Public Housing Authority's are governed by a board of officials that are generally called “commissioners,” including the Cortland Housing Authority.
Commissioners are appointed in accordance with state housing law and generally serve in the same capacity as the directors of a corporation. The board of commissioners establishes policies
under which the PHA conducts business, and ensures that those policies are followed by PHA staff. The board is responsible for preserving and expanding the agency’s resources and assuring
the agency’s continued viability and success. Formal actions of the PHA are taken through written resolutions, adopted by the board and entered into the official records of the PHA.
The principal staff member of the PHA is the executive director (ED), who is selected and hired by the board. The ED oversees the day to day operations of the PHA and is directly responsible for carrying out the policies established by the commissioners. The ED’s duties include hiring, training, and supervising the PHA’s staff, as well as budgeting and financial planning for the agency. Additionally, the ED is charged with ensuring compliance with federal and state laws, and program mandates. In some PHAs, the ED is known by another title, such as chief executive officer or president.
See our Mission Statement Here
As a public service agency, the Cortland Housing Authority (CHA) is committed to providing excellent service to all public housing applicants, residents, and the public. In order to provide superior service, the CHA resolves to:
- Administer applicable federal and state laws and regulations to achieve high ratings in compliance measurement indicators while maintaining efficiency in program operation to ensure fair and consistent treatment of clients served.
- Provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing in good repair – in compliance with program uniform physical condition standards – for very low- and low-income families.
- Achieve a healthy mix of incomes in its public housing developments by attracting and retaining higher income families and by working toward deconcentration of poverty goals.
- Encourage self-sufficiency of participant families and assist in the expansion of family opportunities which address educational, socio-economic, recreational and other human services needs.
- Promote fair housing and the opportunity for very low- and low-income families of all races, ethnicities, national origins, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and with all types of disabilities, to participate in the public housing program and its services.
- Create positive public awareness and expand the level of family and community support in accomplishing the PHA’s mission.
- Attain and maintain a high level of standards and professionalism in day-to-day management of all program components.
- Administer an efficient, high-performing agency through continuous improvement of the PHA’s support systems and commitment to our employees and their development.
The Cortland Housing Authority will make every effort to keep residents informed of program rules and regulations, and to advise participants of how the program rules affect them.