COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

 

DATE:

November 24, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 16, 2008

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 revisions to the Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan for the new Housing Readiness Program

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution approving revisions to the Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan for the new Housing Readiness Program.

 

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:

In April 2008, the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo completed its Annual Plan which covers the period starting July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The Annual Plan included information related to the Housing Readiness Program.

The Housing Authority intends to use 60 of its existing 300 Moving-To-Work vouchers to establish a Housing Readiness Program for homeless individuals and families in accordance with strategies being developed in conjunction with the County’s HOPE plan for ending homelessness. The Housing Authority will partner with homeless service providers to assist participating households to obtain stable housing and achieve greater self-sufficiency through various support programs. The program will be designed to include a research component.

In order to fully implement the Housing Readiness Program, the Housing Authority must establish policies for the program which are contained in the Administrative Plan.

DISCUSSION:
The Moving-To-Work chapter of the Administrative Plan discusses information pertaining to the following areas of the Housing Readiness Program:

    • Participant selection: A selection committee of community partners will be utilized to screen applications to the Housing Readiness Program ;

    • Eligibility: Applicants to the Housing Readiness Program must be homeless as defined by the Housing Authority’s policy and must agree to participate in the required case management with the goal of becoming self-sufficient;

    • Waiting list: The Housing Readiness Program will have its own waiting list;

    • Time-limited assistance: Participants in the Housing Readiness Program have a maximum of 36 months rental assistance;

    • Portability: Housing Readiness Program participants may only use their rental assistance in the County of San Mateo;


These policies relate only to the 60 Moving-To-Work vouchers allocated to the Housing Readiness Program. They do not relate to the Housing Choice Voucher program.

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

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no Net County Cost associated with this action.