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Legal Aid Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Letters of Support Copyright 2014 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 6. ITEM TITLE: Legal Aid Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Letters of Support SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of letters of support from the Human Rights Department and the Housing & Community Development Department to support Iowa Legal Aid's Fair Housing Initiative Program with planning and implementing local fair housing outreach events over the next year and distributing fair housing materials created by Legal Aid. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Letters of Support for Legal Aid Fair Housing Initiati e- City Manager Memo MVM Memo Letter of Commitment for Legal Aid Staff Memo Staff Memo Human Rights Letter of Support Supporting Documentation Housing Letter of Support Supporting Documentation THE CITY OF Dubuque UBE I erica .i Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Letters of Support for Legal Aid's Fair Housing Initiative Program Grant Application DATE: June 23, 2016 Human Rights Director Kelly Larson and Housing & Community Development Department Director Alvin Nash recommend City Council approval of letters of support from the Human Rights Department and the Housing & Community Development Department to support Iowa Legal Aid's Fair Housing Initiative Program with planning and implementing local fair housing outreach events over the next year and distributing fair housing materials created by Legal Aid. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director Alvin Nash, Housing & Community Development Department Director THE CITY OF Dubuque DUB E N'�Amity 11 en I I. Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007•2012•20]3 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director Alvin Nash, Housing & Community Development Director DATE: June 22, 2016 RE: Letters of Support for Legal Aid's Fair Housing Initiative Program Grant Application The purpose of this memorandum is to forward for your approval letters from the City of Dubuque Human Rights Department and Housing and Community Development Department supporting Iowa Legal Aid's Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP) grant application. Background On March 27, 2015, the City of Dubuque submitted our Fair Housing Action plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in accord with the requirements of our Voluntary Compliance Agreement. Actions under the action plan included offering to assist Legal Aid in establishing a testing program or seeking a FHIP grant, as well as taking steps to increase the ease of access to information on filing housing discrimination complaints. On May 27, 2016, Todd Schmidt, Staff Attorney for Iowa Legal Aid in Dubuque, contacted Human Rights Director Kelly Larson seeking data on fair housing complaints in Dubuque. Mr. Schmidt was request the data because Iowa Legal Aid was applying for the FHIP education and outreach initiative. Mr. Schmidt indicated that if Iowa Legal Aid is successful, they may apply for private enforcement initiative in future years and develop a testing program. Kelly provided Mr. Schmidt the data requested and, on June 10, she received a request for a letter of support. Housing Director Alvin Nash also received such a request. These letters are due to Legal Aid by no later than June 22, so we are submitting them contingent on your approval and/or the approval of the City Council. If not approved, we will withdraw the letters of support. Discussion The attached letters of support commit staff from the Housing and Human Rights Departments to support Legal Aid with planning and implementing local fair housing outreach events over the next year, and distributing fair housing materials created by Legal Aid. Partnering with another organization to conduct fair housing outreach will reduce the burden on City staff to provide this outreach, allowing more staff time to focus on structural issues related to fair and affordable housing. In addition, staff is committing to work with Legal Aid to establish a protocol for referrals for anyone needing legal advice/assistance regarding concerns or claims of fair housing violations. It is not unusual for people contacting the Human Rights Department to be seeking legal advice, which we are unable to provide. The most that we can do is provide information on the basics of the law and the complaint process. Legal Aid, in contrast, can review a complainant's information and provide legal advice on whether and how to proceed discussing, for example, the pros, cons, and risks of taking legal action and the likelihood of success. We recommend proceeding with this partnership with Legal Aid, as it will directly support the City's efforts to affirmatively further fair housing by addressing needs identified in the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing and the Fair Housing Action Plan that we submitted to HUD. Budget Impact The budget impact is all through in-kind staffing, space, and materials support. It is estimated to be in the amount of$14,500 from the Housing Department and $2,500 from the Human Rights Department. Action Requested The requested action is that you approve our departments providing the support indicated in the letters. 2 Dubuque Human Rights Deputment THE CITY OF �.,� 1300 Main Street Y� Dubuque,IA 52001 DUB Office(563)589-4190 190 Fax(563)690-6691 TTY(563)589-4193 Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2N7.2012•zo13 humanrgts@cityofdubuque.org www.cityofdubuque.org June 22, 2016 John Gianola, Managing Attorney Iowa Legal Aid 1700 S. First Avenue,Ste. 10 Eastdale Plaza Iowa City, IA 52240 RE: Letter of Firm Commitment for Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP)application Dear Mr. Gianola: On behalf of the City of Dubuque's Human Rights Department, I am pleased to support Iowa Legal Aid's Fair Housing Initiatives Program application to provide fair housing services in our community. The Department of Human Rights helps to enforce civil rights laws in the local community.The Department has enjoyed a good relationship with Iowa Legal Aid in collaborating and partnering to serve individuals and families in the community. Our agency will commit to work with Iowa Legal Aid to provide fair housing outreach in Dubuque. We will commit to working with Iowa Legal Aid to support fair housing outreach events, distribute fair housing informational materials supplied by Iowa Legal Aid to individuals who contact our office,and provide referrals to Iowa Legal Aid for unrepresented fair housing claimants so that they can receive legal advice/assistance. If Iowa Legal Aid is awarded a grant, our agency will meet with Iowa Legal Aid within one month of the grant award to plan these activities. The fair market value of our in-kind contribution to provide staff time,space,and cost of materials is at least$2,500. This includes an estimated 2 hours per month for each of the following staff people to assist with logistics and outreach related to fair housing events: Intake Specialist Carol Spinoso and Equity Outreach Coordinator Taj Suleyman. It also includes an estimated 2 hours per month for Director Kelly Larson to work with Legal Aid to develop a referral protocol for fair housing complaints. Sincerely, ,�j/ d Kelly Larson, Director Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork THECITYOF Dubuque DUB E "� Masterpiece on the Mississippi Supervisor and Case Manager John Granola, Managing Attorney Iowa Legal Aid 1700 S. First Avenue, Ste. 10 Eastdale Plaza Iowa City, IA 52240 Date: June 22, 2016 RE: Letter of Commitment to Dubuque the Iowa legal Aid Program to apply for funds toward the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) application Dear Mr. Granola: On behalf of the City of Dubuque Department of Housing and Community Development, I am pleased to support Iowa Legal Aid's Fair Housing Initiatives Program application to provide fair housing services in our community. The Department of Housing and Community Development serves as the Housing Authority for the City of Dubuque administering several housing programs housing programs, including Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The Department of Housing and Community Development recognizes a strong partnership in collaborating with Iowa Legal Aid to promote equal housing choice for the families and individuals we serve. Our agency will commit to work with Iowa Legal Aid to provide fair housing outreach in our community, distribute fair housing informational materials supplied by Iowa Legal Aid, and provide referral information to Iowa Legal Aid for tenants seeking assistance with fair housing and other housing issues. If Iowa Legal Aid is awarded a grant, our agency will meet with Iowa Legal Aid within one month of the grant award to plan these activities. The fair market value of our in-kind contribution to provide staff time, space, and cost of materials is at least $14,500. In order to estimate a fair market value of our in-kind contribution provided by staff spacing costs we use a formula that considers the following conditions: We have staff committed to making sure the fair housing initiatives are administered in providing services to our clients. It is estimated that one hour per week by four case managers in addition to our Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinators of two and the Circles© Program Coordinator and Coach of two combined to directly give attention to fair housing practices in addition to our Rehabilitation Supervisor who administers the First Time Homebuyer Program, Homeowner Rehabilitation, and Rental Rehabilitation programs. Those staff involved are: Cate Richter, Tracy Doyle, Jessica Kieffer, Assisted Housing Specialists; Kris Neyen, Rehabilitation Supervisor; Hollie Ohnesorge FSS coordinator; Dawn DeMaio, FSS Coordinator; Ermina Soler, Circles Coordinator; Dubuque@Home is an initiative of the City of Dubuque Housing&Community Development Department 350 W.6`h St.,Suite 312 Dubuque, Iowa 520011 Phone:563.589-4239/www.cityofdubuque.org/dubuqueathome Andrea Halgager, Circles Coach; Teresa Bassler, Assisted Housing Staff Supervisor; Erica Haugen, Community Development Specialist; Janet Walker, Assisted Housing Program Supervisor; and, Tonya England, Assisted Housing Secretary Each of these positions assist in fair housing education and delivery of services. It is estimated that these persons spend one hour a week processing facilitating and performing fair housing practices which translates to an economic impact value of average of $23.50 per hour at one hour per week for 52 weeks annually equals $14,664. Best regards and good luck with your submission. Sincerely, —� Alvin L. Nash, Director of Housing and Community Development City Of Dubuque Dubuque@Home is an initiative of the City of Dubuque Housing&Community Development Department 350 W.6`h St.,Suite 312 Dubuque, Iowa 520011 Phone:563.589-4239/www.cityofdubuque.org/dubuqueathome