PHA meets federal rules for wheelchair accessibility

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, May, 2008 | by KATIE HUTTON huttonk@phillynews.com 215-854-5128

The Philadelphia Housing Authority now meets federal wheelchair accessibility requirements, according to an independent analysis released yesterday.

The analysis found that 7 percent of PHA's nearly 14,000 living units are wheelchair accessible, surpassing the 5 percent minimum required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"Reports show all of our units are in compliance," PHA executive director Carl Greene said. "We even have a 2 percent cushion."

The study was commissioned after the PHA failed disability inspections conducted by HUD in 2006.

HUD inspected only 20 units and PHA felt the failure was unwarranted, Greene said.

"Twenty units is a very minimal sample considering the number of units we have," he said.

PHA and...