BMHA Board of Commissioners Welcomes New Board Member Rachelle Sat’chell Robinson
Buffalo, NY—The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA) Board of Commissioners welcomed new board member Rachelle Sat’chell Robinson. The new commissioner is the Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer of Lighthouse Learning Centers, and is also the co-founder of Friends of Lighthouse, a nonprofit that offers parenting classes and provides dedicated space for foster-care visitations at one of her locations.
Commissioner Sat’chelle Robinson, who spent more than two decades in leadership roles with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, is also a member of the City of Buffalo’s Commission on Citizens’ Rights. Robinson holds a Master’s Degree in Divinity and is known in ministry as “Deep Wells.” She fills the board seat previously held by Commissioner Darren Saxon whose term expired in October.
Commissioners approved rent and utility allowances to help Housing Choice Voucher holders cover monthly expense increases. The rent allowance schedule includes higher payments so that voucher holders can afford to live in low poverty zip codes in Buffalo and its suburbs.
The increases follow an annual review of local average rent and utility rates. The higher rent allowances correspond with the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents and Fair Small Market Rents schedules. The revised rates go into effect on January 1, 2026.
In other action, Commissioners approved:
A second $250,000 change order to the BMHA’s contract with Solly Industries to make emergency HVAC repairs at 26 properties. This change order expands the scope of work to include the replacement of non functioning HVAC equipment and boosts the current contract cost from $615,170 to $865,170.
Write-off of vacated tenant accounts at Marine Drive Apartments totaling $360, 958 for the first quarter of the 2025-26 Fiscal Year.
The next Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for December 18, 2025 at noon at 300 Perry St.