COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

DATE:

April 22, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 11, 2010

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
William Lowell, Executive Director, Housing Authority

SUBJECT:

Amendment #2 to the Amended and Restated Moving to Work Agreement between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo (HACSM)

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt Resolution No. 2010-06:

1. Approving Amendment #2 to the Amended and Restated Moving to Work Agreement between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo to include Attachment D “Broader Use of Funds Authority”; and

2. Authorizing the Executive Director of the Housing Authority to execute any documents required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement the Amendment.

BACKGROUND:

In April 2008, HACSM and HUD executed the Amended and Restated Moving to Work Agreement which extends the MTW program status for HACSM through the year 2018.

On April 13, 2010, the Board approved HACSM’s 2010-2011 MTW Annual Plan. The 2010-2011 Plan contains a bold initiative to change the nature of a portion of the voucher program in a way that will enable HACSM to better respond to the needs of special populations in the County.

DISCUSSION:

HACSM has a history of working closely with the supportive services providers in San Mateo County, through its long-standing MTW Self-Sufficiency program and the newly implemented Housing Readiness Program. In addition to the Section 8 programs, HACSM also manages grant programs such as Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing. Building on the successes of these programs, HACSM is proposing to create a Provider-Based program to serve the members of the local community who are either underserved, or not served, by the current Section 8 program because of their own unique circumstances.

The proposed addition, Attachment D of the Amended and Restated Moving to Work Agreement, will expand HACSM’s MTW authority to include “Broader Use of Funds Authority” in its Standard Agreement and will enable HACSM to implement the Provider Based voucher initiative outlined in the 2010-2011 MTW Annual Plan.

The Provider-Based program invents a new type of voucher, which is called “provider-based” because it will assign vouchers to community-based organizations so they can use the commitment of voucher funds to lease units for groups in need, such as survivors of domestic violence or mental health clients. Another new and creative use could include combining vouchers with certain types of job training.

While HACSM is not seeking an increase in its 4063 vouchers or over-leasing beyond its baseline, as it does not have sufficient funding to do so at this time, HACSM is proposing to allocate funds, through a local NOFA process, to community-based supportive service providers to use in support of the housing needs of the participants they serve.

As part of this amendment process and in accordance with HUD requirements, a public hearing was advertised in local newspapers and held on April 22, 2010, to receive additional comments. The proposed Attachment D was posted on the internet for 45 days before the public hearing was held. No public comments were received.

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 provide housing subsidy to low and very low income households while increasing housing choice through program flexibilities.

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.