Child Welfare and Housing Access Summit

Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority Michael G. Wong, Executive Director

Accessing State and Federal Funds to Support Housing for Youth Aging Out  Enhance understanding of Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s housing programs available to assist Youth Aging out  Increase awareness of eligibility requirements  Partnership opportunities, strategies to effectively change local policies

City of Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority

 Political Sub-Division formed under Title 36 of the Code of Virginia and Voter Referendum  Continuous operation since 1955  Redevelopment and Housing

Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority

 Pursuant to the Act, the Authority has the power to finance, acquire, construct, sale, own or operate real property for the purposes of providing low to moderate income housing, the elimination of blight or blighting influences and the facilitation of economic development.

Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority: Mission

 To promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity, and a suitable living environment free from discrimination; and to foster redevelopment of blighted areas to ensure the economic, social and housing vitality of our community

Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority

  Annually 9 million dollar budget Federal Program   129 Project-Base Housing 843 Housing Choice Voucher    62 unit Section 8 New Construction 62 unit low income housing tax credit Grant funds

Partnerships with Redevelopment and Housing Authorities    Govern by a Board of Commissioners appointed by City Council Annual Plan and 5 Year Plan Required Public Hearing on proposed budget, approval of Annual Plan, and any “substantial” changes to the Annual/5 Year Plan

Partnerships with Redevelopment and Housing Authorities  45 day comment period, advertised in the local newspaper  Lead Local entity has to certify that the plan is consistent with the area’s consolidated plans

Partnerships with Redevelopment and Housing Authorities: HA Challenges  All Authorities are different and are driven by local issues  Authorities operating at 89-91% of its budgets, aging out units, increased federal regulations  Local issues affects capacities of Authorities to partner

Housing Options for Aging out Youth  Public Housing/Affordable Housing/Specialty Housing  Housing Choice Voucher  Family Unification Grant

Housing Options  Public Housing/Project Base Housing  Section 8 New Construction  LIHTC  Specialty housing/SRO/PSH

Housing Options: Eligibility Requirement  Income Restriction 60% or less median income (Most Housing Authorities target 30% or less)  Age/ Disability  Ineligible Criminal (Sex offenders/ methamphetamine production)

Housing Options: Housing Choice Voucher    Housing Choice Voucher Program is driven by the Admission and Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP) Preference and Point system used to prioritize services Private landlord’s housing must meet HQS Standards

Housing Options: Family Unification Grant     FUP is a housing program for families and aging-out youth in the child welfare system. At minimum, FUP provides Section 8 vouchers to child welfare families.

FUP is a collaboration between Housing Authorities and Child Welfare Agencies.

FUP is a program designed to strengthen and stabilize child welfare families (5 years family/2 years aging out).

Competitive grant application 2008-2011: 6 localities in Commonwealth, 381 total vouchers

Housing Options: Family Unification Grant     Families for whom the lack of adequate housing* is a primary reason for the imminent placement of a family's child or children in out-of-home care, or in the delay in reuniting a children) who are in out-of-home care with the family (as determined by the CWA); and, The family qualifies for the Section 8 rental assistance as determined by the PHA.

*Families facing a “lack of adequate housing” may be: living in substandard or dilapidated housing, homeless, or living in overcrowded conditions. They may also have been voluntarily or involuntarily displaced from their homes by domestic violence.

Young people age 18 to 21 years old who left foster care at age 16 or older and lack adequate housing

Housing Options: Family Unification Grant    Support Services Critical    Case mgt./ Counseling Independent Living Post Secondary Education/Employment Due to voucher time restrictions/ need to address linkage with HCV program and/or other housing programs(5 years family/2 years aging out).

Participants must comply with HCV program requirements

Partnerships with Redevelopment and Housing Authorities    Enhance understanding of Redevelopment and Housing Authorities programs, eligibility requirements and how they can assist in housing for Youth aging out Awareness of public policy process and activities to effect local program changes Increased awareness of opportunities to Partner  Questions and Answers/ Thank you for attending