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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 - Housing Authority Annual PlanHousing Authority https://www.santa-ana.org/cd Item # 2 or City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Staff Report April 6, 2021 TOPIC: Housing Authority Annual Plan AGENDA TITLE: Public Hearing - Approve the Housing Authority Annual Plan RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Conduct a public hearing in consideration of the approval and submission of the Housing Authority Annual Plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2. Adopt a resolution approving the Housing Authority Annual Plan and authorize the Executive Director of the Housing Authority to submit the Annual Plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. DISCUSSION The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires housing authorities that administer a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program to have an Annual Plan for the management and operation of the program. The general purpose of the Annual Plan is to advise HUD, program participants, applicants, and members of the public on the Housing Authority's policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting local housing needs and goals. Specifically, the Annual Plan (Exhibit 1) provides information on the following topics: (1) new activities to be undertaken by the Housing Authority in the next year; (2) findings from the most recent Fiscal Year audit; and (3) annual progress the Housing Authority has made in meeting the goals and objectives described in the Five -Year Plan for FY 2020-2025. This Annual Plan is for the second year of the Five Year Plan for FY 2020-2025. As required by HUD, three ad hoc Resident Advisory Board meetings were held on March 12, 2021 with seven HCV participants who receive housing assistance from the Housing Authority. The meetings were conducted in three languages: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. All active participants were mailed an invitation to participate on the Resident Advisory Board and the Board provided input for the development of the Annual Plan. The comments from the Resident Advisory Board were incorporated into the Public Hearing - Housing Authority Annual Plan April 6, 2021 Page 2 Annual Plan. The Santa Ana Housing Authority (SAHA) also conducted a survey of all HCV participants. The survey was mailed to all active HCV participants to complete. Staff analyzed all of the recommendations from the Resident Advisory Board and survey responses by doing the following: (1) considering the feasibility of each recommendation; (2) discussing as a team the opportunity for the SAHA to implement each recommendation; and (3) making a determination on which recommendation(s) could be implemented or considered for future implementation. All of the recommendations were taken into consideration by staff and incorporated into the Annual Plan. On February 20, 2021, a legal notice was published in the Orange County Register, La Opinion and Nguoi Viet newspapers advising the public that a draft of the Annual Plan was available for public review and comment and a public hearing would be held on April 6, 2021. The Annual Plan was also made available on the Housing Authority's website and in the Housing Authority lobby. HUD federal regulations requires a 45-day public comment period and the public comment period ends on April 6, 2021. All public comments received will be included in the Annual Plan submitted to HUD. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. EXHIBIT(S) 1. Housing Authority Annual Plan 2. Resolution Submitted By: Steven Mendoza, Assistant City Manager Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager EXHIBIT 1 Streamlined Annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development OMB No. 2577-0226 PHA Plan Office of Public and Indian Housing Expires 02/29/2016 (HCV Only PHAs) Purpose. The 5-Year and Annual PHA Plans provide a ready source for interested parties to locate basic PHA policies, rules, and requirements concerning the PHA's operations, programs, and services, and informs HUD, families served by the PHA, and members of the public of the PHA's mission, goals and objectives for serving the needs of low- income, very low- income, and extremely low- income families Applicability. Form HUD-50075-HCV is to be completed annually by HCV-Only PHAS. PHAS that meet the definition of a Standard PHA, Troubled PHA, High Performer PHA, Small PHA, or Qualified PHA do not need to submit this form. Where applicable, separate Annual PHA Plan forms are available for each of these types of PHAs. Definitions. (1) High -Performer PHA — A PHA that owns or manages more than 550 combined public housing units and housing choice vouchers, and was designated as a high performer on both of the most recent Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) and Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) assessments if administering both programs, or PHAS if only administering public housing. (2) Small PHA - A PHA that is not designated as PHAS or SEMAP troubled, or at risk of being designated as troubled, that owns or manages less than 250 public housing units and any number of vouchers where the total combined units exceeds 550. (3) Housing Choice Voucher (HCI9 Only PHA - A PHA that administers more than 550 HCVs, was not designated as troubled in its most recent SEMAP assessment, and does not own or manage public housing. (4) Standard PHA - A PHA that owns or manages 250 or more public housing units and any number of vouchers where the total combined units exceeds 550, and that was designated as a standard performer in the most recent PHAS and SEMAP assessments. (5) Troubled PHA - A PHA that achieves an overall PHAS or SEMAP score of less than 60 percent. (6) Qualified PHA - A PHA with 550 or fewer public housing dwelling units and/or housing choice vouchers combined, and is not PHAS or SEMAP troubled. A. PHA Information. A.1 PHA Name: Housing Authority of the City of Santa Ana PHA Code: CA093 PHA Plan for Fiscal Year Beginning: (MM/YYYY): 07/2021 PHA Inventory (Based on Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) units at time of FY beginning, above) Number of Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) 3,026 PHA Plan Submission Type: ® Annual Submission ❑Revised Annual Submission Availability of Information. In addition to the items listed in this form, PHAS must have the elements listed below readily available to the public. A PHA must identify the specific location(s) where the proposed PHA Plan, PHA Plan Elements, and all information relevant to the public hearing and proposed PHA Plan are available for inspection by the public. Additionally, the PHA must provide information on how the public may reasonably obtain additional information of the PHA policies contained in the standard Annual Plan, but excluded from their streamlined submissions. At a minimum, PHAS must post PHA Plans, including updates, at the main office or central office of the PHA. PHAS are strongly encouraged to post complete PHA Plans on their official website. ❑ PHA Consortia: Check box if submitting a joint Plan and complete table below Participating PHAS PHA Code Program(s) in the Consortia Program(s) not in the Consortia No. of Units in Each Program Lead HA: Page 1 of 5 form HUD-50075-HCV (12/2014) EXHIBIT 1 B. Annual Plan. BA Revision of PHA Plan Elements. (a) Have the following PHA Plan elements been revised by the PHA since its last Annual Plan submission? Y N ❑ ® Housing Needs and Strategy for Addressing Housing Needs. ❑ ® Deconcentration and Other Policies that Govern Eligibility, Selection, and Admissions. ❑ ® Financial Resources. ❑ ® Rent Determination. ❑ ® Operation and Management. ❑ ® Informal Review and Hearing Procedures. ❑ ® Homeownership Programs. ❑ ® Self Sufficiency Programs and Treatment of Income Changes Resulting from Welfare Program Requirements. ❑ ® Substantial Deviation. ❑ ® Significant Amendment/Modification. (b) If the PHA answered yes for any element, describe the revisions for each element(s): B.2 New Activities (a) Does the PHA intend to undertake any new activities related to the following in the PHA's current Fiscal Year? Y N ❑ ® Project Based Vouchers. (b) If this activity is planned for the current Fiscal Year, describe the activities. Provide the projected number of project -based units and general locations, and describe how project -basing would be consistent with the PHA Plan. B.3 Most Recent Fiscal Year Audit. (a) Were there any findings in the most recent FY Audit? Y N N/A ❑ ® ❑ (b) If yes, please describe: BA Civil Rights Certification Form HUD-500771 PHA Certifications of Compliance with the PHA Plans and Related Regulations, must be submitted by the PHA as an electronic attachment to the PHA Plan. B.5 Certification by State or Local Officials. Form HUD 50077-SL, Certification by State or Local Officials of PHA Plans Consistency with the Consolidated Plan, must be submitted by the PHA as an electronic attachment to the PHA Plan. Page 2 of 5 form HUD-50075-HCV (12/2014) EXHIBIT 1 B.6 Progress Report. Provide a description of the PHA's progress in meeting its Mission and Goals described in its 5-Year PHA Plan. Goal # 1: Fully utilize all funding provided by HUD and apply for additional funding to serve the most vulnerable members of our community. Objective # 1: Utilize 100% of the Annual Budget Authority provided by HUD for each CY. • SAHA utilized 95.5% of our Annual Budget Authority from HUD for CY 2020. This was due to two main factors. First, the COVID- 19 pandemic impacted our staffing, capacity and ability to serve our current assisted -families while trying to assist new families through our Mainstream Voucher Program. Second, SAHA has been receiving a substantially more HAP funding from new HUD-VASH vouchers, but we have not been receiving adequate referrals from the VAMC of Long Beach to utilize this new funding. Objective # 2: Apply for new funding opportunities for additional vouchers. • In October 2020, SAHA received an award of twenty-five (25) additional Foster Youth to Independence vouchers following a competitive application process under PIH Notice 2020-28. • In November 2020, SAHA received an award of seventy-five (75) additional Mainstream Program Vouchers following a competitive application process under PIH Notice 2020-22. Goal # 2: Expand participation in the Family Self -Sufficiency Program for families to use as a platform to obtain self-sufficiency and independence from our assistance. Objective # 1: Expand the number of active participants in the Family Self -Sufficiency Program. • The number of active participants in the Family Self -Sufficiency Program decreased from 127 families enrolled to 122. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted our capacity and ability to outreach to new participants. However, the number of mandatory slots for SAHA is only 60 participants. • SAHA continued sending a monthly electronic Family Self -Sufficiency Program newsletters to our participants who have provided us with their e-mail addresses. Each newsletter features a Story of Success for a family who is participating in the program. In addition, SAHA also provided an annual calendar to all of our participants with a Story of Success for each month. Objective # 2: Assist Family Self -Sufficiency Program participants to become self-sufficient and graduate from the program. • During this Fiscal year, three (3) participants graduated from the Family Self -Sufficiency Program. Goal # 3: Ensure the accuracy, integrity and compliance of all voucher program operations. Objective # 1: Retain High Performer SEMAP status. • SAHA was certified as a High Performer for FY 19-20. SAHA audited a total of 353 files under SEMAP Indicator # 3, even though the minimum sample size required by HUD was only 35 files. For SEMAP Indicator # 5, SAHA audited a total of 49 inspections even though the minimum sample size required by HUD was only 33 quality control inspections. Goal # 4: Increase assisted housing choices by providing quality customer service to existing landlords and conducting outreach to new landlords. Objective # 1: Communicate on a regular basis with active landlords by providing information on key program updates. • During this Fiscal Year SAHA e-mailed a newsletter in July and October. SAHA also e-mailed a Holiday card in December. Objective # 2: Maintain active participation in the Orange County Apartment Association and attend local events to promote participation in the program. • SAHA renewed our membership with the Orange County Apartment Association. Local events were cancelled due to the pandemic. Goal # 5: Provide equal opportunity, affirmatively further fair housing and provide regular training on fair housing for staff, owners and participants. Objective # 1: Provide an annual mandatory training for all Housing Authority staff. • On September 11, 2020, SAHA held an annual Fair Housing Training for all Housing Division employees. This annual training is required for all employees. Objective # 2: Provide information on fair housing to owners and participants. • SAHA provided information on fair housing to owners and participants. Goal # 6: Provide information on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2013 to active participants and owners to ensure protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalldng. • SAHA provided information on VAWA to all program applicants, participants and landlords. Page 3 of 5 form HUD-50075-HCV (12/2014)