To: Sonoma County Board of Commissioners
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Community Development Commission
Staff Name and Phone Number: Martha Cheever, (707) 565-7521
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Housing Authority Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Annual Plan and Administrative Plan Updates
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve Resolution of the Sonoma County Housing Authority approving the Sonoma County Public Housing Authority FY 2023-24 Annual Plan;
B) Authorize the Executive Director, or designee, to execute associated Annual Plan documents and submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
C) Approve modifications to the Sonoma County Housing Authority Administrative Plan.
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Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County Housing Authority (SCHA) administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Program) under contract with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This Program enables very low-income households to rent from private landlords at fair market rental rates and also provides rental assistance in the form of project-based vouchers, tying assistance to specific units. The Program is the single biggest program operated by the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (Commission). Vouchers provide the best avenue to housing stability for low-income households.
Required elements of Program administration include a Five-Year Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plan and an Annual PHA Plan. Each of these documents must be approved by the Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. The PHA Five-Year Plan approved by the Board in 2020 lays out the Housing Authority’s goals and strategies for serving the needs of low-income and very low-income families for the upcoming five-year period (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2025). The FY 2023-24 PHA Annual Plan provides a status update on the Housing Authority’s progress in meeting the goals outlined in the Five-Year Plan.
The Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan (Local Policy Document) is a required element of the PHA Annual Plan and establishes detailed local policies for administration of the program. The present Local Policy Document, approved on December 7, 2021, is being amended to clarify and update existing policies. Approval of the proposed changes, as listed on the attached summary, will incorporate a new preference to serve chronically homeless households and clarify other local policies.
At this time, the Housing Authority is requesting approval of the FY 2023-24 PHA Annual Plan and the modifications to the SCHA Local Policies and directing submission to HUD. Because HUD does not recognize “Interim” appointments, all documents associated with this Board item and the accompanying resolution use the title “Executive Director” when referring to the Interim Executive Director.
Discussion:
Section 511 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 requires that all housing authorities prepare a Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plan, which includes both a 5-Year Plan and an Annual Plan for each fiscal year. The PHA Five-Year Plan was approved by this Board in 2020 and is included as an attachment to this item. The PHA Five-year Plan lays out the Housing Authority’s goals and strategies for serving the needs of low-income and very low-income families for the five years between July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2025. The PHA Annual Plan provides an annual status update on the Housing Authority’s progress in meeting the goals outlined in the previous Five-Year Plan. Combined, these PHA Plans provide HUD, program participants, and other interested parties information related the Housing Authority’s accomplishments, progress, and strategies for serving the needs of low-income and very low-income families. The goals laid out in the Five Year Plan are 1) expand rental assistance opportunities for low-income, vulnerable populations; 2) Continue to partner with local non-profit agencies to provide housing navigation to low-income and/or hard to serve populations; 3) Expand collaboration with the Sonoma County Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self-Sufficiency (ACCESS) program, an initiative developed to holistically support clients with complex needs; 4) Expand the supply of affordable housing; 5) Promote self-sufficiency; and 6) Ensure equal opportunity and affirmatively further fair housing.
The FY 2023-24 Annual Plan provides an update on the progress the Housing Authority made in accomplishing the goals established in 2020. Key accomplishments achieved by the Housing Authority in FY 2022-23 include the following:
• Receipt of 5 new Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers for a total of 20 VASH vouchers.
• Receipt of 30 new Mainstream program vouchers to serve non-elderly (ages 18-62), disabled households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• During calendar year 2022, 151 new project-based voucher units came into service in Healdsburg (11), Petaluma (100), Sebastopol (8), Sonoma (9), and Cloverdale (23).
• During calendar year 2022, the Housing Authority entered into Agreements to enter Housing Assistance Payment (AHAP) Contracts for 105 units, 92 of which will serve households exiting homelessness.
The Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan (Local Policy Document) is a required attachment to the Annual Plan. This Local Policy Document differs from the Annual Plan in that they are the guidelines for program implementation and operation at a local level. The Housing Authority is proposing several changes to the Local Policy Document. Most notably, the Housing Authority is seeking to expand the number of vouchers that can be targeted to assist persons who are experiencing homelessness. A summary of the proposed changes is included as an attachment to this item.
Changes to the Administrative Plan were discussed with the Sonoma County Continuum of Care Board on January 25, 2023, who provided public comment, included as an attachment to this item.
Public hearings on the FY 2023-24 PHA Annual Plan and the proposed changes to the Administrative Plan were held on March 15, 2023, at the Community Development Committee (Committee) meeting. The item was recommended to the Commission for approval by the Committee on that date.
As required by HUD, the proposed FY 2023-24 PHA Annual Plan is consistent with the HUD-required Five-Year Consolidated Plans of the County of Sonoma and the City of Petaluma, the two HUD entitlement jurisdictions in which the Housing Authority operates the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Prior Board Actions:
04/07/2020: Approval of the Housing Authority’s 5-Year Plan
04/07/2021: Approval of the Housing Authority’s Annual Plan
12/07/2021: Approval of Updates to the Housing Authority’s Administrative Plan
04/05/2022: Approval of the Housing Authority’s Annual Plan
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY 23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1. Resolution approving the Sonoma County Public Housing Authority Annual Plan
2. Sonoma County Housing Authority Annual Plan for 2023-24
3. Sonoma County Housing Authority 5-Year Plan
4. Summary of Changes to the Sonoma County Housing Authority Administrative Plan
5. Administrative Plan Chapters 4, 13, and 21 with proposed changes in red line
6. Public Comment received from the Sonoma County Continuum of Care
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Sonoma County Housing Authority Administrative Plan