Letter of Support for Monarch Village for Iowa Finance Authority Innovation Set-aside Competition Copyrighted
August 21, 2023
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 07.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Letter of Support for Monarch Village for lowa Finance Authority
I nnovation Set-aside Competition
SUM MARY: City Manager recommending City Council approve a letter of support for
Monarch Village, an independent living recovery community, to be sent to
the lowa Finance Authority (I FA)on behalf of Operation Empower and
Pivotal Housing Partners.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo- Letter of Support Staff Memo
Letter of Support- Monarch Village Project Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
THE CITY QF �
All-Meriea Ciry
DLT B E ; . � . �
�� � �
MaSt� Z�C� aYd t�Q Mt55ZSSZ Z zoa�•zoiz•�ai3
YP pp za��*zai�
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letter of Support for Monarch Village for lowa Finance Authority
Innovation Set-aside Competition
DATE: August 17, 2023
Assistant Housing & Community Development Director Michael Belmont is
recommending City Council approve a letter of support for Monarch Village, an
independent living recovery community, to be sent to the lowa Finance Authority (IFA)
on behalf of Operation Empower and Pivotal Housing Partners.
The Monarch Village as proposed by Operation Empower, a local non-profit that runs
Liberty Recovery Center in Dubuque, and Pivotal Housing Partners has been selected
as one of four finalists to present their concept at the 2023 Housing lowa Conference.
Operation Empower, in partnership with Pivotal Housing Partners, has developed an
innovative approach to serving individuals recovering with a substance use disorder
through a peer-to-peer recovery community, or village. The concept for Monarch Village
is to build 54 affordable housing units comprised of one, two and three-bedroom
apartments for people in successful recovery or who desire to live in a substance safe
community. If selected, Monarch Village will be lowa's first peer-based intergenerational
2 affordable housing community program for the whole family (made up of single adults,
couples, and families with children). At this time, no location has been identified for the
proposed development.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
�
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Development Director
Michael Belmont, Housing & Community Development Assistant Director
Dubuque
THE CITY OF �
AIFA�erisaCily
Du 8 E �.r��������,:k�:
rI � I ��r
Maste iece on the Mississi Z 2007*2012•2013
� pp zoi�*zoi9
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Michael Belmont, Housing & Community Development Asst. Director
DATE: August 16, 2023
RE: Letter of Support for Monarch Village for lowa Finance Authority
Innovation Set-aside Competition
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides information on a letter of support for Monarch Village, an
independent living recovery community, to be sent to the lowa Finance Authority (IFA) on
behalf of Operation Empower and Pivotal Housing Partners.
BACKGROUND
For the 2024 Allocation Round, IFA created a new Innovation Set-Aside. The Innovation
Set-Aside is an opportunity to demonstrate innovations and advance affordable housing
in a way that may not always be possible in the 9% Tax Credit round. The most
competitive projects in this set-aside will have multiple innovations and support the lowa
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program mission and goals that include
partnerships, affordability, durability and location.
Only one project will be selected to apply under the Innovation Set-Aside for the 2024
LIHTC Allocation Round. If the selected project meets program requirements, the project
may receive up to $1 million in federal LIHTC. Interested applicants were required to
submit a pre-application. IFA then reviews pre-applications and identify finalists to
present on their concept at the 2023 Housing lowa Conference. IFA will announce the
selected applicant at the Housing lowa Conference.
DISCUSSION
The Monarch Village as proposed by Operation Empower (www.operationempower.org),
the local non-profit organization which currently operates the Liberty Recovery Center,
together with Pivotal Housing Partners (https://pivotal-hp.com/) has been selected as
one of four finalists to present their concept at the 2023 Housing lowa Conference.
Operation Empower, in partnership with Pivotal Housing Partners, has developed an
innovative approach to serving individuals living in recovery through a peer-to-peer
recovery community, or village. The concept for Monarch Village is to build 54 affordable
workforce housing units comprised of one, two and three-bedroom apartments for people
in successful recovery or who desire to live in a substance safe community. If selected,
Monarch Village will be lowa's first peer-based intergenerational recovery housing
community program for the whole family (made up of single adults, couples, and families
with children). At this time, no location has been identified for the proposed
development.
Consistency with City Council Goals & Priorities
The City of Dubuque reviews applications for city support to ensure the request is
consistent with the City Council Goals & Priorities. The proposed Monarch Village
project furthers City Council goals of having "Livable Neighborhoods and Housing:
Great Place to Live" and "Partnership for a Better Dubuque: Building our Community
that is Viable, Livable, and Equitable".
This project also furthers the "Management in Progress" efforts to support Low Income
Housing Tax Credits Program/Projects.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City support these efforts to promote quality, affordable housing,
with attention to the needs of families.
REQUESTED ACTION
I recommend City Council approval of the attached letter of support.
Thank you.
CC: Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Development Director
Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Wally Wernimont Planning Services Manager
2
Dubuque Housing& Community Development
THE CITY O� � 350 West 6th Street—Suite 312
All•A�erieaEm Dubuque, lowa 52001
D LJ L E '�j. .� :j , Office: 563-589-4230
I I � Fax: 563-690-6687
zoo�«zo iz�za i3 Housinp@citvof du bupue.orq
Masterpiece on the 1Vlississippi 2017*2019 www.ctiyofdubuque.org
August 16, 2023
Derek Folden
lowa Finance Authority
1963 Bell Ave Suite 200
Des Moines, IA 50315
RE: Letter of Support - Monarch Village — Dubuque, IA
Dear Mr. Folden,
The purpose of this letter is to express the City of Dubuque's support for Monarch
Village, an lowa Finance Authority Innovation Set-aside finalist. The City is excited to
have been recently designated a Thriving Community by IFA and supporting creative
solutions to our community's housing issues is an important goal. This project's unique
approach to building an independent living recovery community will provide a new,
innovative option for our citizens. This project is seeking Low Income Housing Tax
Credits and HOME funds from the lowa Finance Authority through the innovation set-
aside, and we hope they will receive a favorable review from the judges at the
Innovation in Housing Pitch Competition.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me at 563-589-4230
Sincerely,
Michael Belmont
Housing & Community Development Assistant Director
City of Dubuque, lowa
(563) 589-4230