COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

DATE:

March 26, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 8, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

Public Hearing

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

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

FROM:

Duane Bay, Director

SUBJECT:

Resolution authorizing the Director or designee of the Dept. of Housing to sign the Moving to Work Amended and Restated MTW Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt Resolution No. 2008-04 approving the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo to enter into the Amended and Restated Moving to Work Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and authorizing the Director or designee to sign the Amended and Restated Agreement and the accompanying certification that the public review and public hearing requirements have been met.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Offer a full range of housing choices.

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

BACKGROUND:

Moving to Work (MTW) is a demonstration program that offers participating housing authorities the opportunity to design and test innovative, locally designed housing and self-sufficiency strategies for low-income families by allowing exemptions from certain public housing rules. The Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo (HACSM) is one of approximately 30 housing agencies nationwide that participate in this program. In order to provide consistent, clear and standardized language for all MTW agencies, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has developed a new Amended and Restated MTW Agreement.

DISCUSSION:

The Amended and Restated MTW Agreement preserves the Housing Authority’s current funding allocation and existing program initiatives. The Agreement also provides a clear path for enabling the Housing Authority to undertake additional program changes. As such, this Amended and Restated MTW Agreement is very beneficial to the Housing Authority as it plans for future initiatives.

For FY 2008-09, the Housing Authority’s Annual Plan calls for the following new MTW initiatives:

• Expand the use of project-based vouchers at Housing Authority developments undergoing the process of disposition from public housing status.

• Use 60 of the existing 300 MTW vouchers to establish a Housing Readiness Program for chronically homeless individuals and families in accordance with strategies being developed in conjunction with the County’s HOPE plan for ending homelessness

• After further study and public input, implement simplified rent and occupancy policies for MTW participants.

This Resolution is required by HUD in order for the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo to retain its current funding allocation.

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

FISCAL IMPACT:

The total cost will be provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There is no Net County cost.