POINT PLEASANT — The Housing Authority of the City of Point Pleasant will be celebrating their 50th year of business in the housing industry on June 12, 2012, between the hours of 4-7 p.m.

The past 50 years the housing authority has been an integral part of the community and county. Currently the agency has three development sites: Tu-Endie-Wei Manor, Fort Randolph Terrace, and Shawnee Homes, serving the elderly, disabled and handicapped, and families. Also, the Section eight Housing Choice Voucher Program serves 125 individuals and the Shelter Plus Program serves 10 persons. This total is 272 families being assisted with their housing needs. They continue to provide safe, decent, and sanitary housing for low to moderate income families.

Throughout the past several years, many improvements have been made with the availability of Capital Funds awarded to the housing agency. Those improvements range from Energy Efficient furnaces, new windows and siding, new flooring, roofs, electrical up-grades, carpeting new porches, security cameras, etc.

The history of the housing authority began on June 11, 1962, when the city council passed Resolution No. 1, which determined the need for the creating a housing authority in the City of Point Pleasant. The resolution stated that in the city, there existed unsanitary and unsafe dwelling accommodations and persons of low-income were forced to reside in these households. There was a shortage of safe and unsanitary dwelling accommodations available at rents which persons of low-income could afford and such persons were forced to occupy over-crowded and congested dwelling accommodations.

The construction of housing developments would result in the clearance, re-planning and reconstruction of areas for improvements in the quality of life for those with low-incomes. To protect the welfare of the public and in the best interest it would be necessary to form a public corporate body in the City of Point Pleasant to be known as the “Housing Authority of the City of Point Pleasant.” On June 27, 1962, the city clerk, Mrs. A.E. Thomas presented to Mayor Virgil W. Siders the adoption of Resolution No. 1 determining the need for the creation of a Housing Authority in the City of Point Pleasant. It was reported that the land and buildings are owned by the authority and not by the city, county, or state in which the property is located. The local authority was set-up to establish and to administer the federally-assisted programs.

Within the housing authority organization is a five member board of commissioners that continue to maintain the federally assisted programs and provide policies in keeping with the Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations. These members volunteer their services and many have served by providing their expertise in management and leadership skills. It was reported that a commissioner is a public official who is required to take an oath of office who are held accountable to the federal government and not local officials for how the funds are spent.

It was also reported the executive director of the housing authority has many responsibilities concerning the day-to-day operations, budget, administering the policies and procedures set-forth by a lease agreement, admissions and occupancy policy manual, supervision of employees and maintaining the up-keep of units. The Housing Authority commissioners, executive director, and staff members encourage the public to attend their 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 12, 2012. There will also be an opportunity to tour the new administrative office building.