Landlord Incentives for Accepting Housing Assistance Copyrig hted
March 24, 2021
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 2.
Special Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Landlord Incentives forAccepting Housing Assistance
SUMMARY: City Managertransmitting information regarding the release of new
programs to incentivize landlords to accept housing assistance.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Landlord I ncentives to Accept Housing Assistance- City Manager Memo
MVM Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Program Flyer Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Landlord Incentives for Accepting Housing Assistance
DATE: March 23, 2021
Housing and Community Development Director Alexis Steger is transmitting information
regarding the release of new programs to incentivize landlords to accept housing
assistance.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Alexis M. Steger, Housing and Community Development Director
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Alexis M. Steger, Housing and Community Development Director
DATE: March 22nd, 2021
RE: Landlord Incentives for Accepting Housing Assistance
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to provide City Council with information regarding the
release of new programs to incentivize landlords to accept housing assistance.
BACKGROUND
Since 2014, the City of Dubuque has been working towards greater landlord
acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers to create equitable choice in housing for
those receiving housing assistance. The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
Choice and the Equitable Poverty Reduction and Prevention Plan recommended
landlord incentives to try to increase acceptance, or to pass a Source of Income
ordinance to remove discrimination against those needing housing assistance.
DISCUSSION
The Housing & Community Development Department was awarded two rounds of
CARES Act funding to be used to help keep Section 8 programs running during the
pandemic. The funds were used to go paperless to ensure the program can
continue if employees were quarantined at home, and to support briefings and
meetings virtually.
As employees are starting to become vaccinated and the threat of any additional
funding to support administrative efforts to keep people housed, the remaining
funds will be used to help house those in need during the pandemic. One of the
approved uses for this funding is to create landlord incentive programs to
encourage the acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers.
The Housing & Community Development Department researched programs being
used by other cities across the nation and which were currently seen as the most
effective per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. After
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reviewing this information, it was determined that the City of Dubuque may benefit
from more than one landlord incentive program.
The first program is a new landlord signing bonus. This is available to landlords in
census tracts with low HCV acceptance that have not leased to a HCV participant
since January 1 , 2012, and successful lease an HCV participant.
The second program is a no-loss vacancy program. This is available to landlords in
census tracts with low HCV acceptance that have not leased to a HCV participant
since January 1 , 2012, and successfully lease an HCV participant. To qualify a
landlord must inform the Housing & Community Development Department of an
upcoming vacancy to advertise as a unit accepting Housing Choice Vouchers. Any
private advertising must state "accepting Housing Choice Vouchers" as well. Up to
one month of rent will be reimbursed to a landlord that holds a unit so that an
assisted client can lease up in that unit.
Both programs are available citywide to any units that have 3+ bedrooms and meet
the other requirements of the programs.
In addition to these programs, a damage reimbursement fund was created with
community partners, that will provide up to $2,500 per unit for a landlord that
accepts housing assistance and experiences damage to the unit in excess of the
required deposit. This is available to landlords in the County of Dubuque as well as
the City. The idea of this program is to incentivize landlords to accept housing
assistance at the time of greatest need for rapid re-housing of residents.
The Community Development Advisory Commission also recommended an Energy
Savers Program that provides assistance to landlords willing to accept Housing
Choice Vouchers and rent their unit at or below the Fair Market Rate for two years.
This assistance is to replace a water heater or the heat source that isn't efficient
and is over 10 years old, for one that is energy efficient. This program aims to
reduce the utility bills for low-moderate income tenants and reduce the carbon
footprint. This program is also available to homeowners that are low-moderate
income.
The State of lowa has also released $195 million in rent and utility assistance that is
accessible by the City of Dubuque residents.
All of these programs are providing incentives for landlords and tenants to help
recover from COVID-19 and increase acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers in
the community. They are being released April 1, 2021 and the attached flyer will be
mailed to all landlords prior to this date.
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RECOMMENDATION
I respectfully request City Council receive and file this document.
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The City of Dubuque offers exciting THE�ITYOF
new programs to help landlords
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and tenants in our community .
LANDLORD INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ,
Encouraging landlords who are not currently participating in
the City of Dubuque's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)
Program to form a new partnersh i p begi n n i ng Apri I 1 , 2021
First Time Unit Bonus
• Rental property in one of the • Rental units 3
Offering��,OOO pel' 11111f that has following census tracts*; bedroom or larger
notaccepted an HCV paymentsince g,01, 8.02, 9, 11.01, 12.04, in any census tract
January 1, 2012. 12.05, 101.01, 101.03, 101.04 in city limits
*To find out if your property is in one of the listed census tracts, visit
_ www.cityofdubuque.org/landlordincentives and click on "Census Tracts Map"
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N�-loss Vacant Unit Bonus For both incentives listed, the landlord must inform the
Housing & Community Development Department when a unit is
Up to one month's worth of rent paid to the vacant for it to be placed on vacant unit listing and advertise
landlord to keep a unit vacant to allow for the unit as HCV accepted. Add available units to the vacant unit
HCV tenant to lease up, list any time at www.cityofdubuque.org/vacantunitlistingform
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DAMAGE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM �
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Upto $2,500 perunitfordamage reimbursement
that exceeds the paid deposit on assisted units that have
signed lease on or after April 1 , 2021 .
Contact Gaining Opportunities at 563-580-8661 or go@cityofdubuque.org,
or visit www.cityofdubuque.org/landlordincentives
HEAT SOURCE & WATER HEATER
REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
Providing material cost reimbursements to upgrade to an energy efficient
furnace/heat source and/or water heater for properties in Dubuque city limits.
Up to $3,500 for heating sources and $1,500 for water heaters
Eligibility requirements:
• Offered to owners and tenants that income • Current heat source or water heater is electric
qualify and have a heating source or water resistance or 80% conventional open
heater that is 10 years or older needing combustion.
replacement.
• Occupants willing to sign release of
• Unit must be generally code compliant (pass information for energy consumption (Alliant
visual risk assessment for lead hazards and if Energy and Black Hills Energy) dating 24
a rental property, has passed inspection in the months back and 24 months forward.
last 2 years).
Call 563-589-4239 or visit www.cityofdubuque.org/landlordincentives
Do you have tenants struggling to make rent or
utility payments due to COVID-19 impacts?
/ The lowa Finance Authorities (IFA) is offering help for past due rent and utilities.
� - Payments are made directly to landlords and utility companies.
� / Direct your tenants to the application available online at IowaHousingRecovery.com
� _ / or by phone at 515-348-8813 or 855-300-5885.
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� � � www,cityofdubuque,org/landlords // 563-589-4231
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