Antonio McGinnis - Huntsville Housing Authority

Antonion McGinnis

Huntsville Housing Authority

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Antonio McGinnis

Antonio McGinnis of Huntsville, AL, prefers to allow the work that he does to speak for him. As the Executive Director and CEO of Huntsville Housing Authority, Antonio

Born and raised in the same community that he serves is very meaningful to Antonio. In Huntsville, he grew up in Mason Court/Sparkman Homes, a public housing community. Though he was raised in a single-parent home, Antonio says his father was very involved in his life. His father also worked for Huntsville Housing Authority, and this allowed Antonio to see his dad on a daily basis. He attended Terry Heights Elementary School and Stone Middle School and later graduated from Butler High School. At Butler, in 1991, he was an all-state basketball player. He would go on to play basketball at Texas A&M University on a full scholarship. In 1995, Antonio graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He also obtained a Masters degree in Public Administration from Strayer University. Antonio’s life has been completed with his wife of 13 years, Mitzi, and together they have two boys, Kendell, AJ, and Ian.

Where Antonio is currently serving should not be a surprise to those who are familiar with the trek he has taken in life. Yes, he grew up in public housing and attended the Sparkman Homes Boys and Girls Club as a youth. There, he says he found out who he was going to become. “Because I grew up in public housing, my connection is a little different from that of someone who didn’t grow up in public housing and doesn’t necessarily understand the people they are serving. I know firsthand, and I can relate to members of our communities. When I was growing up, I really didn’t understand why I was in this space. Now that I am in this space, I know it was because I needed that experience to serve better. Being from Huntsville can be tough, but knowing a lot of the communities, I can’t move as others wish I could. Due to policies and procedures that are in place, I am limited in what I can do. Whenever I can provide assistance, I am going to do just that. Most importantly, I want to help members of our communities learn that public housing doesn’t have to be their final stop. My testament should serve as a testament,” Antonio shares.

I know firsthand, and I can relate to members of our communities.  When I was growing up, I really didn’t understand why I was in this space.  Now that I am in this space, I know it was because I needed that experience to serve better.

As the leader of Huntsville Housing Authority, Antonio is responsible for the organization’s total operation. He manages a $16 million dollar budget, 1600 public housing units, and 2000 Section 8 vouchers that are distributed to the community to find housing for families who want to move out of the public housing sector and rent homes from private landlords. “We are a high-performing organization, and I am the face of it. When we get our report card, it says that we have checked the box. We take care of the properties we have,” he says.

Earlier this year, the Huntsville Housing Authority was awarded a $50 million dollar grant by HUD, called The Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant. This grant is given by HUD to select agencies that fit the criteria for redevelopment throughout the country. Though Antonio wasn’t serving in his current role when the application was submitted for the grant, in 2019, when he returned, he was part of a team that finalized the process. Initially, they received a $1.5 million dollar planning grant. They utilized those funds to revitalize Butler Terrace. That grant also allowed them to compete for the $50 million dollar grant. They partnered with the City of Huntsville and found a developer, McCormack Baron Salazar, based in St. Louis, MO, which helped them to connect with some social services organizations. With all of the connections that were made, they were able to secure the grant in July.

With the grant money that Huntsville Housing Authority has been awarded, Antonio shares the goal is to transform lives. “We are going to build neighborhoods where people of all demographics can live together and provide services that will help people excel. We may have people from all walks of life living in the same community, regardless of economic status. This will be a reflection of a true community that reflects who we are,” he says.

While Antonio leads an organization that is designed to help people in the Huntsville community, he emphasizes their goal, which is to help people become self-sufficient. “I am a big proponent of one of our programs, called the “The Family Self Sufficiency Program”. It allows families to develop their own five-year action plan. In those five years, it gives them an opportunity to plan for the next five years. They are assigned a case manager to walk them through the plan, and at the conclusion of the five years, if the families complete everything they have set out to do, their rent, which is placed in escrow upon signing up for the program, is given back to them in the form of a check. They can use that money to purchase a home, clear their debt, or whatever they want to do with it.”

When asked what he loves most about what he does, Antonio says it’s the opportunity to allow others to see who he is and where he comes from. He also credits his parents for inspiring him also. “My mom raised three boys who are doing well. My dad was a solid guy and took good care of me.”

In the future, Antonio shares that he plans to do his part to position the Huntsville Housing Authority to be successful. He also wants to continue to build leaders and use his life to be an example of what can be accomplished in life, regardless of where you come from.

www.hsvha.org