COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

Office of Housing

DATE:

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 12, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Steve Cervantes, Director, Office of Housing

SUBJECT:

Approve an Agreement with Human Investment Project (HIP) Housing for the operation of the Self-Sufficiency Program

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution:

1. Authorizing the execution of an Agreement with HIP Housing in the amount of $313,000 for the operation of the Self-Sufficiency Program and the Home Sharing Program for the term of July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004; and

2. Authorizing the Director of the Human Services Agency to execute subsequent amendments and minor modifications not to exceed $25,000 per funding source.

Background

The HIP Housing started to administer the Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP) as a result of one of the HSA SUCCESS subcommittees that convened in the mid-1990s in anticipation of the Welfare Reform. The SSP main goal continues to be the short-term shallow housing subsidy offered to highly motivated clients desiring to move toward economic self-sufficiency from a welfare-subsistence level. The housing subsidies are, and have always been, marketed as “housing scholarships” that require clients participation in an intensive case-management program promoting self-sufficiency.

The Home Sharing program provides assistance to finding permanent affordable housing to clients in San Mateo County. Once a client contacts the Human Investment Project for assistance with permanent affordable housing they are scheduled for an interview to complete the appropriate paperwork and receive referrals and a meeting is coordinated to draft the Living Together Agreement. Once this Agreement is completed the client can move in. Follow-up contact with placed clients is made twice a year and/or quarterly if the home provider is a senior (this service is called match follow-up). Mediation services are also made available if there is a dispute between client and landlord.

The HIP Housing applied for CDBG funding in FY 2003-04. This project was approved by the Board of Supervisors for inclusion in the CDBG Action Plan for FY 2003-04 on May 6, 2003.

Discussion

Funding provided under this Agreement shall be used by HIP to administer the SSP and the Home Sharing Program.

These programs provide housing resources and supportive services to extremely low-income families. The mission of both programs is to create stability for clients in order to promote job achievement, retention and advancement through the provision of housing resources and supportive services, thereby enabling participants to reach and maintain self-sufficiency. Clients accepted into SSP may either enter HIP-owned, managed shared housing or scattered site housing, which provides Section 8 rental vouchers to these participants.

The SSP is in the process of transitioning its clients from receiving one-to-two year housing scholarships to longer-term (up to five years) Section 8 Moving to Work vouchers. SSP’s participating landlords will be provided, or have already received required Section 8 orientation in order for them to make a determination whether to participate in the new program. To-date, most landlords have accepted.

This Agreement has been approved by the County Counsel's Office, and meets U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations. Risk Management has reviewed and approved the contractor’s insurance coverage.

Vision Alignment

This action keeps the commitment to: Offer a full range of housing choices; and goal number 9: Housing exists for people at all income levels and for all generations of families. The action contributes to this commitment and goal by offering mid-term housing assistance to low-income individuals highly motivated to achieving an economic level relatively free of dependence on conventional forms of public assistance.

Fiscal Impact

These programs are included in the current Office of Housing Budget for FY 2003-04. The County’s total obligation under this Agreement is $313,000, of which $220,000 is from CalWORKS and $93,000 is from CDBG. There is no Net County Cost.