To: Honorable Chair and Commissioners
From: Steve Potter, City Manager
Prepared By: Sabrina Daniels, Rental Assistance Program Supervisor
TITLE:
Title
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Annual Plan FYE 2024-2025
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendationle
Adopt a resolution approving the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
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DISCUSSION:
On October 21, 1999, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a final rule that requires each public housing authority (PHA) to develop and adopt a Five Year and Annual Plan for the operation of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Plan is a comprehensive guide to PHA policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting local housing needs and goals.
The Annual Plan reports on the Housing Authority’s mission and goals. The Annual Plan covers Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The following summarizes the Housing Authority’s goals and its progress to date towards meeting these goals:
Expand the range and quality of housing choices available to participants. The Housing Authority remains committed to proactively promoting landlord involvement in the voucher program through continuous outreach efforts. In addressing the challenges posed by a competitive rental market, the PHA has explored avenues to introduce project-based vouchers, aiming to provide participants with access to high-quality rental housing. Recently, the PHA finalized agreements to enter into Housing Assistance Payment contracts (AHAP) for two distinct Project-Based Vouchers (PBV’s)
• Eight at the Napa Cove Apartments in American Canyon, two of which are set aside for homeless who are referred through the County’s Coordinated Entry System (CES)
• 38 at the Heritage House and Valle Verde project in Napa of which 32 are set aside through CES
The Housing Authority intends to continue to explore additional opportunities for PBVs. The Housing Authority continues to allow the use of shared housing to expand the housing choices for participants. The Housing Authority also continues to contract with Abode for the Landlord Mitigation and Assistance program. This program provides housing location services, landlord incentives, and a risk mitigation program for tenant-caused damages to help homeless and at-risk of homeless voucher holders secure housing. The Housing Authority accepts referrals for non-elderly disabled homeless or at-risk of homelessness from the Coordinated Entry System if the waiting list is exhausted of applicants who fall under this criterion for Mainstream and Non-Elderly Disabled vouchers.
Manage the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in an efficient and effective manner. HUD uses the Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) to annually assess how well a housing authority performs in several different categories. The Housing Authority received a high performer designation for SEMAP for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
Ensure equal opportunity in housing for all by ensuring equal opportunity and affirmatively furthering fair housing. The Housing Authority provides funds to Fair Housing Napa Valley in the amount of $25,000 annually to provide fair housing assistance to tenants and to work with mobile home organizations to ensure rents are maintained at a reasonable level. The Housing Authority also undertakes affirmative measures to ensure accessible housing for persons with disabilities. This includes allowing additional time in searching for units, maintaining an active list of potential landlords who can provide accessible housing, and providing additional bedrooms in cases of reasonable accommodation needs.
Promote self-sufficiency and asset development of families and individuals. The Housing Authority’s Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program currently has 39 families/individuals enrolled in the program. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the Housing Authority had two families graduate from the FSS program. The FSS coordinator is actively working to recruit additional FSS participants. The Housing Authority submitted a funding application and was awarded $123,847 to help support the FSS Program Coordinator position for the calendar year 2024.
The draft Annual Plan was reviewed by the Housing Authority’s Resident Advisory Board.
Following the conclusion of the Public Hearing, the draft Annual Plan will be modified to incorporate any revisions resulting from the public hearing process and then be submitted to HUD for approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
There are no financial impacts for approving the annual plan for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
CEQA:
The Community Development Director has determined that the Recommend Action described in this Agenda Report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Resolution Approving Annual Plan
EX A - Annual Plan
NOTIFICATION:
Notice announcing the availability of the draft Annual Plan for a 45-day public review was published in the Napa Valley Register on February 13, 2024. Copies of the notice were also posted at the Napa County libraries located in Napa, American Canyon, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. A copy of the Plan was placed on the City of Napa’s website on the Housing Division page.