A grant from Ramsey County’s Inclusive Housing Development program helped the PHA pay for the upgrade, which cost almost $760,000. This modernization work was one of six capital improvement projects in PHA hi-rises that have been funded by Ramsey County in the last two years, through grants totaling $2.25 million.?The other five County-funded hi-rise improvements include: ·???????Seal Hi-Rise Emergency Generator Replacement ·???????Ravoux Hi-Rise Exterior Sealant Replacement ·???????Dunedin Hi-Rise Community Room & Community Center Roof Replacement ·???????Iowa Hi-Rise LED Lighting Improvements - Interior and Exterior ·???????Hamline Hi-Rise LED Lighting Improvements - Interior and Exterior Special thanks to Ramsey County Commissioner & HRA Board Chair Mai Chong Xiong, PHA Board Chair Missy Staples Thompson and PHA Commissioner Leonard Thomas for giving brief remarks at the celebration. Edgerton residents say they are delighted with the new elevators, which are brighter inside and faster.

Congratulations to John Glaus on his well-deserved retirement! On November 27, the PHA’s Board of Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing John Glaus for his 53 years of service, from April 26, 1971 to December 2, 2024.?He was the longest-serving employee at the Agency. John was hired as a maintenance laborer while his family lived at McDonough Homes.?He worked his way up through many positions, becoming a Maintenance Manager in 2000 and serving in that position until his retirement.?John shared his wealth of knowledge with many employees whom he helped train, from new hires to Housing Managers, keeping the Maintenance operations running smoothly. Thank you, John, for your many years of dedicated service!?

Today the St. Paul PHA accepted a beautiful original oil painting from artist Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad which will be proudly displayed in the Boardroom at the PHA’s Central Administrative Office.?Those who have visited the PHA are likely familiar with Ms. Ingebrand-Pohlad’s work: in the 1980s she accepted a commission to create three separate large-format paintings representing PHA residents.?These paintings have been prominently displayed in PHA offices ever since. The PHA reconnected with Ms. Ingebrand-Pohlad recently when she offered to donate the new painting.?PHA Commissioners and staff had the opportunity to thank Ms. Ingebrand-Pohlad for the lovely painting at the Board meeting this morning.?Ms. Ingebrand-Pohlad, who now divides her time between California and Minnesota, said she really believes in the PHA’s mission and is happy to donate this artwork to the Agency. “The PHA is thrilled by this generous gift,” said Board Chair Missy Thompson. ?“The painting is exceptional, and I am excited to make it part of the PHA story!”??