COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

 

DATE:

May 4, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 23, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

none

VOTE REQUIRED:

majority

 

TO:

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

FROM:

Duane Bay, Director

SUBJECT:

Resolution No. 627-C Approving the Agreement to Extend the Moving to Work Demonstration Program Term of Agreement with HUD for an Additional Three Years.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt Resolution No. 627-C authorizing the Director or designee of the Department of Housing of the County of San Mateo to sign the “Moving to Work Demonstration Program” (MTW) amendment with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Offering a full range of housing choices.

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

 

BACKGROUND:

In March 2000 the Board approved Resolution No. 603-C authorizing the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo to sign an agreement with HUD to become one of 24 public housing authorities to participate in a program called Moving to Work Demonstration program. This demonstration program allowed participating housing authorities that had earned their designation as high performers more flexibility in the application of the standard regulations. For example, allowing tenants to pay for more than 30% of income to find housing when the rental market was tight. As provided by the Statement of Authorization to the original agreement, the current original agreement and program had a six year limit.

In March 2006, the Housing Authority received a proposed contract amendment from HUD to extend the Moving to Work Demonstration Program for another three years, to June 30, 2009.

 

DISCUSSION:

Under the Moving to Work Program, the Housing Authority was able to allocate 300 new vouchers to qualified households. Unlike the standard Housing Choice Voucher Program, these vouchers had a six year time limit and required voucher holders to develop and follow through a self-sufficiency plan. Many current voucher holders are mid-program and risk termination if the program is not extended.

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.