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Receive an update and accept public comments on the Solano County Housing Authority’s activities during FY2017/18
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Published Notice Required? Yes _X__ No _ _
Public Hearing Required? Yes _X__ No _ _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Solano County Housing Authority (SCHA) receive an update and accept public comments on the SCHA’s activities during FY2017/18.
SUMMARY:
The SCHA, administered by the City of Vacaville Housing Authority staff, is required to hold an annual public hearing to review any changes to goals, objectives and/or policies that were made during the previous year, and to invite public comment regarding such changes. There were no changes to the goals, objectives or policies last year and no action is requested of the SCHA at this time other than to receive the update and to take public comments.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Housing Authority program is financed through HUD. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The SCHA program has 251 standard vouchers and 20 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers. Because of the program size (less than 550 vouchers) and high-performance achievements, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) exempts the SCHA from the requirement to prepare and submit an Annual Agency Plan. However, the SCHA is required to hold an annual public hearing regarding any changes to goals, objectives and/or policies that have occurred in the previous year, and to invite public comment regarding the program. No changes have been made. In addition to meeting the requirement, this agenda item is intended to serve as an update on the SCHA program, which did include a change to the Administrative Plan as described below.
FY 2017/18 Program Activity
On April 10, 2018, the Board of Supervisors, as the legislative body of the SCHA, approved a change to the SCHA Administrative Plan. This change allowed for streamlined reexaminations for households that receive at least 90 percent of income from fixed sources (such as: Social Security/SSI benefits, pensions, annuities, disability or death benefits, etc.). Approximately 62% of the SCHA’s current participants are eligible for the streamlined process. This change eliminated the need for these households, often senior or disabled, to attend an office interview and submit documentation of information that is typically already available to the SCHA through HUD database sources.
Voucher Use
Of the 251 regular vouchers, 213 are in use with 20 households currently searching for housing to utilize their vouchers. The remaining 18 vouchers are not in use now because monthly Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) are increasing, along with rent amounts, and funding from HUD has not kept pace. The result is that more money goes into payments for each voucher and less money is used to support all of the vouchers that the SCHA has. As of July 31, 2018, the SCHA has spent 101% of HAP revenue received (the extra 1% is covered by existing program reserve funds). The SCHA will seek to utilize more vouchers and use reserve funds as needed with the expectation that HUD funding will increase in 2019. HUD funding increases are based, in part, on prior year’s expenditures.
The SCHA has a waiting list of 385 applicants and is currently closed. The SCHA pulled applicants from the waiting list in July and September and will continue to monitor HAP spending and HUD funding and utilize the waiting list to ensure efficient use of the vouchers.
The SCHA was also awarded 15 HUD VASH vouchers in April 2018 and 5 additional VASH vouchers in September. These vouchers provide an additional $115,000 through rental assistance into Solano County. The HUD-VASH program combines Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA Northern California Health Care System (VA NCHCS) identifies eligible veterans for the program and refers them to the SCHA to receive a voucher. To date, 9 veterans are utilizing the new HUD-VASH vouchers. The VA NCHCS will continue to refer eligible veterans to the SCHA until the remaining 11 vouchers are utilized.
SCHA as High Performer
Lastly, for the 16th year in a row, the SCHA has achieved High Performer status by HUD through the Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP). SEMAP measures the performance of the SCHA Housing Choice Voucher program in 14 key areas including, but not limited to: accurate verification of family income, timely reexaminations of family income, timely annual housing quality inspections and voucher utilization rates.
Public Noticing Requirement: A 45-day public notice is required. Notice of this hearing was published in the Fairfield Daily Republic, Vacaville Reporter, Vallejo Times-Herald, and the Dixon Independent Voice newspapers.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Housing Authority may choose not to hold a public hearing or accept this update. This action is not recommended because the SCHA wishes to ensure that the program continues to be consistent with HUD’s regulations, which require that the SCHA conduct this public hearing.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Vacaville Housing Authority, which manages the program on the County’s behalf, assisted in the preparation of this staff report and will be available to help answer any questions at the hearing. The County Administrator and County Counsel have reviewed this item and concur with the recommended action.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION