COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

 

DATE:

April 4, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 26,2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING

None

VOTE REQUIRED

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors (Sitting as Board of Commissioners)

FROM:

Maureen Borland, Interim Acting Director, Department of Housing

Steve Cervantes, Director, Office of Housing

SUBJECT:

Resolution 624-C approving PHA Plan for the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo for FY 2004-05.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution approving the PHA (Public Housing Authorities) Plan for the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo for FY 2004-05 and authorizing the Director of the Office of Housing and/or the Manager of Housing Operations to execute any documents required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to certify the PHA Plan.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Offering a full range of housing choices.

Goal 9: Housing exists for people at all income levels and for all generations of families.

The operating subsidy provides funds to continue to operate and make quality housing available to the residents of San Mateo County.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act required housing authorities nationwide to create a PHA Plan that includes: 1) a statement of housing needs in the community; 2) a statement of the financial resources available to the Housing Authority to meet the needs; and 3) the Housing Authority’s admissions policies. The PHA Plan for FY 2004-05 was created according to HUD regulations along with the public comment period and public comments were incorporated into the final PHA Plan.

This year’s PHA Plan includes the opening of the waiting list for Half Moon Bay Village, El Camino Village, Midway Village and the Section 8 Project Based units. The latter are owned and operated by developers such as HIP and Mid Peninsula Housing Coalition. The regular Section 8 waiting list will remain closed since there are still almost 7,000 households still on the list.

The creation of these new lists offers current applicants the opportunity to obtain rental assistance earlier. It also allows families who missed the opening of the Section 8 Voucher waiting list the chance for assistance. The opening of this waiting list will also allow the creation of a waiting list for Half Moon Bay Village since that current waiting list is virtually exhausted.

The creation of the Homeownership Program received praise from the members of the Advisory Board was well as potential community partners such as PARCA and Habitat for Humanity. Although the program will take several years to be fully operational, it will eventually offer the potential of homeownership to qualified Section 8 Voucher holders.

 

DISCUSSION:

The certification requested by HUD states that the PHA Plan is consistent with the County’s Consolidated Plan.

As required by HUD regulations, the PHA Plan must be transmitted electronically by April 14, 2005, along with the certification to formalize the PHA Plan for FY 2004-05.

The Resolution has been approved by the County Counsel’s Office as to form.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no Net County Cost associated with this action. All funds being requested come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.