The Rochester Hispanic Business Association (RHBA), a Rochester Business Alliance affiliate, featured Alex D. Castro, Executive Director of the Rochester Housing Authority (RHA), at its June lunch series event. Castro provided an interactive presentation to RHBA members regarding the opportunities and challenges with public and subsidized housing in the City of Rochester. Castro told RHBA members that the RHA has become involved in a number of partnerships with the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Castro said, “These partnerships are vital to the positive transformation in our neighborhoods.”
Castro added that the RHA is 100 percent funded and regulated by federal standards and currently serves about 26,000 residents in 10,000 households in Monroe and surrounding counties. More than 60 percent of residents helped through the RHA Public Housing Program are seniors and people with disabilities. Castro said, “Future changes are aimed at transformational work in our city regarding mixed income housing to help with the de-concentration of poverty.”
RHBA members were eager to learn, engage in conversation, and establish a common understanding of how they can affect positive change. “The residents we help at the RHA are people who work with you, or their children attend school with your children.” said Castro. “Housing is a vital piece in making our neighborhoods more vibrant over time, especially as business members have become the backbone to build our future community.”
This article was written and featured on the Rochester Business Alliance website.
