New Housing Authority Executive Director Diggs Talks Social Housing – Daily Local

WEST CHESTER—Paul Diggs, the new executive director of The Housing Authority of Chester County, wants to make sure more residents have a roof over their heads.

The quasi-governmental agency is independent of Chester County government and is funded from multiple federal, state and county sources. The agency provides subsidized housing to low-income families.

Diggs, 45, oversees 206 public housing units and 2,500 vouchers through subsidized rent in the county. There are programs for veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, orphans, children and students.

Diggs said people renting social housing, or Section 8 housing, face “tremendous stigma” from landlords and property owners.

“We typically have difficulty leasing in Chester County and across the country,” Diggs said. “The community, as a whole, views the program negatively.

“They believe the tenants will trash the house and be a real nuisance.

“They are not the villains they seem to be.”

The executive director said there is a huge divide between the haves and the have-nots. Affordable housing is hard to find, in part because of inflation, rising rents and low wages.

“To live and thrive here in Chester County, housing stability is key,” he said. “Because of this instability, we are having difficulty supporting more and more people in finding services.

“We find ourselves in a difficult situation where we need to help all families.”

With rents so high in the state’s wealthiest county, blue-collar and low-income workers have a hard time finding a living.

“It’s driving people out of the county,” Digg said. “It’s harder to hire and it leads to high turnover.

“It’s a problem for everyone, including those with resources.”

Diggs called the situation a housing crisis.

“There are not enough apartments for the approximately 5,000 people on the current waiting list,” he said. “We are trapped.

“We need to educate property owners about the program and the benefits available to them.”

During an interview Friday at his office in the Denney Reyburn Apartments, the reader of Stephen King’s memoirs and novels talked about why he likes the job he started in February.

“I always dreamed of being an executive director and I always enjoyed working with people people considered underdogs,” the Kennett Square resident said. “It fueled my passion to help as many families as possible.”

The single father of four children, ages 9 to 28, anticipates changes in the housing authority. He wants to find additional sources of income and grow the agency, perhaps through corporate partnerships and unconventional means.

Many of the county’s housing units date back to the 1950s and have reached their life expectancy. Some may be demolished to build higher-density units. The goal is to have 1,000 units in the next 10 years.

Diggs most recently served on the Howard County Maryland Housing Commission and took over leadership of HACC from retired Executive Director Dale Gravett.

Housing Authority Board Chairman Pat Bokovitz is pleased with the new hire.

“The purpose of the Housing Authority of Chester County is to provide, manage and develop high-quality, affordable housing for individuals and families, and to promote self-sufficiency and neighborhood revitalization,” Bokovitz said. “This is accomplished by building strong partnerships to create innovative solutions to the housing needs of the people we serve.”

Diggs earned a Bachelor of Science in Government and Public Policy and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore. In addition to his role as Director of the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the Housing Commission of Howard County, Maryland, he has experience in leadership positions with Housing Authorities in Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, D.C.

The Housing Authority of Chester County was established in 1963 to meet the housing needs of low- and very low-income residents of the county. The Housing Authority is governed by a five-member Board that meets monthly. Services are provided by 30 agency staff, supported by an annual budget of approximately $22 million. The Executive Director serves as the administrative head of HACC and the principal advisor to the Board and is responsible for the effective management and administration of the Authority.

Originally published: August 9, 2024 at 3:10 PM