Minutes_Housing Commission 12 4 12MINUTES OF HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING
DATE: 4 December 2012
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: Housing and Community Development Department
350 West 6th Street, Suite 312, Dubuque, IA 52001
Chairperson Holz, following staff assurance of compliance with Iowa Open Meeting Law, called the
meeting to order at 4:00 pm.
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Staff Present:
Public Present:
Dorothy Schwendinger, OSF
Jim Holz Patricia Foster
Amy Eudaley Judie Root
Anna Fernandes
Lisa McAllister
Ricardo Woods
Alvin Nash
Janet Walker
Teresa Drury
Alex Kornya
Dorothy Culbertson
Rick Baumhover
Cpl. Scott Koch
Jessica Kieffer
Michael Van Milligan
Review and Certification of Minutes of 23 October 2012 Conunission Meeting
Commissioner Root moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Eudaley seconded.
Commissioner Foster abstained. All others present in favor. Motion passed.
Correspondence /Public Input
None
Old Business
Discuss Dubuque at Home
Alvin reminded Commissioners the Housing and Community Development Department will be
presented in the upcoming addition of the City Focus Magazine.
New Business
Discussion of Assessment letter from HUD concerning Section 8 issues
Annually staff performs a quality control of case files, waiting list and inspections to ensure that
we're consistent and meeting administrative policies and HUD Regulations, to comply with the
SEMAP Assessment. HUD utilizes this tool to measure the Housing Authority's performance.
Action needed in response to HUD Assessment report
Historically the Housing Authority received a rating from HUD of 100 %. In 2012 the
Housing Authority received a score of 86 %, the overall performance rating being
withheld based on indication of non - compliance with program requirements. Alvin
explained HUD has requested corrective action on three issues:
1. Admission to a program may not be based on where the family lives before
admission to the program. Alvin explained the findings deemed non - compliant by
HUD were based on an interpretation that applicable regulations allowed local
preference points to give local residents an opportunity to benefit from the
program. Corrective action: we will no longer assign local preference points for
residency. Preference points will be assigned in a cumulative, non - discriminatory
manor that provides an equal opportunity for all applicants. Applicants on the
waiting list will be evaluated on the cumulative value of the preference points and
then the date and time the application was submitted.
2. Elimination of the very low income preference point allotment. Corrective action:
preference points will be awarded to applicants earning or receiving an extremely
low income. Extremely low income is defined as 30% or below of area median
income.
3. Failure to fully subscribe participants in the program through inadequate lease up
efforts. Previously City Council and the City Manager recommended to reduce
the program from 1063 vouchers to 900 vouchers with the intention of providing
staff the tools to better manage the program, their case load and provide clients
with quality service and assist them in enhancing and enriching their lives. Since
the reduction of vouchers the Family Self Sufficiency program has increased to
125 participants, requiring three coordinators instead of one coordinator, the
Circles Initiative has been implemented and the Resident Advisory Board has
grown with some very enthusiastic participants. The reduction of vouchers
allowed changed to run the program more efficiently and to further support
program activities. Corrective action: The City of Dubuque will issue all of the
1,063 authorized vouchers. Staff predicts it may take approximately two years to
expand from the current average of 850 vouchers to 1,063 vouchers based on
budget allocations, staffing and administrative needs.
Approve changes to Section 8 Administrative Plan
Janet explained the changes to the Administrative Plan to the Commissioners. These
changes include the removal of the residency preference points and addition of preference
points for very low income applicants, transitional housing and permanent supportive
housing programs.
Approval of Corrective Action Plan
Commissioner Root motioned to approve the changes to the Section 8 Administrative
Plan and approval of the Corrective Action Plan submitted to HUD. Commissioner
Eudaley seconded. All present in favor. Motion approved.
Memo to City Manager on the Housing recommendations from the Safe Community
Advisory Committee
Commissioners received a summary of Housing recommendations from the Safe Community
Advisory Committee and program update.
Set Subconunittee date to review Section 8 overall Administrative Plan
Alvin and the Commissioners discussed reviewing the entire Administrative Plan. It was decided
that staff will come up with recommendations and give to the Commission for review at the next
scheduled meeting. Commissioners will also bring their recommendations to the meeting for
discussion. Alex Kornya from Iowa Legal Aid commented that a previous verbal invitation was
extended to Legal Aid staff to provide feedback on the Administrative Plan. Alex stated Legal
Aid policies require a written invitation be extended in order for their staff to provide their input.
Information Sharing
Complaints Received
Commissioners received a summary of the complaints the Housing Department has received
since the last meeting.
Updated on Budget Process
It was discussed that staff is in the process of preparing information for the FY2014 budget. The
budget hearing is scheduled for February.
Adiournment
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 5:19
pm.
Minutes taken by:
Jessica Kieffer
Recording Secretary
Respectfully submitted by:
Alvin Nash
Department Director