COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

DATE:

March 22, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 4, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

Hearing

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors (Sitting as the Board of Commissioners)

FROM:

Duane Bay, Director

SUBJECT:

Resolution No. 626-C Approving the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo 2006 Public Housing Agencies (PHA) Plan

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt Resolution No. 626-C approving the 2006 PHA Plan which covers the period from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007 and authorizing the Director of the Department of Housing or his designee to execute any documents required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to certify the plan.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Offering a full range of housing choices.

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

BACKGROUND:

The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act requires all public housing agencies (PHA) nationwide to create a PHA Agency 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 2006 PHA Plan for Housing Authority of County of San Mateo (HACSM), which covers the period from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, was created according to HUD regulations, which requires a public comment period. Public comments were incorporated into the final PHA Plan.

This year’s PHA Plan differs from last year’s PHA Plan in three material aspects only. HACSM will now be able to give admission preference to evacuees of natural disasters. Similarly, HACSM will now be able to give admission preference to households being relocated to accommodate development of affordable housing on infill sites in the transit corridor. Lastly, HACSM will be able to help fund new affordable housing opportunities by expanding the Project Based Program to its maximum allowable size. New HUD regulations issued this year allow up to 20% of our Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to be tied to specified apartments (for the benefit of household living there) rather than to a particular household (who may take the voucher with them to another apartment). The maximum program size would then be 744 units, of which 360 could be available for allocation since 384 are currently under contract. Although there is no additional funding for the Project Based Program, expanding the program will provide an additional source of subsidy for developing permanently affordable housing for very low income residents of San Mateo County.

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, 2006, along with certifications to certify the 2006 PHA Plan.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no Net County Cost associated with this action. All funds required to operate the program are supplied by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.