The Housing Game

1
The Housing Game

• Expanding Housing Opportunities for People with
  Disabilities in YOUR community!

2
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).

3
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.

4
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.

5
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.

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Whats 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.

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Lets 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

8
Localities

• Localities are the geographic areas
• A City
• An Urban County
• A Town
• A Community
• As opposed to the State as a whole

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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.

10
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.
• Its YOUR BEST CHANCE to talk about the housing
  crisis facing people with disabilities.

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HOUSING RESOURCESWho controls them?

• Most of the resources controlled by the ConPlan
  are specifically targeted toward low-income
  households.
• PWDs 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.

12
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).

13
Where are these plans found?

• The planning or community development department.
• The states housing agency (Department of
  Community Development)

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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.

15
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.

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Lets 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.

17
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 CDGBs funds)
  Ex - Vocational services, healthcare, and
  childcare.

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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.

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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.

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What HUDs role in the Plan development?

• Provide the funding.
• Mandate an inclusive planning process.
• Review and approve/disapprove the plans.
• GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!!

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HUDS Role (cont.)

• States and localities are given flexibility to
  develop plans that meet local needs.
• Its not always clear whos responsible for
  monitoring. This often leads to no one holding
  accountability for the plan.
• The disability community must get involved and
  notify HUD when theres a problem.

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Let the confusion begin!!!

• Since its not always clear whos 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.

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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

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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 Govt 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.

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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.
• Whos given priority among these groups for
  housing assistance.

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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.

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Other factors addressed in the Market Analysis

• Cost comparison for extremely low incomes of PWD.
• Restrictive zoning that makes affordability
  difficult.
• Comparison of HUDs Fair Market Rent Level as
  compared to income of PWD.
• Substandard conditions of housing.
• Location of affordable housing (unsafe or
  isolated).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

• Legally binding certifications to HUD including a
  statement that the community will affirmatively
  further fair housing goalsand 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.

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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.

33
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.

34
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?

35
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.

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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.

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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)

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Public Agency Plan (PHA Plan)

• A 5-Year Comprehensive Document each public
  housing agency is required to complete.
• Describes the agencys 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.

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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.

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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 arent 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.

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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.

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Its up to ALL OF US

• To care about the decisions that effect our
  lives
• v Find out how decisions are made.
• v Find out whos making them.
• v Find out how to have your voice
• heard!!