The Chattanooga Housing Authority has entered a voluntary compliance agreement with HUD that requires it to spend at least $1.4 million to make public housing more accessible to residents with physical disabilities.
“This is a good thing,” said Betsy McCright, CHA’s executive director. “Baby boomers are aging, and we anticipate more disabled people in the future. People will be living longer and will need more accommodations to have a better quality of life.”
CHA entered the agreement in April after a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development review revealed that some people with disabilities had trouble accessing common areas and housing units.
Under the agreement, the housing authority will make 83 of its 2,875 public housing units more handicap-accessible within four years. Of the 83 units, 44 will be refitted for people with limited mobility and 39 for people with hearing or vision disabilities. CHA officials estimate the cost will be at least $15,000 a unit.
Housing officials got new sensory equipment for the Cromwell Hills management office in May. The Sorenson video relay system uses television between caller and recipient.