keithword@bellsouth.net
Our office is located at 170 Craig Avenue right off East Ladiga Street and the 278 bypass
- Street Address: 170 Craig Avenue
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 420, Piedmont, AL 36272-0420
- Phone: 256-447-6734 or 256-447-0526
- Fax: 256-447-7233
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 to 4:00 pm
Office Staff:
J. Keith Word, Executive Director, (Oct 1989)
Sheila Hill, Deputy Director, (Aug 1991)
Mary Jane Gowens, Occupancy Specialist, (Mar 2000)
Vickie L. Morris, Secretary/Clerk (Apr 2010)
Maintenance Staff:
Johnny Minton, Supervisor, (Nov 1991)
Eddie Farmer, Maint Mechanic, (Oct 1986)
Joey Turner, Maint Mechanic, (July 2009)
Total # of Housing Units: 261
Public Housing: 211
Section 8 New Construction: 50
The Piedmont Housing Authority was created by state law in 1952 when a group of concerned citizens in Piedmont decided there was a need for low income housing. During the next 39 years 211 units of low income public housing was built, the Section 8 Existing Housing Program was started and Piedmont Manor Homes was built and the Housing Authority has managed that property since 1981.
I came to the Housing Authority in October 1989 and became the third Executive Director in September 1991. The Housing Authority then became involved in our city and community with numerous partnerships formed and a new beginning for programs and projects. Let me tell you about some of the things we have accomplished during the past 16 years:
MONEY: The Piedmont Housing Authority has administered over 20 million dollars in the past 22 years including $5.5 million in modernization and renovation funding. Our funding has been for the Section 8 Existing Housing Program, the Low income public housing program, management of Piedmont Manor, and the Housing Drug Elimination Program. that comes to about 1 million dollars a year that we at the Piedmont Housing Authority administer and manage and it is not an easy job. The last funding item we are very proud of is that Alabama Bond Pool Program with 37 PHA’s.
PROGRAMS: This part we are especially proud of. A. Project CARE Learning Center B. Project Detail with the Piedmont Police C. RMC Wellness Bus (5/19) D. RSVP with our Community Chest Program E. Piedmont Police Sub-station F. McDonalds A-Team Program for Academics G. Partnership agreement with City of Piedmont H. Now we partner with Community Action Agency I. Now we partner with Calhoun DHR
AWARDS: The Piedmont Housing Authority has received many awards and recognition for our programs during the past 20 years:
So you can see we stay busy at the Piedmont Housing Authority each day and truly take pride in our city and community in providing a better quality of life for our residents and their families.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize my staff and thank them for all their service and hard work. With the nine full time employees and two part time at our agency they have a combined total of 121 years of service in housing in Piedmont. I applaud them and thank them so much for their dedication to our agency and our residents.
Where do we go from here? In August 2009 we celebrated our new 5,700+ Administrative Office complete with a ribbon cutting. Future plans are to remodel the old office into a Community Center and turn the old Kimberly-Clarke building into a Boys & Girls Club.
I came to the Housing Authority in October 1989 and became the third Executive Director in September 1991. The Housing Authority then became involved in our city and community with numerous partnerships formed and a new beginning for programs and projects. Let me tell you about some of the things we have accomplished during the past 16 years:
MONEY: The Piedmont Housing Authority has administered over 20 million dollars in the past 22 years including $5.5 million in modernization and renovation funding. Our funding has been for the Section 8 Existing Housing Program, the Low income public housing program, management of Piedmont Manor, and the Housing Drug Elimination Program. that comes to about 1 million dollars a year that we at the Piedmont Housing Authority administer and manage and it is not an easy job. The last funding item we are very proud of is that Alabama Bond Pool Program with 37 PHA’s.
PROGRAMS: This part we are especially proud of. A. Project CARE Learning Center B. Project Detail with the Piedmont Police C. RMC Wellness Bus (5/19) D. RSVP with our Community Chest Program E. Piedmont Police Sub-station F. McDonalds A-Team Program for Academics G. Partnership agreement with City of Piedmont H. Now we partner with Community Action Agency I. Now we partner with Calhoun DHR
AWARDS: The Piedmont Housing Authority has received many awards and recognition for our programs during the past 20 years:
- 1990 National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials “Public Housing Manager Award” to Mr. Keith Word, Deputy Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 1992 National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials Award of Merit for Project Care Center
- 1992 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Award to Mrs. Pam Coogler, Occupancy Coordinator for the Administrative Employee of the Year statewide.
- 1992 National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials Award for Public Relations
- 1993 Southeastern Regional Council-National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials Award for Human Services.
- 1993 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Public Relations Award
- 1993 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Award to Mr. Donald Thompson, Maintenance Mechanic for Maintenance Employee of the Year statewide.
- 1993 United States Department of Agriculture Award for Grants Management Training to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 1994 National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Award for Resident Services
- 1994 Southeast Regional Council – National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials Award for Fighting Back
- 1994 U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development High Performer Award
- 1995 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Award to Mr. Larry Evans, Maintenance Supervisor for Maintenance Employee of the Year statewide.
- 1997 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Award for the A-Team
- 1997 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Presidential Award to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 1998 Alabama Housing Association of Redevelopment Authorities Award to Mrs. Sheila Hill, Deputy Director for Administrative Employee of the Year statewide.
- 2002 Piedmont Housing Authority celebrated fifty (50) years of service in the Piedmont Community.
- 2002 Alabama League of Municipalities Gold Award for Risk Management to Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2003 Alabama Public Housing Director’s Association Presidential Award of Honor to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2003 Alabama League of Municipalities Gold Award for Risk Management to Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2004 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Project Detail Award
- 2004 City of Piedmont, Alabama Outstanding Service Award of Honor to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2005 Alabama Public Housing Director’s Association Presidential Award to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2005 Alabama League of Municipalities Gold Award for Risk Management to Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2006 City of Piedmont, Alabama Award of Appreciation to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority for Community Service.
- 2006 Alabama League of Municipalities Gold Award for Risk Management to Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2007 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Presidential Award to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2008 Rutgers, The University of New Jersey Executive Director Education Program Graduate to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont, Alabama Housing Authority.
- 2008 Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce Secretary of the Year to Mrs. Sheila Hill, Deputy Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2008 Alabama League of Municipalities Gold Award for Risk Management to Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2009 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Presidential Award to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2009 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Award for the Academic Team.
- 2009 Alabama League of Municipalities Gold Award for Risk Management to Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2009 Alabama Public Housing Director’s Association Presidential Award to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2010 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Best Agency Publication statewide for the newsletter “The Housing Hotline”.
- 2010 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Commissioner of the Year statewide to Mr. Walter Prater, Chairman of the Board of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2010 Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Maintenance Employee of the Year statewide to Mr. Johnny Minton, Maintenance Supervisor, of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2010 Alabama Housing Association Risk Management Advisory Board Award of Appreciation to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
- 2010 City of Piedmont, Alabama Disabled American Veteran’s Chapter #21 Honorary Membership Award to Mr. Keith Word, Executive Director of the Piedmont Housing Authority.
So you can see we stay busy at the Piedmont Housing Authority each day and truly take pride in our city and community in providing a better quality of life for our residents and their families.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize my staff and thank them for all their service and hard work. With the nine full time employees and two part time at our agency they have a combined total of 121 years of service in housing in Piedmont. I applaud them and thank them so much for their dedication to our agency and our residents.
Where do we go from here? In August 2009 we celebrated our new 5,700+ Administrative Office complete with a ribbon cutting. Future plans are to remodel the old office into a Community Center and turn the old Kimberly-Clarke building into a Boys & Girls Club.