COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

DATE:

December 3, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 15, 2009

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:

Amendment of the Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan to add a chapter that specifies Project-Based Voucher Program rules.

RECOMMENDATION:

Acting as the governing board of the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo, adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan to add a chapter that specifies Project-Based Voucher Program rules.

BACKGROUND:

In accordance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulation, the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo (HACSM) is required to maintain an Administrative Plan which codifies adopted policies for most HACSM programs. Policies in the Administrative Plan, which specifies operational procedures, must be consistent with HACSM’s Annual Plan, which specifies program features and intended outcomes, and with HUD’s overarching goals of deconcentrating poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities.

Among HACSM’s programs is the Project-Based Certificate program through which housing assistance is provided to subsidize particular dwelling units rented to tenants eligible for HUD Section 8 assistance, rather than subsidizing the tenant households directly. Organizational partners, such as HIP Housing and Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition, manage 384 apartments under this program.

In June, 2005 HUD published new regulations for a successor program, the Project-Based Voucher Program (PBV). All new PBV contracts must operate under the new regulations. At present, HACSM’s Administrative Plan does not include PBV policies.

HACSM intends to enter into new PBV contracts in 2010. The Administrative Plan must be amended to include PBV policies prior to contract execution.

DISCUSSION:

The Administrative Plan must address ten policy topics in relation to the PBV program:

Owner selection procedures
1. Site selection criteria
2. Deconcentration of poverty and expanding housing and economic opportunities
3. Supportive services for excepted units, if applicable
4. Monitoring supportive services, if applicable
5. Types of waiting lists HACSM will use
6. Preferences
7. Identification and referral of families that require accessible features for persons with disabilities to PBV accessible units
8. Determination of form and duration of continued assistance for any family occupying a unit that is too small or too large compared to family size

In addition to the above required policies, there are numerous discretionary policies addressed in the Administrative Plan in relation to the PBV program.

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

Approval of this Resolution contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Livable Community by enabling HACSM to help partner organizations increase the number of affordable rental units available for low-income households.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no Net County Cost associated with this action. All funds required to operate the program are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.