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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Housing Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 2/26/2007 c 3 MINUTES HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING CITY OF GLENDALE,ARIZONA 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE ROOM B-3 MONDAY,FEBRUARY 26,2007 5:30 p.m. Members Present Roslyn Abramowitz, Chairperson Madelin Page,Vice-Chairperson Karen Nikoloudakis, Commissioner Donnell Gentry, Commissioner Philip Reina,Commissioner Staff Members Present Erik Strunk,Director Karen Russell,Housing Administrator Loring Haynes,Building Maintenance Supervisor Diana Whittle, Senior Management Assistant Elaine Adamczyk, Management Assistant Lois Brooks, Senior Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Roslyn Abramowitz called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 23,2006 COMMISSION MEETING A motion was made by Commissioner Roslyn Abramowitz to approve the minutes, and seconded by Vice-Chairperson Madelin Page. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS None 4. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR None 1 5. AGENDA ITEMS A. INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS The new Housing Advisory Commissioner,Philip Reina,was introduced and welcomed by Chairperson Roslyn Abramowitz. All other commissioners and staff members present introduced themselves. No further action was required. B. REDUCTION IN FUNDING DUE TO FEDERAL CUTS Staff member Karen Russell presented this item. HUD recently announced cuts in funding, which will impact three areas of the housing program during 2007. The Section 8 Voucher Program will be cut by 11.52%, or approximately$866,783 less will be available to pay our Section 8 landlords. While this will not impact existing clients, approximately 121 applicants will remain on the waiting list longer. During the first three months of this year,the Public Housing program will receive cuts of 24%, or$9,561 per month. This will not affect maintenance of the housing properties, but will mean a reduction in staff expenses such as overtime, supplies,training, and travel costs. The third area of reduction is to the administrative fees of 2.81%, or approximately$15,676. As with previous funding reductions,the Community Housing Division will maintain it's current standards for the clients. No further action was required. C. QUARTERLY CAPITAL FUND PROGRAM UPDATE Staff member Loring Haynes presented this item. The addition to the parking lot of Administrative Office is complete with the exception of the carport installation,which is due to be finished by mid-March,with lighting installed immediately thereafter. The installation of cabinet and countertops in the copy and break rooms is complete. The reception area has been remodeled with new paint,flooring, and chairs. A television showing Glendale Channel 11 has been added. Ceiling fans have been installed in all bedrooms and living rooms at the three housing communities. Exhaust fans were installed in all bathrooms for moisture control. Kitchen remodeling at Glendale Homes has begun on the first 14 units. All will receive new cabinets, countertops, sinks, faucets, disposals, dishwashers, and exhaust vent hoods.All bathrooms will receive new vanities, countertops, and faucets. No further action was required. D. REVIEW OF AGENCY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 Each year,the City of Glendale Community Housing Division is required by HUD to have an Agency Plan and update it. The following changes to this year's plan are listed below. Both Programs 1. Violence Against Women Act(VAWA) - Conventional Public Housing Continued Admissions and Occupancy Policy Section 8.2(G),Eligibility Criteria, Section 20.3,Termination by the Housing Authority;Domestic Violence,Dating Violence, and Stalking(VAWA) - Section 8 Administrative Plan Section 3.2(I),Eligibility Criteria Section 15.2,Termination of Assistance to the Family By CHD;Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking(VAWA) 2 Summary The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005 protects program participants,their household members,and program applicants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking from being evicted or terminated from housing assistance, or having their application denied based on these acts of violence against them. Incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking will not be construed as a serious or repeated violation of the lease or of family obligations. This does not remove the ability to terminate or evict for"good cause",or other lease or program violations. If a member of the tenant household engages in such acts, CUD has the authority to terminate assistance for that person without terminating the victimized family. If a public housing tenant or Section 8 program participant claims protection from eviction or termination based on VAWA,CUD will require certification of the violence,which must be supported by a statement from a medical provider,victim service provider, or attorney; a police record,court order, or protective order. By law,a restraining order protective order, or calling the police is not required,however the name of the perpetrator must be disclosed. The tenant has 14 days to submit the certification or eviction/termination may be initiated. 2. Limited English Proficiency(LEP) - Conventional Public Housing Continued Admissions and Occupancy Policy—Section 3.0, Services For Non-English Speaking Applicants and Residents Section 24.0,Acronyms - Section 8 Administrative Plan—Section 1.0,Equal Opportunity, Services for Non- English Speaking Persons and Participants Section 29.0,Acronyms Summary Executive Order(EO) 13166, issued in August 2000,with HUD Guidance published January 22, 2007,requires recipients of federal funding to take reasonable steps to ensure Limited English Proficiency(LEP)persons have meaningful access to HUD programs and activities. While CID has always had in place services to assisted non-English speaking applicants and program participants, EO 13166 mandates ongoing analyses of the needs of such groups to determine which group is considered more likely to access the program and if additional services are required. CHD has diligently tracked oral interpretation needs of applicants prior to EO 13166 to ensure access to and an understanding of the application process. CHD now tracks oral interpretations needs of all visitors to the administrative office, all who call through the CUD main telephone line, and all current program participants for both programs in order to document a needs level for LEP persons. Included in the current services offered are: Bilingual status employees Allowable use of family or friends to give oral interpretation if the needs are in a language other than the major LEP language available through CID bilingual staff. Notice posted in the lobby of the administrative office in the primary language of the largest LEP language group(Spanish speakers),of the right to receive competent oral interpretation of written materials,free of cost. Written translated documents available through HUD website for Fair Housing and Lead Based Paint in Spanish and other languages that may seek access to our programs. 3 Public Housing Only 1. Restrictions on Assistance for Student(Removed) - Conventional Public Housing Continued Admissions and Occupancy Policy— Section 8.2(G),Eligibility Criteria(Removed) Section 11.1 (G),Income(Partially removed) Section 12.3,Types of Verification(Removed) Section 12.8, Special Verification for Adult Students(Removed) Summary Originally issued on June 15, 2005,Congress restricted access to housing assistance for students. In July 2006,the restrictions were lifted for students in the conventional public housing program. As the restriction is still in place for Section 8,the local preference for full time students will remain removed for consistency between programs. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Only 1. Student Eligibility Exemption for Disabled Person - Section 8 Administrative Plan— Section 3.2(H),Eligibility Criteria Summary This original program change December 30,2005,restricted Section 8 assistance to part time or full time students(above the high school level). It was in response to incidents where college students obtained federal housing assistance without their educational financial assistance or financial support from parents counting as income. It prohibited assistance to any individual who: 1. Is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education, as defined under section 102 of the Higher Education Act,of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002); 2. Is under 24 years of age; 3. Is not a veteran of the United States military; 4. Is unmarried; 5. Does not have a dependent child; and 6. Is not otherwise individually eligible, or has parents who, individually or jointly, are not eligible on the basis of income to receive assistance under section 8 of the 1937 Act." Congress has now issued an exemption to this rule for persons with disabilities. The restrictions remain for all other students who do not meet the above listed criteria. The full time student local preference remains removed. 2. Capital Fund Program Five-Year Action Plan - PHA Agency Plan,Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2007—Pages 11-17 Summary The Capital Fund Program Five-Year Action Plan sets out the plan for public housing capital improvement expenditures for the next five years: The list is of planned Capital Fund projects along with the funding amounts allocated to each project. The Commission approved the Agency Plan. The meeting was then opened for public hearing. 4 6. AGENCY PLAN PUBLIC HEARING Chairperson Roslyn Abramowitz opened the meeting for public hearing of the plan. There were no comments and the meeting was closed for public hearing. 7. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR'S UPDATE Director Erik Strunk provided an update of recent and upcoming events for Community Partnerships. Mr. Strunk thanked staff members Karen Russell,Elaine Adamczyk,Diana Whittle, and Loring Haynes for their contributions to the updated Agency Plan. A groundbreaking and dedication took place February 24 for another Habitat for Humanity home for a family of four. Another recipient is ready to move into his new Habitat home. His home was built over a week's time by football fans of the recent Fiesta Bowl and the BCS National Championship game. The city recently completed its annual homelessness count, a requirement to apply for HUD funding to prevent homelessness. 7. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS There were no written communications to discuss. No action was required. 8. MISCELLANEOUS The next Housing Advisory meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, April 23, 2007. No action was required. 9. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Chairperson Roslyn Abramowitz, and seconded by Commissioner Karen Nikoloudakis,to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m. ATTEST: 1— / IND *OMA) 40)3--a-L Chairperson `Sdcretary 5