Working With Your Public Housing Authority: A Case Study of Los Angeles

Ruth Schwartz Shelter Partnership, Inc.

www.shelterpartnership.org

NAEH Annual Conference July 11, 2007 1

Presentation

• • Administrative Plan HACLA Section 8 Homeless Program (TBA) • Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PBA) 2

Administrative Plan

• • • Pay attention to the details!

2005 - HACLA Admin Plan proposed changes to Section 8 criminal background screening policies HACLA’s proposed changes would have instituted strong prohibitions on households with criminal background histories:  Admission to be denied if household member convicted of drug related or violent criminal activity in the past 10 years 3

Administrative Plan

• Shelter Partnership and local housing providers:  Met with HACLA representatives  Wrote letters  Testified at public hearings 4

Administrative Plan

• Succeeded in mitigating proposed changes  Proposed prohibition on drug related or violent criminal activity history reduced to 3 years  Exceptions made for drug possession convictions  Prohibitions related to violent criminal activity limited to apply only to

felony

convictions  Reasonable accommodation language added 5

Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA)

• Established 1938 • Implemented Section 8 program in 1975 • Currently administers second largest Section 8 program in the nation 6

Initiatives Administered by HACLA for Housing the Homeless

• • • • • • Section 8 Homeless Program (Tenant-Based Assistance) Project-Based Assistance (PBA) Shelter Plus Care Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Skid Row Families Demonstration Project 7

Section 8 Homeless Program

• Developed out of a unique window of opportunity • Collaboration between Shelter Partnership and HACLA • June 1990 - HUD NOFA in Federal Register announced funding preference to PHAs working with the homeless 8

First Year of Section 8 Homeless Program - Program Design

• • • HUD awarded HACLA 1,550 Section 8 vouchers Vouchers distributed through 11 contracted non profit organizations, including agencies serving families (Beyond Shelter) and persons with disabilities (i.e. mental illness, HIV/AIDS) Los Angeles Community Development Department provided $250,000 to fund staffing at each agency 9

Current Section 8 Homeless Program

• Reinstated in 2006 following two-year hiatus • 15 agencies • 14 non-profits + 1 County Department • 1,800+ vouchers 10

Roles & Responsibilities

• Formalized thru annual MOU signed by both parties • HACLA • General administration and coordination of program • • • • • Train the contracted agencies Process the applications Issue vouchers Process RFTAs and contracts with landlords Perform inspections 11

Roles & Responsibilities

• • • • • Agencies • • • • • Screen clients for eligibility Assist clients in completing application Update clients throughout process Assist clients in housing search Counsel clients on housekeeping, money management and tenant obligations Provide one year of follow-up case management Facilitate landlord/tenant problem solving Assist clients with annual inspections Monthly reporting to HACLA 12

An Evaluation of HACLA’s Section 8 Homeless Program

• • Summer 2006: HACLA commissioned Shelter Partnership to conduct assessment of program Improvements to program instituted by HACLA  Increased staffing  quicker processing of applications  Distributed a guide on how to complete application packet  Modified a problematic form to facilitate its proper completion  Standardized trainings 13

PBA Through the Permanent Supportive Housing Program

• • Developed by City of Los Angeles in 2006 Cooperation Agreement between four City agencies:  Los Angeles Housing Department  HACLA  Department of Water & Power  Community Redevelopment Agency 14

PSHP - Program Design

• • • Two rounds To facilitate development of permanent supportive housing for homeless and other low income populations • • > 50% of units reserved for homeless 100% of units must be affordable to households at or below 60% AMI Provides capital

and

operating subsidy funding in one application 15

PSHP - Program Design

• • Initial intent of PSHP to also include services funding through the County Timing and inter-jurisdictional issues presented obstacles  L.A. County contains 88 cities (of which City of L.A. by far the largest)  County is responsible for health, welfare and income support.

16

PSHP - Program Design

• Applicants must leverage other funding sources for additional capital funds and for supportive service funds: • • 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits State Supportive Housing Program (Prop. 1C of 2006 - $195 million Bond Act) 17

PSHP - Round 1

• • • Five projects funded - 240 units  Target populations: families, EFY, special needs, chronically homeless $22 million in capital financing $26 million in HACLA Section 8 PBA over the ten-year length of the contract 18