HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06141994 - 1.74 ` 1 .71
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA
TO: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FROM: Richard J. Martinez, Executive Director
DATE: June 14, 1994
SUBJECT: TENANT OPPORTUNITITES PROGRAM
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION:
REVIEW U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Notice PIH 94-20
announcing the Tenant Opportunities Program.
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT: '
None.
III. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
On May 12, 1994 the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
issued its Notice PIH 94-20 announcing its Tenant Opportunitites Program. This
program will differ from the Resident Management Technical Assistance as it expands
the range of resident management activities so that Resident Councils, Resident
Management Corporations and Resident Organizations can set priorities based on the
needs in their communities.
As its stated objective, the program is designed to prepare residents to
experience the dignity of meaningful work, to own and operate businesses, to move
toward financial independence, to enable residents to choose where they want to live
and to meaningfully participate in the management of their housing development.
IV. CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE
RECOMMENDATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) :
ACTION OF BOARD ON 4 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED ✓ OTHER
VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS
/ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
✓ UNANIMOUS (ABSENT = 1 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED 0 14 ,19
PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
+ AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY Q �� , DEPUTY
)
U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development
% PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING
D[
98.,y I.t
Special Attention of: Notice PIH 94-20 (HA)
Secretary's Representative;
Directors, Office of Public Issued: May 12, 1994
Housing; Directors, Public Expires: May 31, 1995
Housing Divisions; Admin-
strators, Native American Cross References:
Programs, Housing Authorities,
Resident Management Corporations,
Resident Councils, Resident Organizations
Subject: TENANT OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
1. 0 Purpose
The purpose of this notice is to announce that: (1) the
existing Resident Management (RM) Technical assistance
grantees can revise their work plan and budget to
participate in the eligible activities listed in this
notice; (2) the Tenant Opportunities Program (TOP)
i (formerly known as the Public Housing Resident Management
' Program) NOFA will be issued in the near future. This
' notice applies to both public and Indian housing.
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2 .0 BACKGROUND
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Resident Councils (RCs) /Resident Management
Corporations (RMCs) /Resident Organizations (ROs) and housing
!, authorities across the country overwhelmingly requested that
the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revamp
the Resident Management Program to meet the needs in their
communities for economic development, education, job
training and development, social services, and opportunities
for other self help initiatives. HUD's proposed revision of
regulations (24 CFR parts 905 and 964) for TOP was published
in the FEDERAL REGISTER on April 19, 1994 .
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3 .0 OBJECTIVE
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In complying with the request of residents and housing
authorities, HUD has reinvented resident management and
created TOP which expands the range of the resident
management activities so that RCs/RMCs/ROs can set
priorities based on the needs in their communities. The
program is designed to prepare residents to experience the
dignity of meaningful work, to own and operate businesses, _
I to move toward financial independence, to enable them to
choose where they want to live and to meaningfully
i participate in the management of their housing development.
li PR Distribution: W-3-1, W-2(H), R-3-1(PIH), R-6, R-6-1, R-6-2, R-7, R-7-1, R-7-2,
R-9, R-9-1, 138-1, 138-7, RMC-2
HUD-21-B (3-80)
Previous Editions Are Obsolete HR 010.2
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4.0 PARTNERSHIPS
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development believes
that in order to make a meaningful impact in the lives of
residents, we must encourage, expand and strengthen the
partnerships of the public and Indian housing community,
i.e. , residents, Public Housing Agency and Indian Housing
Authority (hereinafter referred to as HA) and HUD.
The Office of Public and Indian Housing, Office of
Resident . Initiatives is providing this partnership through a
mechanism called the Partnership Paradigm Technical
Assistance (PPTA) strategy. In each community, this
partnership would bring together residents, the HA and HUD
in an effort to create a community-based process that offers
local technical assistance designed to meet the needs of the
residents and HA. The PPTA strategy is not mandatory, but
is presented as an option for organizing partnerships .
As part of an ongoing national initiative, several
communities have started their partnerships utilizing the
PPTA strategy. With leadership and assistance from HUD,
additional public and Indian housing communities can get
started with the PPTA strategy:
HUD RIC/CRI meet with the HA to discuss organizing
the partnership;
- HA, HUD and resident leaders meet to discuss
organizing the partnership;
- Members of the partnership meet to develop the
needs assessment, a strategy for addressing the
needs of the community and a budget;
- Members of the partnership locate a technical
assistance organization that can best meet the
needs of the partnership; and
- Residents, HA and HUD continue to work
collectively to accomplish the goals established
by the partnership.
Each member should be actively and thoroughly involved
in the partnership. Partnership activities are eligible
under this program. Please refer to page 4 of this notice.
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5.0 ELIGIBLE TOP ACTIVITIES
The authority for the TOP program comes from Section 20
of the United States Housing Act of 1937 which authorizes
resident management of public and Indian housing. Section
20 (f) authorizes technical assistance and training.
Financial assistance in the form of technical assistance
grants is provided by the Secretary to RCs/RMCs/ROs to
prepare for management activities in their housing
development (hereinafter referred to as TOP technical
assistance grants) . Technical assistance grants are
available for "the development of resident management
entities, including the formation of such entities, the
development of the management capability of newly formed or
existing entities, the identification of the social support
needs of residents of public housing projects and the
securing of such support. " TOP technical assistance grants
prepare residents to manage their projects or portions of
their projects. The results are significant and
multifaceted. For example, resident-managed activities have
resulted in economic development, resident self-sufficiency,
improved living conditions, and enhanced social services for
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residents (i.e. , child care and other youth programs) .
Many of the following activities are component parts of
resident-managed programs and are actively being conducted
by various RCs/RMCs/ROs. Eligible activities include but
are not limited to:
1 . Resident Capacity Building
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a. training Board members in community
organizing, Board development, and leadership
training;
b. determining the feasibility of resident
management enablement for a specific project
or projects.
II
C. assisting in the actual creation of an RMC,
such as consulting and legal assistance to
incorporate, preparing by-laws and drafting
i a corporate charter.
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2 . Resident Management
j a. start-up activities for a RC/RMC/RO as well
l as building and strengthening its capacity as
an organization (e.g. , conduct democratic
i elections for officers of the organization,
establish operating/planning committees and
block building captains to carry out specific
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organizational tasks, develop by-laws, etc . ) ;
developing a cohesive relationship between
the residents and the local community; and
buildidng a partnership with the HA;
b. training residents, as potential employees of
an RMC, in skills directly related to the
operation, management, maintenance and
financial systems of a project;
C. training of residents with respect to fair
housing and equal opportunity requirements ;
and
d. gaining assistance in negotiating management
contracts, and designing a long-range
planning system.
3 . Resident Management Business Development
a. business development training related to
resident management and technical assistance
for job training and placement in RMC
developments;
b. technical assistance and training in
business development related to resident
management through:
- feasibility and market studies;
- development of business plans;
- outreach activities; and
- innovative financing methods including
revolving loan funds;
C. legal advice in establishing resident
management required business entities ; and
d. technical assistance and training in the
development of homeownership feasibility
plans, if interested, including resident
affordability and funding options .
4 . Partnerships
a. establish and provide training related to the
Partnership Paradigm Technical Assistance
(PPTA) model in each community. This
partnership would bring together residents,
the HA and HUD in an effort to create a
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community-based process that offers technical
assistance which will address the needs of
the residents and HA.
5 . Social Support Needs (such as self-sufficiency and
youth initiatives)
a. feasibility studies to determine training and
social services needs;
b. training in resident management-related trade
skills, computer skills, etc;
C. training and counseling in resident
management-related employment;
d. coordination of support services;
e. training for resident management programs
such as child care, early childhood
development, parent involvement, volunteer
services, parenting skills, before and after
school programs;
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f. training for resident management programs on
i health, nutrition and safety;
g. resident management training in the
development of strategies to successfully
P g Y
implement a youth program. For example,
assessing the needs and problems of the
youth, improving youth initiatives that are
currently active, and training youth, housing
authority staff, resident management
corporations and resident councils on youth
initiatives and program activities; and
i h. resident management workshops for youth
services, child abuse and neglect prevention,
tutorial services, in partnership with
community-based organizations such as local
Boys and .Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCA, Boys/Girls
Scouts, Campfire and Big Brother/Big Sisters,
etc. Other HUD programs such as The Youth
Sports Program and the Public Housing Drug
Elimination Programs also provide assistance
in these areas.
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6. General
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a. required training on HUD regulations and
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policies governing the operation of low-
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income public and Indian housing, financial
management, capacity building to develop the
necessary skills to assume management
responsibilities at the project and property
management;
b. purchasing hardware, i.e. computers and
software, office furnishings and supplies, in
connection with business development . Every
effort must be made in acquiring donated or
discounted hardware . HUD approval is required
prior to purchase;
C. training in accessing other funding sources;
and
d. hiring trainers or other experts
(RCs/RMCs/ROs must ensure that this training
is provided by a qualified housing management
specialist a community organizer, the HA, or
other sources knowledgeable about the
program) .
Where there is an existing self-sufficiency, youth
corps and/or any other program, the RC/RMC/RO should
become a partner in that program.
6. 0 INELIGIBLE TOP ACTIVITIES
1. Ineligible Activities include but are not limited
to the following:
a. Entertainment including associated costs such
as food and beverages, except normal per diem
for meals;
b. Purchase or rental of land or building or any
improvements to land or buildings;
C. Activities not directly related to resident
management, e.g. , lead-based paint testing
and abatement, and operating capital for
economic development activities;
d. purchase or rental of any vehicle (car, van
bus, etc. ) or any other property having a
useful life of more than one year and an
acquisition cost of $300 or more per item
unless approved by HUD;
e. Architectural and engineering fees;
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f . Payment of salaries for routine project
operations such as security and maintenance,
or for RC/RMC/RO staff, except that a
reasonable amount of grant funds may be used
to hire a person to coordinate the resident
management grant activities;
g. Payment of fees for lobbying services;
h. Any fraudulent or wasteful expenditures or
expenditures otherwise incurred contrary to
HUD program regulations or directives will be
considered ineligible expenditures upon
appropriate determination by audit or HUD
Field Office staff; and
I. Any activity otherwise eligible for which
funds from any other source are being
provided or are requested by the RC/RMC/R0.
7 .0 PREVIOUSLY FUNDED GRANTS
RCs/RMCs/ROs may use previously funded grants to
implement the TOP activities. However, prior to submitting
the revised work plan, the organization must have:
(a) developed a democratically elected governing board
in accordance with the organization' s by-laws . (HUD
encourages the use of local election boards/
commissioners to observe election procedures. If none
exists, or is unwilling, use an independent third
' party, such as the League of Women Voters. )
j (b) developed relationships/partnerships between
residents, PHA, and the local community, including
other organizations such as universities, foundations,
churches, and other public/private sector entities.
' If the RCs/RMCs/ROs have accomplished (a) and (b) above,
j then they should carry out steps a through c below and
submit the work plan and budget to the HUD Field Office for
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review and approval .
a. Meet with the Board and residents to discuss
the proposed changes to the work plan and
budget.
b. Prepare a revised work plan, budget and
i statement of support from the Board and
i residents, i.e. , Board resolution.
C. Send a letter to the Resident Initiatives
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Coordinator (RIC) or Community Relations and
Involvement Team Leader (CRI) describing the
changes, including reasons for changing the
work plan and attaching the work plan and
budget.
d. After receipt of the work plan and budget,
HUD Field Office has 30 calendar days to make
a decision.
e. HUD will evaluate the revised work plan
based on the RCs/RMCs/ROs accomplishments
including (a) developing a democratically
elected governing board, and (b) developing
relationships/partnerships as stated above.
f . HUD Field Office must, in writing, inform the
RC/RMC/RO of the decision.
g. HUD must make the appropriate changes in the
grant agreement to be consistent with the
revised work plan and budget .
If the RCs/RMCs/ROs choose to revise the work plan
and budget to participate in the additional TOP activities,
the grant agreement can be extended beyond the original two
(2) year period provided the work plan is being implemented
and there is evidence that progress is being made. The
extension can be granted for up to three (3) additional
years for a total of 5 years.
8. 0 STIPENDS
Since the 1991 NOFA, ten percent (10%-) of grant funds
can be used for stipends when officers and members of the
RMC are close (within 3 to 6 months) to a dual management
phase. The stipends should be used for costs incurred for
attending resident management training (i.e. , child care,
transportation to training, etc. ) .
9.0 FUNDING AVAILABILITY FOR FY 1994
A Notice of Funding Availability will be published in
the Federal Register containing the amounts of funds
available, funding criteria, where to obtain and submit,
applications, the deadline for submissions, and further
explanation of the selection criteria.
10.0 GRANT AGREEbISNT
10.1 General
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HUD will enter into a grant agreement with the
recipient of a technical assistance grant. The grant
agreement defines the legal framework for the relationship
between HUD and a resident organization for the proposed
funding. All grant agreements will be managed by the Field
public and Indian housing staff. Upon request, Regional
Contracting Division personnel will provide technical
assistance to PIH staff managing the program.
10.2 Term of Grant Agreement
Effective Fiscal Year 1994, all grants will be for a
term of three to five years depending upon the task
undertaken, and renewable at the expiration of the term.
10.3 Termination of Grant Agreement
Grantees are encouraged to make every effort to
accomplish the objectives outlined in the work plan to avoid
termination of the grant agreement. However, if the grantee
fails to comply with the conditions of the grant agreement,
the HUD Field Office has the authority to terminate the
agreement at any time before the date of completion. The
HUD Field Office will promptly notify the grantee in writing
of the decision and reason(s) for the termination and the
effective date.
11. 0 HUD FIELD OFFICE ROLE
The HUD Field Office is responsible for day-to-day
coordination with the grantees, providing technical
assistance to the grantees, maintaining technical and
financial oversight of grant activities and evaluating the
grantees performance. The HUD Field Office of Fair Housing
and Equal Opportunity is responsible for providing technical
assistance on Section 3 and Civil Rights Requirements . The
HUD Field Office should proactively monitor the grantees'
i activities .
12 .0 INFORMATION CONTACT
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For more information, questions, or to provide comments
and suggested changes concerning this Notice, please
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contact:
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Public Housing Programs Indian Housing Programs
Barbara J. Armstrong Dom Nessi, Director
Office of Resident Office of Native American
Initiatives- Room 4112 Programs - Room 4140
(202) 708-3611 (202) 708-1015
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Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC
20410 . (These are not toll-free numbers) .
As tant Secretary for Public
nd Indian Housing