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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10261999 - SD2 Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FROM: Robert McEwen, Executive Director DATE: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 SUBJECT: PUBLIC HOUSING INCOME MIX AND DECONCENTRATION POLICY MANDATED BY HUD UNDER THE QUALITY HOUSING &WORK RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1998. SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)AND BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION 1. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT Resolution No. 4073 approving the Public Housing Income Mix and Deconcentration Policy dated October 14, 1999 for the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa mandated by HUD under the Quality Housing &Work Responsibility Act of 1998. 11. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. 111. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND On September 14, 1999, the Policy was placed on the Board of Commissioners agenda. This policy included a preference for new public housing admissions whereby an otherwise eligible family on the waiting list could be passed over for another lower ranked family meeting the income criterion as required to achieve a more balanced mix within a particular development. Commissioner Gioia had some concerns that the preference could allow a family of relatively lower income to be passed over in favor of a higher income family. The matter was continued. Subsequent discussions have generated revisions that removed this preference. Overall, 98%of the families living at all developments are very low-income (below 50%of the area median income). Further analysis of the income mix revealed no major variations in income mix, development to development. Included in your Board packet is the revised policy,dated October 14, 1999 and a copy of the original version with changes highlighted. Also Included for your review are graphs showing the income mix of our public housing developments and Section 8 programs and a table showing the income thresholds for the various income groupings used in the charts. This policy was reviewed and recommended for adoption by the Advisory Housing Commission at its regular meeting held on October fib, 1999. IV, CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION: Should the Board of Commissioners elect not to adopt Resolution No.4073 approving the Public Housing Income Mix and Deconcentration Policy, the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa would not be in compliance with the Quality Housing&Work Responsibility Act of 1998. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:_ _ SIGNATURE_ — -_ _ RECOMMENDATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ——RECOMMENDATION—RECOMMENDATION OE BOARD COMMITTEE --APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) A` ACTION OF BOARD ON W APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED --- OTHER ------- VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS _UNANIMOUS(ABSENT_ �� — —) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND _ZZF7 CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND AYES: _._ NOES:_— ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ABSENT: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED ` PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY DMINISTRATOR Rpt80 BY , DEPUTY if THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA RESOLUTION NO. 4073 ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO, 4073 APPROVING THE INCOME MIX AND DECONCENTRATION POLICY FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA WHEREAS, It is the desire of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for its residents; and, WHEREAS,the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa is committed to maintaining an economically diverse resident body, and NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa approves and adopts the Income Mix and Deconcentration Policy. PASSED AND ADOPTED ON October 26, 1999 by the following vote of the Commissioners. AYES: GIOIA, UILKEMA and CANCIAMILLA NOES: NONE ABSENT: GERBER, DE5AULNIER ABSTAIN: NONE I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ON THE DATE SHOWN. b ATTESTED w ' PHIL BATCHELO ,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 4 AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY r as H:\judyhmtz\MSOFFICE\WINWORD\BOARD\Deconcentration Res.doc HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA INCOME MIX AND DECONCENTRATION POLICY Introduction This policy has been prepared in compliance with Section 513 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (QRWHA) which amends sections of the United States Housing Act of 1937 applicable to the operations of public housing. Statement of Policy Our policy and process for managing income mix and deconcentration efforts in our communities is founded on the premise that there are distinct social and agency benefits for promoting and maintaining public housing developments occupied by families that have a range of incomes and that are not concentrated with only very low income families. This premise is recognized not only as an agency policy and goal, but also as a requirement of law. The benefits of management of income mix and deconcentration for the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa are increased access to varied client bases, the formation of stronger, more stable and cohesive communities, and the reduction of financial dependence on the federal government. This policy was formulated after review of both the existing policies and procedures of this housing authority, the composition of the waiting list, and a comprehensive analysis of the current residency of each public housing development. Consideration also was given to each project's amenities along with its location within a particular community, since the HA's jurisdiction encompasses an unusually large geographic area with much economic diversity. Although this analysis resulted in the finding that there are, at this time, no major variances between the economic levels of the public housing residents and the communities in which the individual developments are located, a more balanced composition within each development is sought for the future. Continued analysis will be undertaken, particularly necessary since a nationwide Welfare to Work program is e acting mco���Tve��6Ts and^fsi im Iy sta us-�-����in every comimunity;includngLLthe--comrriurities _ of Contra Costa County. It is within this context that the income Mix and Deconcentration efforts as presented here were formulated and, in conformance with QHWRA, the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa Public Housing Policies and Procedures Manual and related policies will be amended as necessary to implement the efforts presented in this document. October 14, 1999 1 Income Mix New Admissions In conformance with the new QHWRA provisions, the HACCC will lease within each fiscal year at least 40 (forty) percent of its total available units to households whose incomes do not exceed 30 (thirty) percent of the area median income (AMI). The AMI is determined annually for Contra Costa County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is currently based upon the estimated City of Oakland MSA median income. Deconcentration The HACCC will not willfully concentrate very low-income families (or other families with relatively low incomes) in public housing dwelling units in certain public housing development or certain buildings within developments, even though the income mix requirements for the agency are met overall. In compliance with the above, the following efforts towards deconcentration may be made, including the targeted offering of incentives. However, in no instance will any adverse action be taken against a family which chooses to either decline an offered incentive or occupancy in an offered development. New Admissions Aggressive marketing and special outreach efforts will continue on the part of the HA in order to reach the wide variety of applicants needed to balance the admissions within each development. In compliance with this deconcentration policy, the HA will consider the resident composition of each project as vacancies occur. If a particular development has a significant imbalance of either extremely low or higher income families, the HA will take affirmative actions to take appropriate steps to better balance the project's composition. These affirmative actions will not include passing over a low- income family whose name has risen to the top of the waiting list in favor of a family of higher income. This policy will not be used when an overall violation of the HA's annual income mix requirements established by HUD will result. The HA may also make efforts in the future to market public housing to working families and individuals in order to correct possible imbalances. -,----,-- Existing_Residents ----- Because the goal of the HA will be to both achieve and to maintain its balance of diverse residency within each development, incentives also will be offered to existing resident families to encourage their continued occupancy. The stability provided a development by maintaining committed tenants who know their neighbors and have a sense of community is a valuable HA management asset. Their presence also can serve as role models to the newer and perhaps more disadvantaged families, October 14, 1999 2 a:lcccha income mitis-deconl0-14-99.doc particularly after the efforts of these families toward economic self-sufficiency begin to produce tangible improvements in their own lives that are visible to others. As an incentive toward encouraging in-place families to stay in their developments, the HA will utilize the HUD-allowed system of ceiling/fiat rents. These rents will be established at very reasonable levels compared with the surrounding market rents, allowing the increasingly independent families to increase their personal financial stability while protecting the development's stability. Other incentives already offered by the HA to current participants include the following: • Provision of and cooperation with education and employment training programs; • Scholarships for residents going back to school, as well as new high school graduates continuing on to college; • Internships for the teens of resident families, often resulting in full-time employment and training after high school graduation. Since the HA will continue to analyze each housing development's composition on a periodic basis, additional incentives may be established as needed to reach the deconcentration levels required of this policy. These incentives will be incorporated into the HA's Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy as well as related policies and procedures. October 14, 1999 3 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA INCOME MIX AND DECONCENTRATION POLICY Introduction This policy has been prepared in compliance with Section 513 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (QRWHA) which amends sections of the United States Housing Act of 1937 applicable to the operations of public housing. Statement of Policy Cour policy and process for managing income mix and deconcentration efforts in our communities is founded on the premise that there are distinct social and agency benefits for promoting and maintaining public housing developments occupied by families that have a range of incomes and that are not concentrated with cnly very low income families. This premise is recognized not only as an agency policy and goal, but also as a requirement of law. The benefits of management of income mix and deconcentration for the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa are: a viidGae; s+i ,_. w', increased access to varied client bases, the formation of stronger, more stable and cohesive communities, and the reduction of e44;financial dependence on the federal government. This policy was formulated after review of both the existing policies and procedures of this housing authority, the composition of the waiting list, and a i comprehensive analysis of the current residency of each public housing * development. Consideration also was given to each project's amenities along with its location within a particular community, since the HA's jurisdiction encompasses an unusually large geographic area with much economic diversity. Although this pFeliminaFy analysis resulted in the finding that there are, at this time, no major variances between the economic levels of the public housing residents and the communities in which the individual developments are located, a more balanced c�rmpct ition within each development is sought for the future. Continued analysis will be undertaken,particularly necessary.sincee-a-nationwide Welfare to Work ro ram is effecting income levels and family,status in eve communit , includin the communities of Contra. Costa County. a +, i It is within this context that the Income Mix and Deconcentration efforts as presented here were formulated and, in conformance with QHWRA, the Housing Authority of the l -1 October 14. 1999 1 1 ............ Coun1y of Contra Costa Public Housing Policies and Procedures Manual and related policies will be amended as necessary to implement the efforts presented in this document. Income Mix New Admissions In conformance with the new QHWRA provisions, the HACCC will lease within each fiscal year at least 40 (forty) percent of its total available units to households whose incomes do not exceed 30 (thirty) percent of the area median income (AMI). GeRveFseiy, up te 99 (sixty) peFseF# ef the aRi;ua! va9@Rsi9ii ,,,A! ba ,,Pieg wi;,i� 1;qUeekelds w4h awqwal 4499mer, at time ef adMiG.Si9R 68tW9eR 94 (Iti4ik�' ERe) p9FGGF1! 9Rd 8G P9FGGRt 4 A The AMI is determined annually for Contra Costa County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is currently based upon the estimated City of Oakland MSA median income. Deconcentration The HACCC will not willfully concentrate very low-income families (or other families with relatively low incomes) in public housing dwelling units in certain public housing development Pew or certain buildings within developments, even though the income mix requirements for the agency are met overall. In compliance with the above, the following efforts towards deconcentration May w44 be made, including the targeted offering of incentives. However, in no instance will any adverse action be taken against a family which chooses to either decline an offered incentive or occupancy in an offered development. New Admissions Aggressive marketing and special outreach efforts will continue on the part of the HA in order to reach the wide variety of applicants needed to balance the admissions within each development. Pu4s�, baeed wpe;; a peFiedie pFejecA, by pF9jeGt 9Ra1yE;i-., the w,"', shall pasG eveF aR ethepivi6e eligible �apAwy qi4 the waitiRq w6t f9F aRethe&r faFRilY th9t MeetG 4;9 iRG9R;e eF48Fi9R f9F aGhi9YiR@ a R;GFe bal8RG9d R44( Witj4jR t�e PaFtieulaF elevel9pF:Pent with a suFFeF#vaeaRGy. In compliance with this deconcentration policy, the HA will consider the resident composition of each project as vacancies occur. If a particular pFejesA development has a44 a sicinlfi art imbalance of either extremely low or higher income families, the HA will take affirmative actions to take appropriate steps toegEjea4eF te 411 s-4e; �.,GeaiRry by FeGF�iitipq a:; appFepFj9tc_ iReqFpq fs-+Rily w44 better balance the project's composition.-These-affirmative actions-::Phis aGtigR alse will not include passing over a low-income family whose name has risen to the topof the waiting list in favor of a family of higher income.eep�e as 9R iRG94V9 te the jqwepw FaRked facRily that ether-wise mi@ht ha)49 a FAue aR4 , K-iei;@eF wait 9R the list befepe plreF:R9 , iR a PI-119lie hquaiRq WR4. ihist�4 policy will not be used when an 05verall violation of the HA's annual income mix requirements established by HUD will result. 4w.6410ctober'14, 199 aAcccha income.affix-decon.oriq hi,do 2 _ The HA may also make efforts in the future to 3]Dar.kef ��u�� � r�cusjs;r tG woritirr� �a171ikIeS � and individuals in order to correct possible im. bainnr es �« , #-theee Existing Residents Because the goal of the HA will be to both achieve and to maintain its balance of diverse residency within each development, incentives also will be offered to existing resident families to encourage their continued occupancy. The stability provided a development by maintaining committed 99GGI-tenants who know their neighbors and have a sense of community is a valuable HA management asset. Their presence also can serve as role models to the newer and perhaps more disadvantaaed 40.ct families, particularly after the efforts of these families toward4 economic self-sufficiency begin to produce tangible improvements in their own lives that are visible to others. As an incentive towarde encouraging in-place families to stay in their developments, the HA will utilize the HUD-allowed system of ceiling/flat rents. These rents will be established at very reasonable levels compared with the surrounding market rents, allowing the increasinglyindependent ndependent higher TReep;��-families to increase their personal financial stability while protecting the development's stability. Other incentives already offered by the HA to current participants include the following: • Provision of and cooperation with education and employment training programs; • Scholarships for residents going back to school, as well as new high school graduates continuing on to college; • Internships for the teens of resident families, often resulting in full-time employment and training after high school graduation. Since the HA will continue to analyze each housing development's composition on a periodic basis, additional incentives may be established as needed to reach the econeentration levels required R=� f this policy. 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