COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

DATE:

Sept. 4, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

Sept. 25, 2007

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, Department of Housing

SUBJECT:

Resolution Approving the revisions to the Section 8 Program Administrative Plan

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt Resolution 638-C approving the revisions to the Section 8 Program Administrative Plan and authorizing the Director of the Department of Housing to make ongoing revisions to the Plan as necessary to conform with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations and to transmit the revised Plan to 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:

The Section 8 Program was created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The Program’s rules and regulations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and it is administered locally according to each housing authority’s Administrative Plan. The last significant revisions to San Mateo Housing Authority’s Plan were approved by the Board of Commissioners on September 19, 2006.

DISCUSSION:

In April 2007, the Housing Authority underwent a “Consolidated Review” audit of its operations and finances by HUD officials. Responses to findings made during this review require changes to the Administrative Plan. Specifically, the Plan has been updated to include:

• Revisions to the local residency preference language to add local employment language (Chapter 4);

• Revisions to the order of selection for the Section 8 waiting list (Chapter 4);

• Additional language regarding Project-Based Assistance applications and order of selection (Chapter 4);

• Revision of the definition of life threatening conditions for inspections (Chapter 8)

Also, new regulations arising from the full implementation of the Violence Against Women Act necessitated modifications to the Plan to insure that special circumstances that may arise in relationships suffering from domestic violence are recognized and accommodated.

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

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no Net County Cost associated with this action.