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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03141995 - I.O-03 4 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS I.O.-3 ``..5' •L_..°F Contra FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Costa x�•�.._...... 4oa County DATE: March 6, 1995 SUBJECT: REPORT ON MEETING WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY, REGARDING THE PERFORMANCE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 . ACCEPT this report from the Internal Operations Committee on its meeting with the Executive Director of the Contra Costa County Housing Authority. 2 . REQUEST the Executive Director, Contra Costa County Housing Authority to contact Dr. Jerry Kaplan of the Burn Unit at Alta Bates Hospital and request that he provide some consultation to the Housing Authority in checking and adjusting the temperature of water in Housing Authority units, as necessary, in order to reduce the risk of burning residents through the exposure to excessively hot water. BACKGROUND: On June 28, 1994, the Board of Supervisors, at the request of Supervisor DeSaulnier, referred to the Internal Operations Committee a request to develop a procedure which would allow the Interndl Operations Committee to meet with each Department Head during the year and report on the Department' s activities . A number of Department Heads were heard in 1994 . On December 13, 1994, the Board of Supervisors referred this item to the 1995 Internal Operations Committee for the purpose of hearing from the remaining Department Heads . On March 6, 1995, our Committee met with the Executive Director of the Contra Costa County Housing Authority, Richard Martinez, and Robert McEwan from his staff . Mr. Martinez presented the attached report to our Committee and reviewed it briefly with us . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE SI: ACTION OF BOARD ON Mareh 14, 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED yL�_ OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED IR 14 1995 Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF CC: County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Executive Director, Contra Costa County Housing Authori y By DEPUTY . I .O.-3 -2- Mr. Martinez particularly noted with pride the achievements which have been made in locating child care and Head Start Programs at most of the Housing Authority facilities throughout the County. In response to a question from Supervisor Rogers, Mr. Martinez noted that the Housing Authority has received funds for the past several years to finance the services of two deputy sheriffs to do drug control work at the housing authority facility in North Richmond. Mr. Martinez indicated that the future for the Housing Authority is very uncertain because of pending changes at the Federal level which may reduce funding for Housing Authority programs . Supervisor Rogers noted the liability which can be incurred by a housing authority which allows its hot water taps to be set at an unnecessarily high level, thus exposing residents to the risk of being burned. He indicated that a physician at Alta Bates who is an expert on water temperatures might be willing to provide some consultation to the Housing Authority by conducting a walk through of Housing Authority facilities to check on the water temperature settings so they can be adjusted where appropriate to lower temperatures . Our Committee was impressed with the excellent reputation our Housing Authority has and with the innovative programs which it is operating. ��,C IWIll, r ftgg \\\\ d>, ' •. ria y� �W. - _ 1 E f x a; K ,.e Yry%r � S1E d / u ice/yy wa ' \. ✓ n \ x t ,�' 1,3�Ke •K � a �d � h Y 3 3f C 3� u� 10 IMP 1 ' \ ' 4% - yAw"pow, pp f 2fl S� a ' � y J, b Pates' L, \t b i ,M AIN, ti t 3 �• �� 3� k _ ,;, \ ! w,u '. �\.,y,,,,,,a„ iS ,.,, ,J�. � w\�`��aw,;, �_ �\`\w•.....«,�< K.Y.�3.cw ?. �z\ l-� SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS Housing Authority of Contra Costa County INTRODUCTION The Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa is recognized nationally for high quality administration of its housing programs and innovative responses to contemporary housing challenges. Throughout 1994, the agency continued its commitment to preserving and increasing the supply of affordable housing and aggressively sought and received funds to do so. The agency furthered its dedi- cation to residents by improving the quality of the existing services and by expanding program oppor- tunities. ADMINISTRATION High Performer The Authority has been recognized as a "High Performer" under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) performance standards for public housing authorities since the inception of HUD's Public Housing Management Assessment Program. The federal performance standards grade management effectiveness in twelve key areas of housing management and fiscal administration. Un- der the standards, housing authorities receive one of three designations: high performer, standard performer or troubled. The Authority's high performer designation places it in the top tier of the • nation's housing authorities. Diversity At Work Non- Among County Departments,the Housing Authority stands Minority out in promoting diversity in the workplace. Over half(53%) Minority47% of the total workforce is minority;the agency's management 53% 490 team is 44%minority. Further,women represent 58% of the Housing Authority Workforce management team. The Authority is also committed to equal opportunity in contracting. Twenty-six percent of the money spent by the Agency on vendors and contractors over the past year went to minority or women owned enterprises. Fiscal Integrity The agency continues.to operate a fiscally sound program and meet detailed HUD reporting requirements while managing a $52 million budget. The agency submitted a balanced budget for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1994. CREATION AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING The Housing Authority administers three major housing programs: the public housing or conventional program in which we own and administer 1,140 rental housing units; the Section 8 program in which we administer about 5,500 Section 8 rental certificates through leased housing agreements with private owners. • This private stock is enhanced by another program called the rental rehabilitation program which supports modernization of private housing units which are then occupied by individual families using the Section 8 program. 1 Funding for Homeless Programs In 1994 the Housing Authority secured over$3 million in federal,state and local funds to provide housing • and housing related programs for homeless individuals and their families. The agency actively solicits funds to support Contra Costa's Programs for the Homeless. Completed Construction of 82 New Units of Affordable Housing for Seniors In 1994, the agency completed and fully leased 82-units of accessible senior housing in Antioch. Funding for the$7.5 ; 4M million development known as Casa Del Rio came from several public and private sources. Earlier, the Authority was successful in obtainingan allocation through the fed- , ` g y � e eral Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The Hous- ing Authority manages the development, and at end of a 15-year tax credit period,the agency will own and operate . the facility. This program assures that the units remain of ` "» fordable for the life of the project. F Remodeled Public Housing Units The Authority continues its aggressive modernization program in which nearly 85%of the agency's 1,140 units of public housing have been remodeled. This means that bathrooms and kitchens in most of the 40- year old units have been updated to modern standards. These upgrades have made the units more competi- tive with rental units in the private market. Rehabilitation of the 226 units at the agency's Las Deltas Development in North Richmond began in the fall of 1994 and is expected to take a year to complete. The • contractor has also hired local residents to perform work at the site. Accessible Units For The Disabled The agency continues to provide for the needs of disabled residents by converting units at each family development to be fully accessible. In addition, the Authority makes reasonable accommodates upon request. Rental Rehabilitation Program To help preserve the County's existing affordable housing stock,the Authority provided loans to rehabili- tate 29 units of previously substandard,privately owned rental housing. Since the inception of the program, the Authority has provided loans to rehabilitate over 450 units throughout the County. Because many of these loans involve a match of funds from private sources, this continues to be an example of successful public and private sector ventures.In addition,the Housing Authority was asked to administer the City of Antioch's Rental Rehabilitation Program. RESIDENT SERVICES Employed While our chief task is creating and providing affordable housing, 99,G4,Other 25% the agency also has a commitment to go beyond shelter and beyond 11% stucco and tile to assist residents and help improve their economic, social and physical well being. Income Sources AFDC Is there a need for such programs? The following numbers tell the HACC Residents 42% • story. The average annual income for families residing in public housing and section 8 units is $10,359. Nearly 6,500 households or 24,000 Contra Costa residents are represented in these figures. Seventy-four percent of the households are headed by women;and while 42% 2 of the households rely upon AFDC for income, a significant 25% have income from employment. The agency's diversity is reflected not only in the workplace and with vendors but among residents as well: 52% • of residents are white, 30% are African American, 7% are Asian, 11% are Latino. In recognition of this,the agency works with residents, resident councils, the business community,educa- tors,job training specialists,social service providers and interested citizens to develop and support programs that strengthen families and promote self sufficiency and economic independence. Child Development Centers The Housing Authority has a goal of establishing Child Development Centers at each of its developments. Currently, Centers are located at the following sites. Los Nogales Modular Head Start,Brentwood. Completed in late 1993,the United Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations uses the center to operate a Head Start Program that serves the greater Brentwood area. Las Deltas Child Development Center, North Richmond. This recently constructed facility serves infants and preschoolers. In addition to classroom space,the complex also has a large play yard,offices and a kitchen. The County's Community Development Black Grant Program and County Transient Occu- pancy Tax provided primary funding for this center. 50 Silver Avenue Head Start Center,North Richmond. A public housing duplex was converted into a Head Start program center now operated by the County's Community Services Department. This Center was financed with public housing Comprehensive Improvement Assistance Program(CIAP) funds and a federal Head Start Expansion Grant obtained by the County Community Services Department. Bridgemont Child Development Center,Antioch. This facility operates in a formerly vacant office building the Authority completely remodeled. The facility includes classroom and playground space.It is at the end of a cul de sac serving the neighboring Bridgemont Public Housing Development. It is another cooperative project in which rehabilitation costs were born by the City of Antioch's CDBG program and the Authority's CIAP monies. Lavonia Allen Child Development Center, Bay Point . The � '. Housing Authority built this center in 1991. It provides classrooms, roti office and play space. V7 A Bayo Vista Child and Family Center, Rodeo. This center # b � ^ is the oldest operating on Housing Authority property. Aoil Head Start program continues at the site which also includes a r large auditorium, a kitchen and an office. k 4 Preschool Coordinating Council,Inc., Pittsburg. The Preschool Coordinating Council operates a child development center on a parcel of land neighboring the El Pueblo develop- ment for which the Authority as a long-term hl -term lease. TheIF Center has both infant and child development programs. „ DRUG PREVENTION AND EDUCATION The agency continues to seek and obtain funding for drug pre- vention and education programs, for alternative youth programming and for community policing. This approach is designed to address drugs and drug-related criminal activity at Agency sites. At the • same time it focuses on families by providing recreational and educational facilities, referrals to appro- priate resources and in securing our sites. 3 Project PRIDE. The agency has competed for and been awarded$1.3 million over the past five years to fund Project PRIDE, a comprehensive strategy to eliminate drugs and drug-related crime at the Las Deltas development in North Richmond. PRIDE stands for Police and Resident Initiatives for Drug Elimination. The Project PRIDE Center has two large activity rooms and a computer room. Project PRIDE focuses on community oriented policing, youth programs, drug treatment counseling and referral services and resident empowerment. Pittsburg/Community Policing/Cultural Awareness Center. The Housing Authority continues to provide a unit at the El Pueblo development to serve as an on-site Community Policing/Cultural Awareness Center. The program offers youth educational and recreational activities, anti-drug pro- grams and cultural awareness events. A Boys and Girls Club Program is also available to the youth at El Pueblo. The agency continues.to seek outside funding to enhance programs at the site. Youth Alternative Programs. The agency has a commitment to work in partnership with other community organizations in seeking alternative programs for resident youth. We continue to develop joint programming ideas with the Contra Costa Boys and Girls Clubs which operate facili- ties at Bayo Vista in Rodeo as well as in Pittsburg. Student Cooperative Work Program. The Authority budgets for up to ten paid, part-time student positions to work in our offices scattered throughout the County. The program gives priority to high school and college students who live in public housing or participate in the Section 8 rental assistance program. Students must attend school full-time and maintain a C or better grade point average. Stu- dents may not work more than 20 hours a week to avoid interference with their academic require- ments. The agency's history with this program has been very successful. Three of our current housing • managers first came to the agency through this program. College Scholarship Program. Every year the Authority awards college : scholarships to students who live in public housing or participate in the Section 8 rental assistance program. Students who attend community col- lege receive$400; students attending four year colleges receive $850. Nine scholarships were awarded in 1994. x Resident Councils. ,a The formulation of Resident Councils (RCs) is an important first step in as- sisting residents to fully participate in activities relating to their sites,in select- ing appropriate services, keeping communities safe, and creating avenues for economic development. The agency has active RCs at the three largest family developments: Las Deltas, Bayo Vista and El Pueblo as well as a number of the elderly sites. The Authority provides space at the developments for the RCs to use as offices. Family Self-Sufficiency Housing Authority residents have consistently expressed a need to improve their lives economically and socially.Among the resources available is the Family Self Sufficiency program in which participants in the Section 8 program are eligible to participate in a program which provides agency staff to assist them in designing a five-year program to free themselves of public assistance. The agency has enrolled 47% of its • targeted goal to date (75 of 160);22 are working and 9 are enrolled in academic or work training programs. Staff continues to recruit potential FSS participants by emphasizing the ability to generate a savings and get off public assistance. Additionally,the benefits of the program have prompted us to seek additional federal support for broadening the program to public housing residents. 4 Publications During 1994, the agency adopted an updated comprehensive Section 8 Program Manual which guides staff in providing quality and uniform services to residents, owners and the public. The Manual also had the input of local non-profit advocates and Legal Services Foundation. The Agency launched the publication of an in-house Newsletter in the last quarter of 1994. The HA CCC NEWS is targeted to residents and employees; it is distributed throughout public housing offices and to non-profit service providers and other community based organizations. WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS The current administration is moving to re-invent the Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment. President Clinton has proposed dramatic changes which will radically alter the way HUD serves America's communities.Under the proposed reinvention localities and states would be required to design and implement plans that are consistent with national objectives. While local government will be given greater flexibility to administer federal housing resources, they will be subjected to in- creased accountability and fewer funds to operate housing programs. Additionally, the future is likely to see significant legislative changes which will transfer the primary responsibility for the provision of affordable housing from the federal government to state and local units of government. The Housing Authority is poised and prepared to meet the challenges which will confront it as the federal government moves forward with its revised agenda for affordable housing. CONCLUSION The Housing Authority Staff is proud of the accomplishments detailed in this report. It is also quite an achievement to be considered a leader among our peers in providing high quality affordable housing for all the participating residents. At the same time, we are prepared to meet the challenges being generated daily by budget and policy initiatives in Washington,D. C. and Sacramento. The agency's vision and strength is possible because of the support and clear guidance of the Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator, and the Housing Authority Advisory Commissioners. It is this commit- ment to low-income housing residents which forms the foundation of all our program successes. • 5