Title
Acting as the Governing Board of the El Dorado County Public Housing Authority:
Public Housing Authority recommending the Board authorize the Executive Director of said Authority to execute and submit an application and accompanying certifications for a $59,902 grant for Calendar Year 2013 Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator Funding and an updated Code of Conduct to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FUNDING: Federal.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: No change. The requested Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Coordinator grant funds are renewal funds to cover the cost of the existing FSS Coordinator position and are already included in the Department's FY 2012/13 Budget Request.
Reason for Recommendation: The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides administrative and rental assistance funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, which enables eligible income-qualified households to rent privately owned homes throughout El Dorado County. Currently there are approximately 374 households, earning at or below 50% of the median income, receiving rental assistance to offset their rental housing costs. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) component offers a comprehensive program that assists HCV families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency with a potential outcome of homeownership.
The function of the FSS Coordinator is to evaluate the needs of a participating household to identify barriers, connect the household with community resources to assist them with overcoming these barriers and provide ongoing case management to FSS participants. Potential barriers to self-sufficiency include a lack of job skills, education, credit history and transportation and/or unresolved legal issues. Successful FSS participants are provided an opportunity during the five-year term of their Contract of Participation to bank funds in an escrow account as they work toward self-sufficiency and reduce their rental assistance. Upon successful completion of their Contract the participant receives the balance accrued in their escrow account. The FSS Coordinator funding, if awarded, would cover the cost of an existing position for Calendar Year 2013.
Additionally, HUD requires applicants of competitive funding opportunities to provide a copy of their Code of Conduct prior to entering into an agreement with HUD. The Code of Conduct establishes employee standards of behavior and outlines administrative and disciplinary actions available to remedy violations of such standards. The Code of Conduct is required to be updated when the physical address of the PHA changes.
Action to be taken following Board approval: HHSA to submit the FSS Funding Application and updated Code of Conduct to HUD by the April 24, 2012 submittal deadline.
Contact: Daniel Nielson, 642-7275
Concurrences: N/A