County Council sets April 15 hearing to form Putnam Housing Authority

A public hearing will be conduced at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 on the main floor of the Putnam County Courthouse to form the Putnam County Housing Authority.

On March 18, the Putnam County Council voted unanimously to hold a public hearing to consider a resolution for the creation of the Putnam County Housing Authority. The hearing is open to the public, and comments are welcome at the hearing with regard to housing in the outlying areas of the Putnam County.

Nicole Christlieb, executive director of the Greencastle Housing Authority (GHA), appeared before the County Council on March 18 to explain that effective Feb. 4, GHA was no longer eligible to issue vouchers in the outlying areas of Putnam County.

GHA will be permitted to administer the existing vouchers in these outlying areas of the county; however, should those voucher recipients choose to move from their current residence, then their voucher must be ported to the Indianapolis Office of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

Should anyone in these outlying areas need housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program they will be required to apply through the IHCDA Office. Its waiting list for Putnam County is currently closed.

To be eligible for assistance through the Greencastle Housing Authority Office the applicant is required to either move to Greencastle or within a five-mile radius of downtown Greencastle. This area is under the jurisdiction of GHA.

Christlieb requested the County Council hold a public hearing in accordance with IC § 5-3-1, for considering a resolution to form a Countywide Housing Authority. The resolution would allow for the creation of the Putnam County Housing Authority (PCHA).

PCHA would be able to operate throughout the entire county. With the adoption of a Putnam County Housing Authority, the Greencastle Housing Authority would change its name and continue serving all of Putnam County.

A resolution would also be required by the City of Greencastle that would allow the newly created Putnam County Housing Authority to operate within the jurisdiction of the former Greencastle Housing Authority.

Public comments and concerns should be presented at the Putnam County Council's public hearing on April 15 at 6:30 p.m.