Special Notice / Hearing: 30-day notice (newspaper publication)__
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: Raymond Hodges, Executive Director, Housing Authority
Subject: FY 2023-2024 Moving To Work Annual Plan
RECOMMENDATION:
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Acting as the Governing Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo, conduct a public hearing to consider the FY 2023-2024 Moving To Work Annual Plan:
A) Open public hearing
B) Close public hearing
C) Adopt a Resolution approving the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo FY 2023-2024 Moving To Work Annual Plan and authorizing the Housing Authority Executive Director, or Designee, to execute documents related to the plan submission.
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BACKGROUND:
Moving To Work (“MTW”) is a demonstration program that offers participating housing authorities the opportunity to design and test innovative, locally designed housing and self-sufficiency strategies for low-income households by allowing exceptions from certain housing regulations. The MTW program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) with the goals of increasing administrative efficiencies, encouraging self-sufficiency, and increasing housing choice.
The Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo (“HACSM”) has been an MTW agency since May 2000; we are currently one of 126 housing authorities nationwide with the MTW designation. When HACSM first joined the MTW program, there were 39 participating housing authorities. The increase in the number of housing authorities is a testament to the success of the MTW program.
As an MTW agency, HACSM has created an affordable housing fund to assist in the development of affordable housing, increased HACSM’s percentage of budget authority allowed for the Project-Based Voucher program, developed landlord incentives for new and existing landlords and enhanced its Provider-Based Assistance Program portfolio.
The MTW program process requires housing authorities to prepare an MTW Annual Plan, obtain input from the public about the Plan and receive approval from the Governing Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority prior to submitting the Plan to HUD for its review and approval. The MTW Annual Plan includes information such as proposed new activities (if any), status of ongoing activities and discussion of long-term goals and strategies for housing authorities within their communities.
DISCUSSION:
The FY 2023-2024 MTW Annual Plan covers the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and was completed in accordance with HUD regulations and requirements, including that all documents are available to the public for review for a prescribed period prior to adoption by the Governing Board of Commissioners.
A public hearing was advertised in local newspapers and online at the San Mateo County Department of Housing website; a copy of the proposed MTW Annual Plan was posted on the Department of Housing website from May 1 through May 31, 2023, and any public comments received are incorporated into the final MTW Annual Plan submitted to HUD. HACSM received approval from HUD to extend its MTW Annual Plan submission to June 30, 2023.
For the FY 2023-2024 MTW Annual Plan, HACSM is not proposing any new activities; however, we are proposing to update two activities. The first update is to increase the allocation of MTW funds to the Affordable Housing Fund, with an additional $10 million dollars; with this addition, the total MTW funds contributed to the Affordable Housing Fund is $35 million dollars. HACSM will continue to utilize this activity to support affordable housing development in San Mateo County. The second update is to increase the funds available for the Provider-Based Assistance (“PBA”) program, an activity that allows HACSM to award funds to local service providers that assist individuals and families not served or under-served by HACSM’s other housing programs. In 2018, HACSM awarded funds to three providers under the PBA program; in 2023, HACSM will award funds to six providers under the PBA program.
HACSM has 36 ongoing activities which will continue to be monitored and evaluated.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no net County cost associated with this action. All funds required to operate the MTW program are provided by HUD.