Section 8 Program Administrative Plan AmendmentsTHE CITY OF Dubuque
DT T~ ~ All-America City
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
200
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Section 8 Program Administrative Plan Amendments
DATE: December 2, 2009
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris advises that
the Housing Commission has approved amendments to the Section 8 Administrative
Plan.
The most significant change is preference points for very low-income (<30% AMI)
applicants have been eliminated. The effect of this amendment is to restrict the waiting
list only to new applicants who qualify for elderly, disabled, supported community living,
or local residence preference points. This means the waiting list has been closed to
non-residents who do not qualify according to any of these preferences.
This is consistent with recent changes that have increased the level of accountability
related to Section 8 housing. The most significant previous example was the City
Council's creation of a police corporal position that is assigned to the Housing
Department to investigate complaints related to Section 8 housing.
The City will continue to examine potential improvements to all housing programs.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
THE CITY OP DUIJUgU@
V ~ ~ All-America City
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2007
TO: Michael Var~~jlligen, City Manager
FROM: David ~rris, Housing and Community Development Department
SUBJECT: Section 8 Program Administrative Plan Amendments
DATE: 3 December 09
At its 24 November meeting, the Housing Commission approved the following
amendments to the Section 8 Administrative Plan:
1. Preference points for very low-income (<30% AMI) applicants have been
eliminated. The effect of this amendment is to restrict the waiting list only to new
applicants who qualify for elderly, disabled, supported community living, or local
residence preference points. This means the waiting list has been closed to non-
residents who do not qualify according to any of these preferences.
2. Causes for denial of application or termination of benefits have been expanded to
include behaviors other than assaultive ordrug-related charges or convictions.
Additional disqualifying behaviors include disturbance of the peace, disorderly
conduct, creating a public nuisance or interference with official acts.
3. Disqualification for the behavior of juveniles has been added. A juvenile
engaging in assaultive ordrug-related activity, public disturbances or disorderly
conduct will cause the applicant or participant family to be ineligible. Previously,
criminal acts committed by juveniles resulting in disqualification of the household
were limited to only those adjudicated through the filing of a petition under Iowa
Code 232.35
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
DATE: December 2, 2009
MEMORANDUM
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Terry Tobin, Acting Police Chief
RE: Housing Corporal case load distribution
In April 2008 a corporal position was created in the police department to provide
the Housing Division with a full time police officer to conduct investigations
regarding housing violations involving tenants or landlords and background
checks on people applying for housing assistance. The position was initially
staffed by Cpl. Pablo Ramirez through May 2009. Following the promotion of
Cpl. Ramirez to a lieutenant position, Cpl. Mike Kane moved into the housing
corporal position and currently staffs that position.
Since the implementation of the position in April 2008, the housing corporal has
been responsible for initiating 562 housing investigations. Of those 562
investigations, 236 involved misrepresentation of household composition. A
breakdown of the remaining investigations shows that
• 198 were criminal background checks,
• 54 were for drug and/or criminal activity,
• 51 involved verification of information listed on section 8
applications,
• 10 were investigations into participants receiving benefits in more
than one state,
• 7 were for participants being absent from the unit more than 30 days,
• 3 were for participants moving without permission,
• 2 were for participants not reporting income,
• 1 was for verification of a participant requesting to move.
Of the 562 investigations, 312 were for violations which could result in
termination of housing benefits. Of those 312 investigations, 171 did result in the
termination of benefits. Of those individuals who appealed their termination of
benefits, 17 were allowed to stay on the program. Of the remaining 141
investigations, 46 remain open with 95 being closed as unfounded, insufficient
evidence, withdrawal by the participant, or the subject of the complaint was not a
section 8 participant.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact me if you need clarification on
any of the case numbers detailed on the previous page.
cc: David Harris, Housing Division
Cpl. Mike Kane, Housing Corporal