Transcript The Housing Game

The Housing Game
Expanding Housing
Opportunities for People
with Disabilities in
YOUR community!
Increasing affordable housing
in your community:


The disability community has a RIGHT
and an OPPORTUNITY to be
INVOLVED.
People with disabilities, families and
advocates can influence how housing
decisions are make at the local level (in
your community).
How Can I Get Involved:



By learning about the different housing
planning documents that address local
community needs.
By attending local housing meetings.
By making local officials aware of the
housing needs of people with
disabilities.
How are housing needs
addressed…

The Consolidated Plan – A federally
mandated housing plan.


A long-term housing plan that controls
access to HUD (Department of Housing
and Urban Development) resources.
A 5 year comprehensive housing strategy.
Consolidated Plan (ConPlan)
Components:



Housing Needs Assessment –
Documents the need for affordable
housing within a state or community.
One Year Action Plan – Describes the
activities that will be taken each year to
address needs.
All states and localities required to have
a Consolidated Plan.
What’s in the plan
for ME?


The plan ensures that YOU (a person
with a disability) are thought of,
planned for and receive your fair share
of Federal housing resources.
We need YOU to be actively involved in
the ConPlan process.
Let’s Learn the Lingo:

ConPlan Resources or ConPlan Funds:

Interchangeable terms to refer to the HUD
programs.
 Community Development Block Grant
 Emergency Shelter Grant
 HOME Program
 HOPWA – Housing Opportunities for
People with AIDS
Localities:

Localities are the geographic areas:

A City
An Urban County
A Town
A Community

As opposed to the State as a whole



Entitlement Communities:

Means those communities or counties
that, due to size and other HUD criteria,
are eligible to receive CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant)
funding directly from HUD.
Why should I care about the
ConPlan?




It controls how federal funds will be used to
increase affordable housing.
It determines who will benefit from these
activities.
It is a key document because it links other
HUD housing programs together.
It’s YOUR BEST CHANCE to talk about the
housing crisis facing people with disabilities.
HOUSING RESOURCES:
Who controls them?



Most of the resources controlled by the
ConPlan are specifically targeted toward
low-income households.
PWD’s are among the lowest income
households in the country.
The national average of income of PWD
receiving SSI is only 24% of the typical
one-person income in the country.
Who must submit a ConPlan?

A unit of government that receives any of the
following program funds directly from HUD.





Community Development Block Grant Program
(CDBG)
HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)
Emergency Shelter Funds (ESS)
Housing Opportunities for persons with AIDS
(HOWPA).
Every state (also covers local communities).
Where are these plans found?


The planning or community
development department.
The state’s housing agency
(Department of Community
Development)
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!
How much do we get?


The amount of money a state or locality
receives for each program is determined by a
formula based on the amount Congress
appropriates each year.
At the state and local level, a portion of CDBG
funding and all HOME and HOPWA funds
must be spent on affordable housing-related
activities.
How could these funds be
used:


A portion of HOME funds can be
targeted for rental assistance for
homeless or PWD.
CDBG grants and loans can be used to
develop affordable housing ensuring
affordability and accessibility for people
receiving SSI.
Let’s talk about each of the
(4) Housing Plans:

THE HOME PROGRAM:
 Federal Housing Funds given to states and
localities.

Can be used for:




Rental housing production and rehabilitation loans and
grants.
First-time homebuyer assistance.
Rehabilitation loans for homeowners.
Tenant-based rental assistance with some restrictions.
Community Development
Block Grant (CDGB)

Federal grant provided to “entitlement communities” (pop. over
50,000/urban counties – pop. Over 200,000).

70% of CDBG funds must be used to benefit low and moderate
income.

Approved activities include:








Housing rehab.
New housing construction by non-profits.
Purchase of land and buildings.
Construction of public facilities (i.e – shelters).
Construction of neighborhood service centers or community buildings.
Code enforcement, demolition and relocation funds for displaced residents.
Making buildings accessible.
Public services – (capped at 15% of CDGB’s funds) Ex - Vocational services,
healthcare, and childcare.
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT:
(ESG)

Provides federal grants to states and localities
based on a formula used for CDBG program.

Approved activities:






Housing information and coordination services.
Project-based or tenant-based rental assistance
Homeless prevention activities.
Supportive services
Housing operation costs
Technical assistance and/or admin. expenses.
How much time to complete
the ConPlan?


Each plan has a program year during
which the state or locality implements
the plan.
Each plan also includes a One-Year
action plan.
What HUD’s role in the Plan
development?




Provide the funding.
Mandate an inclusive planning
process.
Review and approve/disapprove the
plans.
GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!!
HUD’S Role (cont.)



States and localities are given flexibility
to develop plans that meet local needs.
It’s not always clear who’s responsible
for monitoring. This often leads to no
one holding accountability for the plan.
The disability community must get
involved and notify HUD when there’s a
problem.
Let the confusion begin!!!

Since it’s not always clear who’s
responsible and entities may not be
clear on accountability…


The confusion around monitoring,
combined with flexibility given to states
and localities results in these plans not
being inclusive or open to the public.
Leads to great difficulty influencing the
outcome.
END THE CONFUSION –
Learn about the plan…


HUD requirements vs. decisions left up
to states or localities.
There are SIX REQUIRED
COMPONETS OF THE ConPlan:
COMPONENTS OF THE
ConPlan:

Description of the Planning Process:

Citizen Participation and Consultation.





Citizens should be empowered to make decisions for
their communities.
Minimum requirements are mandated from the Federal
Gov’t regarding participation.
An overview of how the state or locality prepares the
plan, how they received public input.
People with disabilities need to make sure they are a part
of this participation or “roadmap”.
Lack of specificity is a serious problem in defining who
participates.
COMPONENTS (cont.)

Housing and Homeless Needs
Assessment:


Describes the affordable housing needs within a
state or locality (including PWD).
Provides for both renters and homeowners.






Extremely low income (below 30% AMI)
Low income (30-50% of AMI)
Moderate income (50-80% of AMI)
Middle income (80%-95% of AMI)
Separate section for homelessness, supportive housing
and many other categories of individuals.
Who’s given priority among these groups for housing
assistance.
COMPONENTS (cont.)

HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS:




Talks about supply, demand, condition and cost of
housing.
Contains inventory of affordable housing,
(including transitional, supportive and homeless).
Should discuss barriers to and expected loss of
affordable housing from current inventory.
Often LOSS OF HOUSING is not documented and
can be easily overlooked.
Other factors addressed in the
Market Analysis:





Cost comparison for extremely low incomes
of PWD.
Restrictive zoning that makes affordability
difficult.
Comparison of HUD’s Fair Market Rent Level
as compared to income of PWD.
Substandard conditions of housing.
Location of affordable housing (unsafe or
isolated).
Five-Year Strategic Plan:

This plan outlines strategies that a state or
locality will use to meet the priority needs for
affordable housing and community
development identified in the ConPlan.

Strategies are:




Affordable housing
Homelessness
Other special needs (including PWD)
Community development activities other than housing.
The problem:


ConPlan fails to require an adequate
and enforceable link between the needs
identified in the ConPlan and the
proposed investment of housing dollars.
Disability advocates and HUD need to
look closely at when local flexibility
becomes discrimination.
One-Year Action Plan:


A detailed description of how the federal
funds available during the next 12 months
will be spent consistent with the 5-year plan.
Includes specific breakdown of



The number and type of families that will benefit.
Specific local housing activities that will be undertaken
Geographic areas where funds will be directed for
Federal Assistance.
Analysis of Impediments to
Fair Housing Choice


Legally binding certifications to HUD including
a statement that the community will
“affirmatively further fair housing goals…and
maintain records pertaining to carrying out
this certification.”
In simple terms – States and localities must
identify barriers to fair housing choice and
take actions to overcome the effects of these
barriers.
Two HUGE BARRIERS to Fair
Housing Choice.



1. Extremely low incomes
2. Housing Discrimination.
The Analysis should identify these facts
as barriers that PWD face when trying
to locate and access affordable housing.
Compliance:


States and localities must certify in the ConPlan that
all federal housing program activity is in compliance
with the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Both of these laws require “reasonable
accommodation” during the ConPlan process if
requested.


This might include providing written notice of public hearings
to organizations representing PWD.
Providing a training session on the ConPlan process or
federal housing programs.
Performance Reporting:



HUD required to report annually on the
progress it has made in carrying out the
strategic and action plans.
This annual report can help determine who
actually is benefiting from the federal housing
funding available to the community.
Should answer the question “Are they
creating affordable housing opportunities for
PWD?”
Amendments to the Plan.

Any major changes or amendments made to
the ConPlan must be managed thru the
Citizen Participation Plan.

This would include:




Change in priorities in spending.
Change in purpose, scope, location and who is
benefitting.
Decision to carry out new activities not previously
described.
Change in the way funds are distributed to parts of the
state or county.
Five Steps of the ConPlan
Calendar:





1. Identify the need. – public hearings.
2. The proposed ConPlan. – published in local
papers and made available at libraries and govt.
offices.
3. The Final ConPlan. – Due to HUD 45 days before
the start of the program year.
4. The Annual Performance Report. – Due 90
days after the close of the program year. Public
review for 15 days before sending to HUD.
5. Amendments to the ConPlan. If substantial
changes there must be a public review and comment
process.
Other HUD Plans:






Continuum of Care Plan - Homelessness
Supportive Housing Program – Transitional Housing,
temporary for up to 24 months, permanent for PWD.
Shelter Plus Care –
Rental assistance for homeless PWD.
Section 8 – Single Room Occupancy for Homeless –
Rental assistance in the development of Single Room Occupancy
Dwellings for homeless individuals.
Public Housing Reform Plan – To give Public Housing
Agencies more flexibility and control over how federal public
housing and Section 8 funds are used.
Public Housing Agency Plan – (PHA Plan) –
Public Agency Plan (PHA Plan)

A 5-Year Comprehensive Document
each public housing agency is required
to complete.


Describes the agency’s overall mission for
serving low-income and very low income
individuals and families.
Identifies the activities that will be
undertaken to meet the housing needs of
those households.
Resources controlled by the
PHA Plan:


Federal Public Housing.
Section 8 Rental Assistance programs.


These HUD programs are to assist these
households in renting decent, safe and
sanitary housing in the community without
spending the majority of their income on
rent.
Strategies for meeting the needs of low to
very low income people, including PWD.
The Bottom Line:

Many of these plans do not adequately
reflect the needs of people with
disabilities. Because these plans are
often interlocking together, if the needs
of PWD aren’t reflected in one plan,
they can be overlooked in the other
plans. All of these plans have impact on
how housing dollars will be spent and
who will benefit from them.
What can YOU do about all of
this????







Get organized- have a clear message about housing
needs and preferences of people with disabilities.
Learn the basics of the housing planning processes.
Actively participate (attend public meetings and
comment).
Document the need for affordable housing.
Gather data regarding the current housing market.
Identify barriers to affordable housing.
Think about and talk about (with your local officials)
how funds can be used to create housing
opportunities for PWD.
It’s up to ALL OF US…

To care about the decisions
that effect our lives…
√ Find out how decisions are made.
√ Find out who’s making them.
√ Find out how to have your voice
heard!!