SRHA celebrates 45 years
Published 10:09 pm Wednesday, April 20, 2016
The Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority will celebrate its 45th anniversary Saturday with a gala at the Hilton Garden Inn on East Constance Road.
The anniversary events have been held every five years since Executive Director Clarissa McAdoo came on board, starting with the 30th anniversary, she said.
“The need for affordable housing will probably always be there,” McAdoo said, reflecting on the authority’s long heritage. “We’ve persevered, because we’ve been here 45 years. We will persist and continue to do the work we need to do despite the obstacles, despite the political bureaucracy and the changing winds of federal funding.”
At each gala, the authority honors people who have contributed to the success of the authority and to its legacy. This year’s honorees include McAdoo, who has led the authority for 20 years and will retire this year.
McAdoo expects the SRHA will continue to do its work long after she is gone.
“I feel very strongly the housing authority will be here 45 years from now,” she said.
McAdoo will receive the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Additional recipients include Howard W. Martin Jr., an attorney for Crenshaw, Ware and Martin, who will receive the 2016 Houser Award for Distinguished Service. He also is retiring soon, McAdoo said, and handles the authority’s legal needs.
In addition, Dr. Karlton O. Johnson, principal of Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., will receive the 2016 Houser Award of Excellence. He is a former Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority resident, McAdoo said.
In addition, the 2016 Houser Awards for Outstanding Partner will be presented to
- Jaime Bordenave, president and chief executive officer, The Communities Group
- Joette C. Claude, president and chief executive officer, C.E.B. Financial Accounting and Tax Services
- Monte S. Crowl, vice president of marketing, Bayport Credit Union
- Mark R. Warden, principal, Smith and Thomas Asset Management LLC
Bordenave “was very instrumental in us getting the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant,” McAdoo said. He was a consultant that helped the SRHA become one of only 13 recipients in the nation to get the grant, which is allowing it to master plan a transformation for the Cypress Manor/Parker Riddick community.
Claude has been a partner with resident services and brought an educational program to the authority, teaching residents how to do taxes so they can obtain employment as income tax preparers, McAdoo said.
Crowl is a Section 8 landlord who works with the authority, McAdoo said.
Finally, Warden works for the investment firm the authority uses.
Rounding out the list of honorees will be Crystal Williams, who will receive the 2016 Houser Award for Outstanding Resident Achievement.
McAdoo said Williams is a current resident who has been successful in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and has gained employment at the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority.