Sept. 10, 2024, is Caster Binion Day in the City of Pittsburgh!

Today, Sept. 10, 2024, is Caster Binion Day in the City of Pittsburgh!

Pittsburgh City Council this morning honored HACP Executive Director Caster D. Binion for his service to the City of Pittsburgh and to our country, on a recommendation by Councilwoman Theresa Kail Smith.

Mr. Binion has served as the Executive Director of the HACP and Allies and Ross Management & Development Corporation, Inc. (ARMDC) and its subsidiaries since February 2013. As Executive Director, Mr. Binion manages an annual budget of roughly $200 million and is responsible for the operations of roughly 2,300 units of Low-Income Public Housing (LIPH), 5,500 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and 1,000 mixed-finance housing units.

During his tenure, Mr. Binion has led several major affordable housing initiatives, including: the community-wide Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) in Larimer/East Liberty launched in 2014, the implementation of a $500,000 Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Planning Grant for Bedford Dwellings and subsequent $50,000,000 CNI Implementation Grant for Bedford Dwellings, and a $30,000,000 CNI for Larimer that just concluded.

Under Mr. Binion's leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program.

Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP's HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program - which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.

Under Mr. Binion's leadership, the HACP has created more than 1,000 new affordable housing units developed through the innovative, award-winning Project-Based Voucher/Gap Financing Program. Through this program, Mr. Binion has created opportunities for community-based redevelopment organizations to increase their capacity and initiate dozens of affordable housing development projects in neighborhoods throughout the City of Pittsburgh, ranging from Oakland Pride to Cedarwood Homes - one of the first affordable senior housing communities in the City's West End.

Additionally, Mr. Binion has led efforts to infuse special programming to HACP's HCV Program, including the implementation of the HUD-VASH Program - which has successfully housed more than 100 formerly homeless Veterans.

In addition to spearheading the HACP's development efforts, Mr. Binion leads the agency's efforts to provide residents of the LIPH and HCV programs with quality services that provide vocational training, employment assistance, crisis support, quality of life enhancements for senior citizens, education opportunities and recreation activities for youth, as well as an onsite 24-hour daycare center, robust resident employment initiatives and an innovative mobile digital literacy program. In essence, these combined efforts lend credence to the overarching theme of providing HACP residents with a "Place to Live and a Path to Launch."

Prior to beginning his career in public housing, Mr. Binion served as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army, including during Operation Desert Storm, before retiring from the military in 1992.

During the Sept. 10 meeting, Councilwoman Kail Smith commended Mr. Binion and his "amazing team" for efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing within the City of Pittsburgh.

"When I first got elected, my district (District 2) felt saturated with housing authority properties. I raked the housing authority over the coals every chance I got," she said, adding though Mr. Binion was not the director at the time, she continued once he assumed the role in 2013.

She said Mr. Binion did an amazing job working with the community, and had his staff investigate the properties in question throughout her district.

"Since then, he has been working with us and the community. I want to thank you and your amazing team. They do a lot of great things in the City of Pittsburgh. I know it's not always easy, especially when affordable housing is not always so plentiful," she added.

Mr. Binion thanked the residents of the City of Pittsburgh and the HACP, HACP staff, the Board of Commissioners, and all the community partners who have worked together to bring Choice Neighborhoods visions to fruition.

He also thanked his wife, Della, for "putting up with me" over the years, and thanked the HACP staff for being so dedicated, and doing excellent work.

"Our imagination continues to grow as we continue to try to find affordable housing opportunities for the residents of the City of Pittsburgh," he said. "We have a lot to do as far as affordable housing."

Councilman Khari Mosley (District 9), who also serves on the HACP Board of Commissioners, thanked Mr. Binion and his staff for being very responsive to constituent concerns, and for their "willingness to live by your words to be imaginative and creative as we try to figure out a level of affordability at the Bakery Square Development, and in meeting this mandate to create more affordable housing in the City of Pittsburgh."

Councilman Bob Charland (District 3) also thanked Mr. Binion and the HACP staff for being incredibly responsive when issues arise in the district.

"You do a fantastic job of getting back to us quickly when we have an issue," he added, citing a fire last week at Caliguiri Plaza in Allentown.

Congratulations on such a well-deserved recognition, Mr. Binion!