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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHAB minutes 061218Affordable Housing Advisory Board Whitted Building - Conference Room D 300 W. Tryon Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 Minutes of the June 12, 2018 Meeting Members Present: Keith Cook, Chair; Tammy Jacobs, Vice Chair; Jenn Sykes, Noah Oswald, Eleanor Kinnaird, Doug Boemker, and Allison Mahaley Excused Absence: Mae McClendon, N.V. Parlikard, Cain Twyman, Unexcused Absence: Adrian Moreno and Kolby Herndon Staff Present: Sherrill Hampton, Director; Valeretta Roberts, Housing Specialist; Renee Holmes, Housing Program Coordinator Welcome/Introduction: Keith Cook called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Approval of Minutes: Tammy Jacobs made a motion to approve the May 8, 2018, seconded by Doug Boemker and approved unanimously. Updates from Board Members: Eleanor Kinnaird informed the Board that her granddaughter has been very interested in the issue of homelessness and during her research she noted some interesting program successes in Utah regarding the alleviation of homelessness. Ms. Kinnaird wanted to know if the County had any type of report to show its homelessness rate and other applicable data. Ms. Hampton stated that she would check with Corey Root, Orange County’s Coordinator for the Partnership to End Homelessness for updated data. In addition, Ms. Root will be on the agenda to speak to the Advisory Board during one of the meetings this Fall. Ms. Kinnaird also wanted more information on “Housing First” strategies as her granddaughter shared that this is one of the successful programs in Utah. Does Orange County utilize such strategies? Ms. Hampton stressed the importance of strong case management and wrap-around services to assist homeless individuals and families due to the fact that many may have co-occurring disorders. Noah Oswald stated that if you look at the services that Utah offers , you will see that the 2 families are not forced into housing. However, he brought up the fact that one family that went through this program within six months was successful and he also informed the Board that there are other states that are following this model. Ms. Hampton stated that she would get a copy of the article that Noah is referring to and provide copies at the next meeting. Chairperson Keith Cook informed the Board that he went on the Bus Tour and he was glad that there were four (4) Advisory Board members that attended and he thought that the information that was provided during the Bus Tour let him know that the Advisory Board needs to know what is going on in the community and tours are one way to gather some of this information. Noah Oswald interjected how impressive the work that is being conducted in the Northside neighborhood. A question was raised during the Bus Tour about undocumented families and if they could participate in Habitat’s homeownership programs? Tour attendees were informed that Habitat for Humanity will not allow undocumented individuals and families to participate at this time. However, the Latino Community Credit Union will assist undocumented families. There was one family that came out and spoke to the Bus Tour attendees. The family was excited about their housing experience. This family was from the Rogers Road community. Chairperson Keith Cook stated that they went to approximately thirteen (13) locations during the Bus Tour. No further updates or general comments were shared. Departmental/County Report: There were two (2) items of follow-up that Ms. Hampton shared with the Advisory Board: (1) the Town of Chapel Hill’s updating and refining of their Comprehensive Plan, known as Chapel Hill 2020. Ms. Hampton provided a flyer and a website where additional information can be found. Chapel Hill has created a new Affordable Housing website. (2) In reference to a question that came up at the May meeting about Chapel Hill’s affordable housing (penny) funds, a copy of the information, along with the Town’s Progress Report on its affordable housing efforts, was also shared and is located on the Town of Chapel Hill’s Affordable Housing website, too. Furthermore, information was provided about the Town’s proposed $10M Bond. Carrboro is proposing a half cent and those funds, if approved, would bring in an estimated $212,000 per year. The Town Manager would like to raise the property tax a half cent for three years which would total a penny and a half. However, any tax increases would have to be approved each year. The Town has an Affordable Housing Special Reserve Fund and that is where the money will go. This Fund will provide a source of financial assistance to various housing projects and also include monies for security deposits and utility connections. It provides assistance with critical home repairs, too. Non-profits funded under this activity include Habitat and Rebuilding Together of the Triangle. The Town of Carrboro provided funds 3 to CASA’s Merritt Mill project. Advisory Board members can go to Carrboro’s website to obtain additional information. Ms. Allison Mahaley asked if there were any utility support programs especially with Hillsborough’s Water and Sewer rates increasing. Director Hampton stated that she was not aware of any such program Hillsborough had in regard to water and sewer payment assistance. She would check with the Town and bring information back but suggested persons contact DSS, CEF, Empowerment and the County’s Risk Mitigation and Housing Displacement Fund for available utility and security deposit assistance. Update on Orange County’s Manufactured Home Park Initiative Ms. Hampton informed the Board that the Housing Department and EmPOWERment are still working diligently to meet the June 30th deadline. The new replacement manufactured homes have been ordered and there are only 2 families out of the 3 families; one family chose not to relocate with County assistance. All families were shown up to four (4) potential relocation sites. The Park owner has now come back and stated that the tenants can stay if they come back to the park and clean up. The Park owner wanted to know if the new units could be brought to his park if the families chose to stay. It was explained that the new replacement manufactured homes were available due to needed relocation. If relocation was not taking place then individuals and families could seek assistance under one of the County’s Housing Rehabilitation Programs. However, the terms of assistance may vary based on the program and generally funds provided would have to be repaid. Eleanor Kinnaird asked what would happen if one of the families does not take the replacement unit. M. Hampton assured the Advisory Board members that the new units would be used. Habitat approached Orange County about a family in their home repair program that needed a replacement unit. There are several options for the new replacement units to be used appropriately. Tammy Jacobs asked would it be sold to Habitat. Ms. Hampton responded “no” but the unit would become a part of EmPOWERment’s inventory and the tenant would be able to participate in a Lease Purchase Program after twelve (12) months of successful renting. Ms. Hampton informed the Board that Housing and Planning Dep artments are working together and as other park owners apply for zoning changes or redevelopment or closure occurs, similar assistance would be available, as applicable. Presently, three (3) other parks are exploring zoning changes but nothing has been finalized. Ms. Hampton spoke with the owner of one park and most of the manufactured homes onsite are vacant due to their age and condition. The remaining families moved earlier before the County made contact. Eleanor Kinnaird asked who’s paying for the new units and Ms. Hampton informed her that the County under its Displacement Mitigation Assistance Program (D-MAP) is paying for the replacement units. Ms. Kinnaird wanted to know the cost. Director Hampton state the total cost, including set-up, is $44,000 -$45,000, depending on bedroom size. Ms. Kinnaird wanted to know the source of the funds. Ms. Hampton stated that the funds were set-aside for the Affordable 4 Housing Land Banking/Manufactured Home Park Initiative over two (2) years ago. Doug Boemker brought up the fact that the money is being spent on a home that is not as durable and not on something more sustainable. Ms. Hampton responded stating that a better option would possibly have been modular home or multi-family constructed units. However, a modular home costs about $120,000 and the families did not select a multi -family complex. In addition, Housing staff sought manufactured homes that had the most sustainable features. The County is still investigating other options that may be more susta inable and cost effective. Ms. Hampton clarified that under the D-MAP, the County contracted with EmPOWERment to provide relocation coordination services….. the non-profit secures the lot and pays the rent to the park owner and also handles the maintenance of the units Tenants pay directly to EmPOWERment. Other Housing Program Activities Ms. Renee Holmes, Housing Coordinator, stated that the Orange County HOME Consortium went to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) with an updated version of the Annual Action Plan and had a Public Hearing. The items will be brought for final approval on June 19 th. Revisions to the draft Annual Action Plan were needed due to changes in the amount of funds received from HUD, as well as for amount of funds set-aside for CHDO activities. Keith Cook asked if you can amend after the approval and Renee and Ms. Hampton stated that jurisdictions can amend their plans but still must receive approval from the BOCCC and HUD. The revised Annual Action Plan will be submitted to HUD on July 2nd. Ms. Hampton added the following information on the various projects: EmPOWERment is requesting funds for acquisition of rental units; Habitat is seeking funds to provide second mortgage assistance in the Tenant Woods neighborhood; and Community Home Trust (CHT) is asking for funds to homebuyer assistance for low-to-moderate income homebuyers. IFC withdrew their application for funds for Rapid Re-Housing activities. The Rapid Re-Housing Program will come back to the County. DSS and Housing will collaborate to administer the program. The Program is underfunded by the State as they do not pay for staff to administer the program. The received $25,000 in funds from the State and those funds have almost been exhausted. Therefore, the County sought funding for TBRA (Tenant Based Rental Assistances) funds to be used countywide and this request includes monies for Rapid Re-Housing activities. The County will apply again for State funds for the program. The remaining monies under the requested TBRA funding will be leveraged against funding for a proposed Local Voucher Subsidy Program, and hopefully the BOCC will approve the new program. If the new Local Voucher Subsidy Program is approved, guidelines will be created and additional information on the program will be brought to an AHAB meeting. Ms. Holmes informed the Advisory Board that the Housing Department is continuing with the implementation of an Essential Single-Family Rehab, several people have been approved and 5 the Housing Rehab Specialist is getting ready to put the work on these homes out for bid to general contractors to get those homes renovated. In addition, the Urgent Repair Program continues. Four (4) families have received assistance to date. However, a total of approximately sixteen (16) homes are slated for completion by February 2019. Announcements Ms. Hampton expressed the need for assistance with getting the word out about the Family Fun Day which will be located at Fairview Park on June 23, 2018. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Valeretta Roberts, Housing Specialist Housing and Community Development Department