2003-05-14 (Report) IO CITY OF ENCINITAS
HOUSING AUTHORITY
AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: May 14, 2003
TO: Honorable Mayor and Housing Authority Board
VIA: Kerry L. Miller, City Manager
FROM: Patrick Murphy, Community Development Directo)~/~
Dave deCordova, Principal Planner
Amanda Mills, Housing & Grants Analyst ~dd
SUBJECT: Public hearing to approve the 2003 Encinitas Housing Authority Agency Plan
Update for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
BACKGROUND: The Encinitas Housing Authority must prepare an Agency Plan in
compliance with Section 511 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. The
Agency Plan looks at the housing needs of lower income households in the community,
particularly households receiving Section 8 Rental Assistance, and develops priorities and
objectives to meet those needs over the next five years.
The Encinitas Housing Authority Board approved the five-year agency plan on April 12, 2000
and the most recent Annual Plan was approved March 26, 2003. The draft Annual Plan was
available for a 45-day public comment period and no comments were received.
ANALYSIS: The policies and procedures included in the draft Agency Plan have previously
been approved by the Housing Authority Board and are taken from the Administrative Plan of
the Housing Authority.
The information unique to this plan includes the Mission Statement, the goals and objectives, and
the strategies, which must specifically address the Housing Authority's Rental Assistance
Program. An Executive Summary and Strategy to Address Needs are included as Attachment A
and B respectively. This is the same Plan that was approved by the Encinitas Housing Authority
Board and submitted to HUD last year. The only change staff is recommending this year to both
the Agency Plan and the Administrative Plan is the provision to utilize up to 20 Section 8
Vouchers for Project Based Rental Assistance.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the 2003 Agency Plan Update for submission to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
ATTACHMENT A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Enciultas Housing Authority has prepared this Agency Plan in compliance with
Section 511 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 and the resulting HUD
requirements. The Encinitas Housing Authority is required to submit a streamlined plan because
it only administers Section 8 Rental Assistance and does not own any public housing.
We have adopted the following Mission Statement to guide the activities of the Encinitas
Housing Authority:
To promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity and a suitable living
environment for Encinitas residents of all income levels.
We have also adopted the following goals and objectives for the next five years.
Goal: Manage the Encinitas Housing Authority's existing Section 8 program in an efficient and
effective manner thereby qualifying as at least a standard performer.
Objectives:
HUD shall recognize the Encinitas Housing Authority as a high performer by December
31, 2004.
The Encinitas Housing Authority will promote a motivating work environment with a
capable and efficient team of employees to operate as a customer-friendly and fiscally
sound player in the affordable housing industry.
Goal: Expand the utilization and quality of housing choices available to participants in the
Encinitas Housing Authority's tenant-based rental assistance program.
Objectives:
The Encinitas Housing Authority will achieve and sustain a utilization rate of 98% by
December 31, 2004.
The Encinitas Housing Authority will attract 15 new landlords who want to participate in
the program by December 31, 2004.
Goal: Ensure Equal Opportunity in Housing for all Americans.
Objectives:
-4
Undertake affirmative measures to ensure access to assisted housing regardless of race,
color, religion national origin, sex, familial status and disability.
Complete a new Assessment of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice with new
Consolidated Plan submission.
Our Annual Plan is based on the premise that if we accomplish our goals and objectives we will
be working towards the achievement of our mission.
The plans, statements, budget summary, and policies set forth in the Annual Plan all lead towards
the accomplishment of our goals and objectives. Taken as a whole, they outline a comprehensive
approach towards our goals and objectives and are consistent with the Consolidated Plan for the
community. Here are a few key points of our Annual Plan:
· We have adopted local preferences for our community - which include working families with
children, seniors, homeless households, and persons with disabilities.
· We discourage the over-concentration of lower income households.
· Applicants will be selected from the waiting list by preference and in order of the date they
applied.
· We are going to use 110% of the published Fair Market Rent (FMR) as our payment standard
for the Section 8 Program.
· We may use up to 20 vouchers for Project Based Rental Assistance.
In summary, we are working to increase the availability of affordable housing in our community,
thereby improving the quality of life for lower income households in Encinitas.
ATTACHMENT B
STRATEGY TO ADDRESS NEEDS
As it is not possible to address all the housing needs of low income and special needs
households, the Encirdtas Housing Authority has selected the following priority needs on which
to focus the City's resources in the upcoming year. Factors that influence selection of the
strategies include: funding constraints, staffing constraints, limited availability of sites
appropriately zoned for multi-family housing, the housing market and results of community
input.
Need: Shortage of affordable housing for all eligible populationa
Strategy 1. The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to
maximize the number of affordable units available to the PHA within its current resources:
1 ) Maintain or increase Section 8 lease-up rates by marketing the program to owners,
particularly those outside areas of minority and poverty concentration
2) Maintain or increase Section 8 lease-up rates by establishing payment standards that
will enable families to rent throughout the jurisdiction.
Strategy 2: The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to increase
the number of affordable housing units:
! ) Apply for additional general Section 8 units should they become available.
2) Consider modifications to existing Inclusionary Housing Policy to expand options
beyond very low income accessory units, which will increase the number of
affordable units actually available in the rental market.
Need: Extremely low Income (Families at or below 30% of median income)
Strategy 1. The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to target
available assistance to families at or below 30% of AMI:
1 ) Maintain or increase Section 8 lease-up rates in the Section 8 mainstream program for
persons with disabilities by increasing outside agency participation.
Need: Very Low Income (Families at or below 50% of median income)
Strategy 1. The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to target
available assistance to families at or below 50% of AMI:
1 ) Adopt admissions preference for working families.
2) Adopt rent policies to encourage work.
Need: Elderly Household~
Strategy 1. The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to target
available assistance to elderly households:
1 ) Apply for special-purpose vouchers targeted to the elderly, should they become
available.
2) Work with developers on creating and maintaining affordable units for elderly
households.
Need: Disabled Households
Strategy I: The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to target
available assistance to families with disabilities:
1 ) Maintain or increase Section 8 lease-up rates in the Section 8 mainstream program for
persons with disabilities by increasing outside agency participation.
2) Maintain or increase Section 8 lease-up rates in the Section 8 mainstream program for
persons with disabilities by adopting alternative housing choices.
Need: Races or Ethnicities with Disproportionate Housing Needs
Strategy 1: The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to
affirmatively further fair housing:
I ) Market the program to owners, particularly those outside areas of minority and
poverty concentration.
2) Complete an Assessment of Impediments report to identify specific problems.
Need: Homeless Households
Strategy 1: The Encinitas Housing Authority will focus on the following activities to target
assistance for homeless households:
1 ) Apply for special-purpose vouchers targeted to the homeless, should they become
available.
2} Work with the Regional Continuum of Care on policy issues and funding applications
to expand housing and service options for homeless households in North County.