HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10241989 - 1.72 :. 1-072
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA
TO: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DATE: October 24 , 1989
FROM: Perfecto Villarreal , Executive Director cc:
SUBJECT: REPORT ON IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTED NEW TENANT SELECTION
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION:
AUTHORIZE the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the County of
Contra Costa to begin negotiations with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) to ascertain whether waivers or exceptions can be made in the
centralized waiting list.
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Currently, the Housing Authority is suffering a loss in dwelling rent and
could be penalized by a reduction in HUD subsidy at the end of the fiscal year due to
the the disproportionate vacancy problem being experienced at CA011006, Las Deltas,
North Richmond.
III. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
On July 12, 1988 and again on October 4, 1988 the Board of Commissioners
approved the new HUD mandated tenant selection policies and procedures and on
September 19, 1988 the Centralized waiting list was put into effect.
The centralized waiting list has had no discernible impact on the Housing
Authority' s ability to effectively administer the Section 8 housing program. This is
due to the fact that the Section 8 certificate holder has always had the option of
selecting housing of their choice provided the owner of the property was' willing to
participate in the program.
Implementation of the centralized waiting list has had an adverse impact on the
Housing Authority's ability to effectively administer the Conventional Public Housing
program. In order to comply with the HUD directive, the Housing Authority was
required to create a system of offers, rejections and hardships to be used in filling
vacant apartments. Essentially, applicants are now forced to accept the next
available vacant unit, regardless of location in the county, or face placement at the
bottom of the waiting list. Previously, applicants were offered vacant units at the
specific location where they had applied for housing. As a result, the Conventional
Public Housing Program is experiencing the following difficulties:
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATI N OF BOARDCOMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS A TRUE AND
AYES: NOES: CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
OCT 2 4 1989
CC: ATTESTED
Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the
Board of Commissioners
Me82/7-ee 8Y , DEPUTY
Board of Commissioners
October 24 , 1989
Page -2-
1. The overall Authority-wide occupancy rate decreased in one
year from 98% to 94%.
2. Most housing developments experience an average of three
rejections before a family agrees to rent the unit.
3. Units are remaining vacant for longer periods of time as a
result of rejections by eligible applicants.
4. One particular housing development - Las Deltas, in North
Richmond - is experiencing a disproportionate rejection rate,
which, in turn, is causing a serious vacancy problem in the
development. For example, out of a total of 105 offers,
only 20 were accepted. The occupancy rate at this development
has decreased from 97% to 88% in one year.
The Housing Authority is concerned about the impact the centralized waiting
list is having overall, but the impact on Las Deltas in North Richmond is of
particular concern. For that reason, staff has recommended that the Executive
Director begin negotiations with HUD to see if central waiting list waivers or
exceptions can be made which will enable the Housing Authority to resolve the vancay
problem at the Las Deltas housing development in North Richmond.
IV. CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the Board of Commissioners fail to respond positively to this request,
the Housing Authority will continue to lose dwelling rent and, possibly, HUD subsidy
at Las Deltas, North Richmond. Additionally, the Board of Commissioners would be
acting in a manner contrary to its position to provide housing for low-income
families in Contra Costa County.
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