FY1999 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
October 27, 1999
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Annual Performance Report
Housing Services Manager David Harris has submitted the attached Fiscal Year
1 999 annual report of the Housing Services DeA7Jk:~~k
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/j
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing Services Manager
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM fV\' A~\;\~()
to "'
22 October 99
To: Mike ~\\Milligen, City Manager
From: David Harris, Housing Services Department
Re: Annual Performance Report
As you now, our annual performance report is now made part of the CAPER ( Consolidated
Annual Performance and Evaluation Report) submitted by the Community Development
Department to HUD. No separate Council action is needed for approval of the Housing
Department's evaluation. As a result, we don't have as much an opportunity to "tell our story" as
in years past. I think our last year performance is a story worth telling.
In retrospect, this summary report shows a record of meaningfully impacting the quality of life for
hundreds of Dubuque households and of establishing and maintaining a broad network of
partnerships and connections with many other agencies throughout the community in delivering
services. I feel that our record shows that Housing is continuously improving its operations,
refining ways of responding to citizen needs and leveraging resources to accomplish our mission.
I hope from your reading of this you'll agree. Our goal at Housing is always to be raising our
standard of performance. We want to be the standard bearer for the City.
My thanks to you and other department heads and staff who provide us the support needed to
continue this high level of service delivery.
cc:
Tim Moerman
Jim Burke
Laura Carstens
Mary Rose Corrigan
Rich Russell
John Mauss
Kelly Larson
GiI Spence
Barry Lindahl
Scott Neyens
Housing Services Department
Accomplishments - FY 99
Rehabilitation Activity
The Department received another $220 000 HOME Program award from the Iowa Department of
Economic Development - the second grant awarded by IDEO to Dubuque in the past two years.
These funds are used for extensive rehabilitation of rental properties for low-income tenants.
Approximately $225000 was expended during FY99, including nearly $150 000 in private
matching funds.
A $350 000 grant was received from the Des Moines Federal Home Loan Bank, for assistance to
very low-income homebuyers. This program was co-sponsored with the Housing Department by
six area lending institutions and was very well received by the lending and real estate
communities. Within six months, 38 loans had closed, with more than $1.6 million in private
lender funds committed.
A second application was submitted, in October 99, to the Federal Home Loan Bank for a
continuation of this program, named "PATH: Pathways Available To Homeownership," in the
amount of $225000.
The First Time Homebuyer Program - using City CDBG funds for purchase assistance to
moderate-income buyers - provided $140 000 in City financing, matched by $1.5 million in private
funds, for purchase of 30 homes.
Using grant funds received from the Department of Development's (IDEO) Local Housing
Assistance Program, additional home purchase assistance was provided to 4 households
earning up to 100% of area median income. The Housing Department sponsored this application
to encourage families with higher incomes to purchase homes in selected downtown and near-
downtown neighborhoods. Total City and private investment exceeded $250000.
Total private investment match for all homebuyer programs - from buyer families, the Federal
Home Loan Bank, state funds and area lenders - equaled approximately $3.5 million.
The Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program committed more than $330 000 for rehab of
homes occupied by low- and moderate-income families; 34 homes were completed.
Another application for Local Housing Assistance Program (LHAP) funds was submitted,
sponsored by the Housing Trust Fund Committee, in the amount of $500 000. This award, if
received, will fund two high-priority projects: a transitional housing shelter for women and
children; and a replacement single room occupancy (SRO) facility, for both men and women. A
"pre-application" was approved by IDEO and the City was notified to proceed on a final
application due in November 99.
The Trust Fund Committee awarded $100 000 to Heartland Housing Initiative, toward a total
project cost of $700 000, to purchase and rehabilitate 17 rental units at four locations.
Housing Department staff facilitated transfer of partners within the ownership structure of the
Bishop's Block apartments, to Mercy Housing Inc. Mercy is the parent corporation of Heartland
Housing Initiative. Management of the Bishop's Block was SUbsequently transferred to Heartland
Housing, providing additional income for Heartland to continue its mission of providing tenant-
supportive services to lower-income Dubuque rental households.
A third annual City-wide rental unit survey was completed, under contract to the Loras College
Center for Business and Social Research.
Housing staff worked with the Intercongregational Housing Project toward successful
establishment of Opening Doors Inc. This new non-profit will develop Maria House, a transitional
housing facility to be located in the former St Mary's Convent.
A second application was submitted to the Iowa Finance Authority for a $3.4 million renovation of
the former Iowa Inn into an affordable rental housing project. Staff worked with the Iowa Housing
Corporation - owner of the Inn - to modify the application, with the goal of obtaining housing tax
credits to assist in financing. Notification of this award is expected in November 99.
An application was submitted by the Housing Department, to HUD, for "consortium" status under
the HOME Program. The proposed consortium will include Dubuque County and twelve small
cities within the County, for purposes of receiving the HOME funds as an entitlement jurisdiction.
If successful, this will result in upwards of $400000 additionally available to the Housing
Department for its programs of housing improvement, development and home purchase
assistance. Notification of this award is expected in early 2000.
Total City investment in housing programs for Fiscal Year 99 exceeded $4 million, matched by
more than $4.2 in private matching funds. Over $8 million was invested in Dubuque in support of
affordable housing efforts for more than 200 home and apartment improvement projects and
rental assistance for more than 1000 households.
Section 8 Rental Assistance Activity
A sixth-year HUD grant to fund the Family Self-Sufficiency Program was received, in the amount
of $29 750. The Housing Department utilizes these funds to contract with Alternative Services
Inc for administration of case management services to the 45 participating Program families. All
heads of household are required to be enrolled in schooling or be employed. Eight families
graduated; 60 families received supportive services during the year.
A $350 000 Mainstream Program grant was received from HUD, to provide rental assistance to
40 disabled Section 8 Program households. This application was co-sponsored by Area
Residential Care and Hills and Dales. The 40 housing vouchers are the first Dubuque has
received since 1993, due to HUD funding cutbacks and national competition for awards.
972 families are now receiving Section 8 rental assistance. Area landlords receive HUD funds
administered through the Housing Department totaling almost $3 million annually to subsidize the
rents of these very low-income tenants.
General Housing Activity
The General Housing Activity includes housing code enforcement in the City's 7400 rental units
and all activities under the Housing Department's programs to reduce lead paint hazards. A fifth-
year grant was received from the Iowa Department of Public Health, in the amount of $23000,
to continue the Childhood Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Program. This is operated in
partnership with the Visiting Nurses Association and the Health Services Department.
As part of continuous code enforcement activities, 3240 units were inspected during FY99. 7200
inspections were performed; this number includes initial visits, re-inspections and complaint
inspections. 10 600 violation notices were sent to owners; 10 100 violations were corrected.
. <
The Housing Department was approved as a certified training provider by the Department of
Public Health, to conduct State-required training of all lead paint abatement contractors and
workers.
To continue the programs of lead hazard reduction activities, Housing staff submitted two
applications to HUD for additional funding, in the amount of $7 million. Notification of these
awards, made in national competition, will be announced in early 2000.
Other Activities
The Housing Sevices Department hosted the Spring 99 Iowa National Association of Housing
and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) conference in Dubuque. This successful conference was
attended by more than 140 persons and served to highlight many of our area housing and
community development activities and initiatives.
The Department received an Iowa NAHRO President's Award, presented in recognition of the
DREAMS Program, which to-date has converted 24 abandoned and derelect houses into homes
for first-time buyer families; and the accomplishments of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction
Program.
A six-month customer services survey and research project was sponsored by the Housing
Department, culminating in a two-day Housing Summit attended by 80 persons in February. An
"appreciative inquiry" approach was used to interview more than 200 stakeholders throughout the
community, engaging them in a dialogue about how to improve Department operations and to
better deliver services. This process was recognized by HUD with a "Best Practices" award in
FY99.
Coupled with this emphasis on customer service was a response to area landlords regarding the
Housing Department's program of code enforcement in rental properties. A series of meetings
was held with a group of property owners; input was also received from neighborhood
associations, the Board of Realtors, the Housing Code Appeals Board and Housing
Commission. This process produced a Department response plan for more than 30 policy and
procedure changes in operations, as well as a comprehensive package of housing code
amendments.
Planned Initiatives - FYOO-01
Organize the Dubuque/Dubuque County HOME Consortium and implement an entitlement
program promoting affordable housing initiatives, supported with a $500-700 000 annual
allocation.
Implement a second-year PATH homebuyer assistance program, with a grant received from the
Des Moines Federal Home Loan Bank, in the amount of $225 000.
Issue a request-for-proposals, from the Housing Trust Fund Committee, for projects providing
transitional housing and single room occupancy (SRO) housing; fund these with a grant received
from IDEO's Local Housing Assistance Program, in the amount of $500 000.
Hold a three-day Future Search Conference, as a follow-up to the 1999 Housing Summit. This
conference will be structured to design a comprehensive housing and community development
strategy, to be incorporated in the FY2000-2005 Consolidated Plan required by HUD. A planning
committee began work on this project in late 1999, with the conference date set for February
2000. A $13 000 grant for consultant services has been received to help with expenses, donated
by the Iowa Housing Corporation. The Housing Department is partnering with the Community
. ' '
Development Department in organizing this ambitious community planning effort.
Provide over $700 000 in City assistance toward successful conversion of the Iowa Inn to Stout
Place Apartments, as part of a $3.4 million project, resulting in 32 affordable rental units and
restoration of an historically significant downtown building.
Request a 12-month extension from HUD to continue activities under the 1997 Lead-Based Paint
Hazard Reduction Program. This grant, in the original amount of $3.69 million, will have a
sufficient remaining balance at the end of the 3-year term to remain in operation for an additional
year.
A regional conference will be co-sponsored by the Housing and Health Departments to promote
lead hazard awareness and to share experiences of other programs in Iowa and other
midwestem states.
Implement a second Hazard Reduction Program, beginning in late FY01, with a grant received
from HUD in the requested amount of $4.005 million. Also to be implemented is a "Healthy
Homes Initiative," with another HUD grant requested in the amount of $3 million. This Initiative
will emphasize owner and tenant responsibilities in maintaining healthy living environments.
Organize another "consortium," this one to plan a community response to the needs of homeless
and special needs persons. This consortium will include all area agency providers of services to
these populations. Once organized, the consortium, under the leadership of the Housing
Services Department, will be eligible to apply in national competition for available entitlement
awards under HUD's "Continuum of Care" funding.