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PHA meets federal rules for wheelchair accessibility

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.

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 HUD have been locked in a legal battle over the issue ever since. PHA in a lawsuit claims it failed inspections not based on facts, but because of PHA's refusal to turn over land to a private developer.

"We believe we have now substantiated that we exceed requirements," Greene said. "Hopefully they will cease their vendetta."

HUD declined to comment on the study because it had not yet seen or received a summary of the findings. *