A look at the Warren Public Housing Authority

The City of Warren has one of the best managed Public Housing Authorities in Arkansas.  The authority is a creation of municipal government that operates housing for the low to moderate income, elderly and handicapped.  It is operated as an independent agency and is managed by a five member board.  Any time a board member's term expires, the remaining  members make a nomination and the Warren City Council must confirm the appointment or reappointment.  State law dictates the process.

The Housing Authority utilizes federal money from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and grants from state and federal agencies.  The primary purpose of the agency is to provide safe, decent and suitable housing at an affordable rate for those in need.

Several programs make up the work of the PHA in Warren.  They directly operate 171 units of housing in the city limits of Warren, 67 section 8 rental units that are owned by private owners and 20 units for the elderly and handicapped located on George Street.  The 171 units are located in several parts of town and the Section 8 programs provide rent subsidy for individual rental property that may be located anywhere in the city.  Under the Section 8 program rent subsidy is based on a family's income and is paid directly to the property owner.   Renters pay rent for use of public housing also based on their family income.

Mike Jolley is currently serving as Executive Director for the PHA and supervises the office and a maintenance crew that keeps the housing and grounds in good condition.  The current Board of Directors consist of the following:

Hugh Allen Quimby-Chairman

Jenelle Lipton-Vice Chairman

Erma Brunson

Roger George

Jimmy Sledge

According to recent statistics the authority serves 470 family members.  There are 245 individual families with the average family size being 1.92.  There are 60 male heads of households, 185 female heads of households and six couples.  The racial makeup of residents of the PHA is African-American 86% and caucasian 14%.  There are only a fraction of Hispanic occupants at this time.

The PHA not only provides safe and decent housing for those in need, it is an economic generator for Warren.  The authority spends as much money as possible in Warren.  From time to time the authority gets grant money to tear down individual dilapidated housing and replace them  with new energy efficient homes for those that qualify.  In some cases part of the money provided is in the form of low interest loans that are paid back by the owner.  Other grants have been used to rehabilitate existing housing that can be repaired.