COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

DATE:

April 29, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 20, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors, (Sitting as the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo)

FROM:

Duane Bay, Director, Department of Housing

SUBJECT:

Resolution Approving revisions to the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program Administrative Plan

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt Resolution 2008-06 approving revisions to the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program Administrative Plan.

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 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), commonly known as the “Section 8 Program”, rules and regulations are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered locally according to each housing authority’s Administrative Plan. The last revisions to the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo Administrative Plan were approved by the Board of Commissioners on September 25, 2007. Any changes to the Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan must be approved by the Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners.

DISCUSSION:

The 2008-2009 Annual Plan for the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo was approved by the Board on April 8, 2008. As part of the Annual Plan process, the Housing Authority must ensure that the language in its Administrative Plan reflects language stated in its Annual Plan, where applicable. Specifically, the Plan has been updated to include:

• Revision to the HCV waiting list preference language (Chapter 4) In the HCV Program, removal of the waiting list preference for “Moving to Work (MTW) participants who applied and qualified for hardship exemptions”. This action is a consequence of the Corrective Action Plan entered into with HUD in response to an Office of Inspector General finding that the preference was improper. MTW hardship cases will be responsibly handled within the MTW program;

• Revision to the language pertaining to order of selection for the HCV waiting list to clarify selection through a lottery system (Chapter 4);

• Revision to the language pertaining to order of selection for the Project-Based Assistance waiting list (Chapter 4).

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

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no Net County Cost associated with this action.