BOARD RE-NAMES BHA CENTRAL OFFICE IN HONOR OF OUTGOING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROBERT L. REYNA
BEAUMONT, TX – On November 16, 2018, Beaumont Housing Authority Board Chairman Doug Landry announced that the BHA Board of 
Commissioners have renamed the BHA Central Office the Robert L. Reyna Administration Building.
“Over the last 15 years, Mr. Reyna has truly left his mark and established a legacy at this agency that will live on long past his retirement,” Landry said. “The commissioners believe it is fitting to have the building where he accomplished so much named in his honor.”
Reyna a product of public housing in West Dallas, had a distinguished career in affordable housing that spanned over 40 years. Over the course of his time with BHA, he was responsible for the oversight and management of over 1,000 apartments, 2,000 Housing Choice Vouchers and funding totaling over $2.5 billion dollars, which included the highly successful 2006 HOPE VI Revitalization Program.
“I am humbled by the recognition from the Board of Commissioners,” Reyna said. “I am also thankful for the staff and our community partners who have helped me through the years in making the work of the agency a success.”
Reyna began his career in the housing industry in 1973 as a maintenance man with the San Antonio Housing Authority. He moved up quickly, becoming a Resident Services Representative connecting residents to social and supportive services.
In 1979, Reyna moved to San Diego to help the city establish its very first public housing program. His career has also taken him to Ft. Worth where he served for 10 years as a Housing Operations Administrator, and Houston, where he worked for 12 years as the Director of Housing Management, and later as the Director of Communications, Community Relations and Grants.
In 2003, he was selected by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to assume the role as Executive Director at the Beaumont Housing Authority. At the time, the agency was under HUD receivership due to mismanagement. Public confidence in the agency’s ability to manage its programs effectively was non-existent.
Under Reyna’s leadership, the agency was returned to local control within 18 months. Public trust in the agency was restored, as Reyna worked to build partnerships in the community. Shortly thereafter, Beaumont was hit by Hurricane Rita, which did significant damage to Magnolia Gardens, BHA’s oldest and most dilapidated public housing property. BHA competed for, and won, a highly coveted HOPE VI Revitalization grant, which brought more than $54 million dollars of investment to the North End of Beaumont. Magnolia Gardens was razed, and over 400 units of affordable housing were built.
In 2009, Reyna was recognized as the Executive Director of the Year by the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials for his outstanding achievements and leadership.
Reyna’s last day at BHA will be December 14, 2018. He plans to retire to San Antonio with Rosemary, his wife of 46 years.
