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Handouts Mailed with Rental Inspection Applications Copyrighted April 2, 2018 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 4. ITEM TITLE: Handouts Mailed with Rental Inspection Applications SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting copies of information Dubuque's Housing Choice Voucher Program and Livable Neighborhoods and Housing that will be sent out with Rental I nspection Applications. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Livable Neighborhoods and Housing Supporting Documentation Housing Choice Voucher Information Supporting Documentation �� l � - ����� � �`I . •� . .G-�' `��'- � � _ , j..� ,;�,.s •. _ ;� � � ,�, f- ' 1 � i i � ' � � � _ � � �: , !� � � �-' � � � � � �� � r _ ./� IM . I I . 1� - � fr� � . �. �i�t�. .�" � ! ^' l I.- ' ��d . �•- �^ � �� " �./ ' -/ .. . ' ' i � ��] � / � ./�� � �'� ���1"6S' ,. �+/��� l'� �// �.':� The City of Dubuque uses a coordinated, interdepartmental approach to implement and pursue policies set forth by the Dubuque City Council to promote and maintain its five- year goal of livable neighborhoods and housing. Quality, affordable housing for renters and homeowners is critical to the success of the community because it has direct and significant effects on public health, economic vitality, and equity. EXPECTATIONS FOR SAFETY AND EQUITY The City of Dubuque has established clear expectations and The City of Dubuque's approach to enhanced neighborhood responsibilities for homeowners and housing providers and support seeks to address common neighborhood problems their tenants with the expectation that, whenever possible, City such as crime, nuisances, and problem properties. The City's staff will hold responsible parties accountable for violations. Intemal Working Group, coordinated by the Police Department, When homeowners, housing providers, and their tenants accept meets monthly to problem-solve neighborhood issues across 12 responsibility and are accountable, they make better neighbors and departments. Small work groups coordinate joint inspections and contribute to the quality of life in their neighborhoods and community. enforcement actions. City staff collaborate across departments using technology to The City of Dubuque has delivered successful outcomes related to coordinate efforts, record inspections, respond to citizen complaints, livable, equitable, and safe neighborhoods by collaborating and and gather data. gathering information from partners including: • Quarterly meetings with representatives of all neighborhood Residents and stakeholders can conveniently associations and City staff attendance at neighborhood report concems online or submit non-emergency association meetings service requests through the Citizen Support ^ . City staff ineeting monthly with Dubuque Area Landlords Center on the City website (www.cityofdubuque. �� ��> Association representatives org/citizensupport) or through MyDB4, � h�"°O` the City's free mobile device app, available � • Monthly meetings between City staff and the Dubuque in the App Store and Google Play or www. Renters' Union cityofdubuque.org/MyDBQ. Each request is • The Dubuque Police DepartmenYs Community Oriented routed to the appropriate City department -- Policing division's (the primary department contact for any through citizen-response management landlord/tenant issues) utilization of partnerships and long- software, allowing staff to share inspection , ,f�`s�y y term problem solving to resolve issues around neighborhood reports, photos, and other information to �' ' `V` livability. coordinate code enforcement. Residents . Housing and Community Development Department staff's may also submit requests for service or monthly meetings with the Housing Choice Voucher Program's report concems in person, by phone, mail, �— or email. Resident Advisory Board . \ ..; �j � ._� .. o.�.,..�o " ., . � __ � es' EXPECTATIONS FOR SAFETY AND EQUITY (CONTJ ,_.�<��"'�� ', m�" ,!. ���. ,_1�..:��...p.o`� ,� ' � �� ����� The Fair Housing Act protects people from � T A�� discrimination in renting, buying, or financing ��TT Av housing. Discrimination is prohibited based on EQUALHOUSING � 1\� OPPORTUNITV membership in the following protected classes: race, � color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and the presence of children (familial status). The Fair HousingAct also imposes �,�oe.���" � a duty on local govemments to affirmatively further fair housing ,�uz�`�"�� (AFFH).The AFFH rule requires the City to take meaningful actions �,.�� '" .�,K ,�.,�.aa.� to overcome historic pattems of segregation, promote fair housing choice, and foster inclusive communities free from discrimination. www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp The goal of the City of Dubuque's Housing Choice Voucher Program is to assure decent, safe, and sanitary housing at an affordable Every rental unit in the City of Dubuque is required to be licensed. cost to low-income families and individuals.To accomplish this, Licenses are issued upon application following an inspection and program regulations set forth basic housing quality standards, intemal review to verify that the property is in compliance with consistent with the locally adopted property maintenance code, housing, building, fire, and zoning regulations. Rental Licenses are Which all units must meet before assistance can be paid.The City renewed annually and fees are charged to cover the cost of rental of Dubuque conducts three types of inspection for the Housing licensing and inspection service delivery. Choice Voucher Program, including: Rental properties operating without a license will be cited with : Initial inspections (prior to occupancy or assistance) Biennial inspections (required to be completed every two years a municipal infraction, which includes penalties of up to $750. after the initiaq Non-licensed rental units are often found to have significant code . Special inspections (includes complaint and quality control violations, including unsafe conditions for the occupants and inspections) nuisance related violations,which detract from the neighborhood. N,N,N,.cityofdubuque.org/hcv www.cityofdubuque.org/rentallicensing �L REn � � r� Qc Rental property owners are required � Through increased enforcement and higher standards for to attend the Successful Rental safety and maintenance as defined in the International Property Property Management training Maintenance Code adopted in 2016, the City is working with program one time within one year of property owners to improve the quality of housing stock in applying for a rental license. The Dubuque.The property maintenance code applies to all property training is offered at Northeast types and is primarily used by the City's Housing and Community lowa Community College twice a rental property management Development Department for rental licensing inspections and year. Sessions help to ensure that housing providers are informed housing complaint inspections.The City's Building Services regarding legal, technical, and equitable property management Department also utilizes the code for vacant and abandoned and promote successful business practices and good tenant, property inspections.The code provides a standard for property landlord, and neighbor relations. More than 1,800 property maintenance and establishes minimum requirements for light, owners have participated in the class since 2012. ventilation, and occupancy limitations; plumbing facilities and www.cityofdubuque.org/srpm fixture requirements; mechanical and electrical requirements; and fire safety requirements in existing structures and properties. www.cityofdubuque.or�pmc Since luly 2012, all rental property owners are required to conduct a background check on prospective tenants before renting to them. The Dubuque Police Department has averaged 6,206 background In 2018, the Housing and Community Development Department will checks per year at an average cost of$40,493 per year to provide implement a new three-tiered inspection policy based on categories this service at no cost to housing providers. Through this mandatory of operation or management of rental properties.The new policy process, the City is assisting rental property owners in making will allow inspection staff to increase resources focused on problem informed decisions on prospective tenants. (To date, the City has and nuisance properties. An additional Rental Housing Inspector paid nearly$243,000 to provide this service and over 37,000 position will be added to City staff in fiscal year 2019 to support background checks have been conducted.) these efforts. www.cityofdubuque.org/rentallicensing NrNrNr.cityofdubuque.org/tenantscreening 1 ' � 1 1 � The City of Dubuque's approach to code enforcement, nuisance properties, and resident complaints is to address the issue and improve the quality of life in our community. Enforcement activities can range from informal discussions with property owners and/or tenants up to municipal infractions with fines being issued through the court system. Inspection Reports Fire Escape Inspections Housing inspectors generate inspection reports that document Fire escapes on existing buildings must be inspected to ensure any code violations found to exist at the time of a scheduled the safety of occupants and firefighters.The 2015 Intemational inspection. The inspection reports include orders to correct the Fire Code requires fire escapes be inspected by an approved, violations and a reinspection date/time. Inspectors are able registered, design professional every five years. All inspection to work with property owners and may grant extensions to the service providers who inspect or test fire escapes within the deadlines for repairs in some instances when violations do not Dubuque Fire DepartmenYs jurisdiction are required to register directly impact life safety. and submit all test, inspection, and service reports to the Fire Department. The City's Economic Development Downtown PoGCe NotlflCatlons to Housing Pfovldefs Rehabilitation Facade Grant may be utilized to offset the cost Since December 2009, the Dubuque Police Department has sent of restoring fire escape deficiencies. informational letters to rental property owners after a police call to the property. Since the program began, the department has Petition Properties sent nearly 22,000 letters to rental property owners.This includes The City of Dubuque uses multiple tools to identiTy and 2,160 letters sent in 2017, or over 40 letters each week.This tracWmonitor vacant and abandoned properties and,where process allows police to keep property owners informed about appropriate, the City petitions for titles to abandoned events on their properties that they may otherwise not be aware properties. Since 2014, 10 properties have been awarded to the of, and take proper corrective actions on issues. City.The reuse of these properties has included rehabilitation, deconstruction, and creation of a park. . � --�e�'. , - __ ,.� �. � .� ... _ n,=,� � �., � �t:a", y � . � � ^ - < _ . � / � x� N� � - 4 __ 1 -� .1 t . G -.9 ���:.. '] ,a4 - } _ �.A�. �� / / 1 1 ' / . : � ... ..- � - . .v __, .. �� ". . �-:.��.=�-���-�^J�= �•. A.. _ . . . .��,..�-�A� - �i4�s�..=� .� . �. . -- The City of Dubuque wants housing providers to be successful in their efforts to provide safe and quality housing. In addition to housing providers, the City works with a variety of partners in the private sector, neighborhood organizations, not-for-profits, and social and human service organizations to build a stronger and more resilient Dubuque. The City offers several programs to assist rental property owners • Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program:This program is in maintaining and improving their properties: currently under development. • Lead and Healthy Homes Program: Forgivable loans provide . pccessibility Rehabilitation Program: Loans are available financial assistance to remove lead hazards and limited for the purpose of accommodating tenants/renters with health and safety deficiencies. physical disabilities. • Bee Branch Healthy Homes Resiliency Program: Forgivable . Emergency Repair Program:The focus of this program loans can be utilized by rental property owners to help is to encourage quick repair of rental properties to avoid recover from a significant rain event and be more resilient in displaced tenants. potential future weather disasters. � � ■ ■ ■ ■ � � hment ��`""'�' � ,.�. . The CHANGE Initiative is a campaign of neighborhood �� revitalization and an extension of sustainability to specifically address marginal properties, affordable housing, and homeownership. Intended outcomes of the program include: � increased flood protection; increased home ownership; deconcentration of low-income housing; reduction in number of I � I households in poverty; reduction in number of blighted properties; stabilization and increase of property values; increase in quality, . � . ' � � � � � � affordable housing stock; reduction in lead hazards; greater ', 1� � 1 � � landlord and tenant responsibility; and an increase in first-time homeowners. www.cityofdubuque.org/dbqchange � , , ; , � , � , � , �� • Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque � . . � � • Community Housing Initiatives, Inc. , . , � • Dubuque Community School District • Dubuque Dream Center '�: � � • Dubuque Initiatives • Dubuque Main Street • Dubuque Racing Association ' ' � � • ' • ' � ' � � ' • Dubuque's True North Corporation �, � � �� • East Central Intergovernmental Association • Fountain of Youth • Four Mounds HEART Program • Greater Dubuque Development Corporation I � I i . • Habitat for Humanity, Inc. ', � � � � . . , , . . � � • Heritage Works Dubuque • lowa Department of Transportation � � � ' � ' � � � � � • Multicultural Family Center � � • Northeast lowa Community College (NICC) - • Opportunity Dubuque • Private developers & general contractors • Steeple Square • St. Mark Youth Enrichment • True North Development Corporation � • Visiting Nurses Association _ t,; ________ _________ _______ ________ ._ .ti For additional information on City of Dubuque resources for housing providers� .�ECITYOF call the City of Dubuque Housing & Community Development Department at DUB E 563-589-4231 or visit www.cityofdubuque.org/landlords. M�te ieceon theMississi � Re�aiaaa �P PP THE CITY OF DuB E ' ' '� ' . i . . i i . Masterpiece on the Mississippi � : � � � � . . . � . � � '� � � . � i � � � . � � 1 i 1 1 I i i • i � i i i • i , i . • i i � i i ' i � i i i i • i • , i i i i � i i • i 1 i i , i i i , The City of Dubuque seeks to increase the number of housing providers pandlords) that participate in Dubuque's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. Being an HCV housing provider offers significant benefits and can also give you the satisfaction of making it possible for low- • Housing Choice Voucher rent income individuals and families to enjoy decent, safe, and sanitary payments are deposited directly into housing. More than half of all Dubuque HCV residents are elderly and/ the landlord's account. or disabled. • You screen and select your own tenants. The City may be able to Making sure everyone has a decent place to live is an important priority provide you with helpful tenant for the City of Dubuque. Dubuque's rental assistance programs are background information. designed so most participating households pay about 30% of their . You use your own lease and tenant monthly adjusted income towards their rent, keeping housing affordable. rules. Why is affordable housing important? When people have a safe, affordable place to live, they are able to reach their full potential. • You set your own rent! The Housing Choice Voucher can even pay a little WHAT IS THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM? more tor rent in certain areas oithe city. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is the federal government's • YoU may fent t0 as many Of as feW major program to assist families and individuals in finding decent, safe, and HOUsing Ch01Ce VOUChef fesldents as affordable housing in the private sector. Since housing assistance is provided y0U ChOose. on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, induding single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. The HCV • YoU manage the pfOpelty aCCOfding Program promotes fair, equitable housing by allowing voucher recipients more t0 IOWa LandlOfd/Tenant LaW. NOne choices for qualify, safe, affordable housing. Of yOUf flghts as a landlOfd Change because of Housing Choice Voucher Dubuque's Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded program OCCUpanCy. administered by the City of Dubuque Housing and Community Development Department and is designed to assist lower-income households with their • The Clty Of DUbUqUe Offefs ffee monthly rental payments. Voucher recipients choose their own units on the adVeltlsing Of VaCant HCV Units. open market and they normally pay 30-40% of their income towards rent and • Thefe IS n0 InSpeCtlOn fee fOf Units utilities. The remainder of the rent is paid directly to the landlord by the City of InSpeCted fOf HCV paltlClpatlOn Dubuque Housing and Community Development Department. and the HCV InSpeCtlOns meet the Many low-income households in our community rely on housing providers who requirementsforthe rental licensing are willing to participate in the program. The subsidy paid on behalf of the InSpeCtlOn. resident helps households to rent in many different neighborhoods in Dubuque. ► � .►� ' � � � - - • • � � • � �� P � - � � / 1 � � 1 � 1 � �' • / , � � � If you have a vacant unit to rent, consider advertising � �� �` "Housing Vouchers Welcome" or "will accept Housing -�� Vouchers." You can list your vacant units with the `•[•�, City for free! You still have all rights to select or deny � = the applicant for your housing unit based on your own ���� _ criteria. As you probably know, housing providers are required to conduct a background check on prospective tenants before renting to them, through this program or otherwise. Upon request, the City can provide you with � _ some helpful information about tenant background/ `�' i history. Once you have selected your tenant, the HCV :�\1`'� ( participant will have a "Request for Tenancy Approval" ' � .�.: packet for you to complete the necessary forms. When r — the forms are returned to our office, along with the lease � � �� � �' (leaving only the dates blank), City staff will contact you � i � .,� � to schedule an initial inspection to ensure that it meets , basic housing code. � ��� Once the unit passes inspection, and the lease and � contract are completed, the housing provider will � start to receive payments on behalf of the resident on the date agreed upon by all parties. The lease is an agreement between the resident and the housing provider for a one-year period. The contract is an agreement between the housing provider and the City � � � '! of Dubuque Housing and Community Development �`, � ` Department. The resident is responsible for the payment � It ,`, , of the security deposit directly to the housing provider. ` '�""' The amount of the security deposit should be the same ;� as what you charge other non-assisted tenants. -��i=: �� �. ���1 1 •� � '�. \ \\�� ��' ,: � `\�. � �F • . � � • � - . 1 � � • • • • ' • • - • � � � - • • • • • 1 � � • ' � • � " " • � � " � • • � � � � EQUAL HOUSING � � , � � � � � _ � , OPPORTUNITY 1 / I " . I I 1 . . I 1 1 � .