Minutes Housing Commission 1 27 09MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: 27 January 2009
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6~E' Street, Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001
Commissioner Char Eddy, following staff assurance of complia~ice with Iowa Open Meeting Law,
called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm.
Commissioners Present: John Plein Judie Root William Helling
Lynn Sutton Dorothy Culberston Dave Kapler
Char Eddy Dorrothy Schwendinger, OSF
Commissioners Absent: Linda Frommelt Jim Holz
Staff Present: David Ha~7is Jessica Kieffer Janet Walker
Cpl. Pablo Ramirez
Public Present: None
Review and Certification of Minutes of 7 October 2008 Commission Meeting
Comtnissio~ier Helling moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Schwendinger seconded.
Roll call. Commissioner Eddy abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed.
Public Input
None
Old Business
Nape
New Business
Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) Certification
Corninissioner Kapler congrahxlated Janet and her staff on then performance and 100% score.
Section 8 Administrative Plan Amendments
1. Request for Section 8 Administrative Policy Change to allow Local
Preference Points far Step By Step Project and Family Unification
and Verification of Local Residency.
An applicant household that has been referred by Step x Step Project shall receive local
preference points in the amount of 5 points. Step x Step Project was designed to empower
individuals with disabilities by offering an affordable and accessible home to foster independent
living, personal choice, and cooperative decision-making in a sustainable environment. The
request also offers 5 local preference points to youths leaving foster care without adequate
1sousing and provides for verification of local residency points by the Department of Human
Services. In addition, the change offers 5 local preference points to families working with the
Dept. of Human Services for unification of the family (returning children to the household) and
provides for verification of local residency points by the Department of Huznan Services. Janet
explained that the family unification request is in response to a request from the Community
Foundation of Gzeater Dubuque to sezve families that lack adequate housing and this lack
contributes to the placement of the family's child outside the hazrze; or delays the discharge of the
child from out-of home care back into the family. The other is "youths" age 18-21 yrs who left
foster care at age 16 or older and who do not have adequate housing. Adopting these changes
will eliminate any unmet service need foz• the Family Unifcation Program.
The changes in the forms of verifications allowed for locai preference paints far residency shall
include an applicant's lease or rental agreement, rent receipt, utility bill in the applicant's name
and ownez•Imanager statement of verification. The lease agreement, rent receipt and statement of
verification must be signed by the owner/manager licensed for the rental unit or accordmg to the
propez•ty records of the appropriate assessor's office• If the applicant is residing with a
parentlguaz•dian as a member of the household and verification of the rental household can be
verified by a lease agreement or owners' statement, the applicant will qualify for local preference
points for residency.
2. Request for Section 8 Administrative Policy Change to deny
assistance for manufacturing/producing meth at an assisted unit.
Janet discussed that this request removes the "conviction" of manufacturing or producing meth at
an assisted housing unit to "identified by the City of Dubuque Police", Language change is
suggested due to plea bargaining and length of time to process tluough the court system.
Connnissioner Schwendinger questioned if evezyone in the household is held to the same
rejection. Janet explained that the person would have the right to appeal.
3, Request for Section 8 Administrative Policy Change to eliminate
interim change requirements.
Janet explained that this z•equest removes interim income changes and requires participants to
report all income at the time of annual recertification with the exception of changes in family
composition requiring an interim change according to HUD regulations. Better defines error
coz~•ections made either by paz•ticipant or the Housing Agency, Better defnes repayment
agreements and offers participants the chance to repay amounts received rather than be
terminated.
Connnissioner Helling motioned to approve all tluee Section S Administrative Plan
Amendments. Comnussioner Eddy seconded. All present ui favor. Motion approved.
Approval of Family Self Sufficiency Grant
HUD has awarded the City of Dubuque's Family Self-Sufficiency Program $68,847ta continue
with a comprehensive program to help participating individuals develop the skills and experience
to enable them to obtain jobs that pay a living wage and to put them on a path toward self-
suffieiency.
Information Sharing
David shared the many successes of the Washington initiative. Commissioner Kapler stated that
he was impressed by the list of accomplishments in response to the downtown neighborhood
issues.
Janet placed an ad in the Golden View newspaper to reach out to Senior Citizens and to notify
them about the Section 8 Housing Assistance Program. She passed around a copy of the
advertisement for all to view.
Aciiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Cotrunissioner Helling moved
to adjourn the meeting at 4:19PM. All present in favor,
~l~inutes taken by:~
F
,~-. ~~ ,
ressrea Kte er
Recording Secretary
r espe tfully submitted by:
~ry C~~
D vid anis
Department Director