HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-2013 homelessness city funding supportOTHER IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/HOMELESS SERVICE S
OBJECTIVE
Continue to facilitate provision of affordable as well as market-rate housing and provide leadership i n
implementing the County's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness .
ACTION PLA N
The proposed work program includes implementing Housing Element programs ; working with existing non-profi t
and for-profit development groups to facilitate construction of affordable housing ; leveraging the City's
affordable housing funds and proactively looking for new ways to use these funds to increase affordable housin g
production ; and applying for grants . This work effort will be directed by the Housing Programs Manager as par t
of his assigned duties .
The second part of this objective includes promoting collaborative efforts and opportunities to address the need s
of the homeless population . The actions called for in the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (aka 10 -
Year Plan) outline strategies to coordinate homeless services and address housing and service needs . A director
has been hired by the countywide Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC) to implement the plan .
Dat eTask
Ongoing1.Seek grants to facilitate affordable housing project s
2.Work with developers to include affordable housing units in projects and to complet e
housing projects in process
Ongoin g
3 .Continue to implement Housing Element programs Ongoing
4.Look for new opportunities to use Affordable Housing Fund and grant monies to leverag e
other funds for affordable housing projects .
Ongoin g
5 .Work with service providers and the HSOC director to understand needs of homeles s
population
Ongoing
6 .Continue HSOC participation to further the implementation of the 10 Year Plan Ongoing
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RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMEN T
The Community Development Department will take the lead on this objective with assistance fro m
Administration and the Police Department . The Housing Programs Manager (CDD) is tasked with facilitatin g
provision of affordable housing while a City Council member and the Police Department Chief serve on th e
Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC) Board to implement the 10-Year Plan . In addition, staff from th e
Administration Department represents the City on the Friends of Prado Board .
FINANCIAL AND STAFF RESOURCES REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIV E
Accomplishing this objective will require ensuring staff resources are available to work on these efforts;
continuing to provide both Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and General Fund financial support t o
the Maxine Lewis Shelter and Prado Day Center ; and considering ways to augment that support to assist i n
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OTHER IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/HOMELESS SERVICE S
developing the design and plans for a consolidated homeless services center . The latter may be achieved b y
committing to a Section 108 loan through CDBG funds or by seeking other grants .
The Housing Manager position is a regular position that is funded by the CDBG program (just as regular Utilities
positions are funded through the Water and Sewer Funds). The work performed by this position is an eligibl e
cost under the CDBG program; and the Council recently approved using CDBG funds for this position in 2011 -
2013 in the amount of $129,500 . With dwindling CDBG awards, however, the 20% maximum allowance fo r
administration of the program doesn't cover the entire cost of salary and benefits associated with the Housin g
Programs Manager position . As such, the full cost is shown in the cost summary below with the understandin g
that CDBG funds will off-set all but approximately $5,000 of the position costs .
Cost Summary
The following costs are as estimates of commitments required during the Financial Plan to support the existin g
shelter and day center . These funds are in addition to the maximum support allowed through CDBG grant fund s
for public services . Traditionally, the Council has committed CDBG public service funds to the Maxine Lewi s
Homeless Shelter .
Operating Programs Capital Improvement Plan
2011-12 2012-13 2011-12 2012-1 3
Maxine Lewis Shelter
Prado Day Center
Housing Programs Manager
45,000
60,000
134,000
45,000
60,000
134,000
Total $239,000 $239,000 $0 -
$0
Operating Programs Capital Improvement Pla n
2011-12 2012-13 2011-12 2012-1 3
General Fund
Community Development Block Grant
105,00 0
134,000
105,00 0
134,00 0
Total $239,000 $239,000 $0 $0
OUTCOME—FINAL WORK PRODUC T
Implementation of the 10-Year Plan will close gaps in the continuum of care for homeless families and will lin k
and improve the use of limited funding resources to achieve the plan goal of ending chronic homelessness .
Increasing the amount of housing and affordable units available to the community will enable more citizens wh o
work in the community to live in the community and will meet General Plan goals for residential development .
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•POLICIES AND OBJECTIVE S
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STATUS OF OTHER IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/HOMELESS SERVICE S
Objective. Continue to facilitate provision of affordable as well as market-rate housing and provide leadership i n
implementing the County's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness .
Action Pla n
1 .Seek grants to facilitate affordable housing projects .Ongoing
2 .Work with developers to include affordable housing units in projects and t o
complete housing projects in process .
Ongoing
3 .Continue to implement Housing Element programs.Ongoing
4 .Look for new opportunities to use Affordable Housing Fund and grant monies t o
leverage other funds for affordable housing projects .
Ongoing
5 .Work with service providers and the Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC )
director to understand needs of homeless population .
Ongoin g
6 .Continue HSOC participation to further the implementation of the 10-Year Plan .Ongoing
Status Summary : 50% Complete . The following is a summary of accomplishments and important next step s
for this goal .
Affordable Housin g
The City received 12 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications for the 2012 Program Year ,
including projects that meet each of the Council's adopted CDBG funding priorities . Staff coordinated a meeting
with the CEP Review Committee to develop preliminary recommendations to the Human Relations Commissio n
(HRC). On December 7, 2011, the HRC adopted funding recommendations for inclusion in the County 201 2
Draft Action Plan . On February 21, 2012, Council approved funding allocations of $573,125 for the 2012 CDBG
Program Year. The preliminary funding estimate was provided to the City by the County based on availabl e
information from the U .S . Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The recently adopted 201 2
Federal budget included a 12% reduction in overall CDBG program funding . On March 13, 2012, HUD release d
its new funding estimate for the County, which reflects the Federal budget reduction to the CDBG program an d
mandate to use the American Communities Survey data as the basis for determining allocation amounts . This has
resulted in an 11 .6% ($66,567) reduction to the City's 2012 Program Year allocation for a total allocation o f
$506,658 . On April 4, 2012, the HRC received a presentation on the proposed funding reductions and supporte d
staff's recommendations . On April 17, 2012, Council considered staffs proposed funding reductions and adopte d
funding modifications, which will be forwarded to the County Board of Supervisors for inclusion in the 201 2
Urban County Action Plan.
Staff researched the Housing-Related Parks (FIRP) grant program which is designed to encourage cities an d
counties to develop new residential housing by rewarding those jurisdictions that approve housing for low incom e
households . Funds from this grant program can be used for the creation of or improvements to park and recreatio n
facilities and recreation projects . Based on the number of new low income housing starts last year, the Cit y
qualifies for the minimum grant amount . On March 20, 2012, Council authorized staff to apply to the Californi a
State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for $117,450 of FIRP funds to be applie d
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POLICIES AND OBJECTIVE S
STATUS OF OTHER IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE S
towards the Santa Rosa Park playground equipment replacement project . On March 28, 2012, staff formall y
submitted the grant application to HCD for consideration .
Staff met with numerous developers and reviewed development projects for compliance with the City's
Inclusionary Housing Program. The City received its first development proposal in the Orcutt Area Specific Plan .
The development includes 146 dwelling units with a mix of affordability and housing types . The applicant i s
proposing approximately 25% of the units as affordable to very-low, low, and moderate income households . Thi s
level of dedication far exceeds the project's Inclusionary Housing requirement . The Village at Broad affordabl e
housing project developed by ROEM Corporation on 2201 Emily Street is now complete and occupied . This
project includes 42 rental apartment units 100% affordable ex tremely-low, very-low, and low income household s
earning 30% to 60% of the area median income within the County .
Staff completed a draft version of the South Broad Street Corridor Plan (SBSCP) that has been updated to reflec t
development intensity called for by the proposed form-based codes . An Environmental Impact Report is require d
to be completed to address potentially significant traffic impacts which will be completed as a part of the Lan d
Use and Circulation Elements (LUCE) update process . On February 15, 2012, the plan was reviewed by th e
Airport Land Use Commission for consistency with the density provisions established in the Airport Land Us e
Plan (ALUP). Overall, the Commission was in general support of the Plan and determined that anticipated densit y
was well below the ALUP's maximum allowable for the area . On February 29, 2012, staff met with the SBSC P
focus group to provide an update on the Plan and review process . Overall, focus group comments were ver y
positive regarding changes that have been made to ens-tut the Plan is more usable and understandable . Staff
• anticipates bringing the Plan to the Planning Commission for review and endorsement in fall 2012, with Counci l
consideration in late fall 2012 . Formal adoption of the Plan will occur after Council approval of the LUC E
update .
On October 4, 2011, Council approved an Affordable Housing Fund award for the Housing Trust Fund in th e
amount of $30,000 . This award improves the City's ability to facilitate affordable housing and provides technica l
assistance to City staff and developers of affordable housing in the City . The award leverages significan t
additional funding from other sources .
The 1550 Madonna Road property (HUD 120-unit affordable housing project) has been offered for sale . This
property is currently owned by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America . The property i s
approximately seven acres in size and includes 120 residential apartment units . The project was constructed i n
1971 and has been deed-restricted as affordable housing under a HUD 236 loan since occupancy . This loan cam e
to maturity on March 2, 2012, and the property owners have decided to sell the property . Vitus Group, Inc, a n
affordable housing developer, has entered into a purchase agreement with the owners . Vitus Group's financin g
strategy includes the issuance of tax-exempt bonds to assist with property acquisition and rehabilitation . On
March 13, 2012, Council authorized the California Municipal Finance Authority, on behalf of Vitus Group, t o
issue up to $15,000,000 in tax exempt bonds to finance the project . This is a positive outcome since there wer e
several market rate developers that bid on the property. Vitus Group plans to maintain the 120 units as affordabl e
to low and very-low income households earning 50-60% of area median income within the County . Vitus Grou p
is currently working on planning and building documents to submit to the City for review and approval .
Staff completed a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review for the disposition of 172
public housing units owned by HASLO . Historically, HASLO has been able to meet the operating and capita l
needs of public housing through a combination of tenant rental income, HUD operating subsidies and capital fun d
grants . However, in recent years, funding from all three sources has declined significantly . In order to properly
maintain and operate the public housing units, HASLO is proposing to dispose of the units to an affiliated non -
profit through the means of a long-term lease . This would allow for additional funding from a more stable sourc e
than HUD .
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POLICIES AND OBJECTIVE S
STATUS OF OTHER IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE S
Staff continued efforts to implement an Affordable Housing Monitoring Program . Staff developed compliance
questionnaires and met with the City Attomey prior to mailing to all owners, renters and property managers o f
Inclusionary Housing units. These questionnaires were mailed out on March 16, 2012, and staff is currentl y
reviewing responses for compliance with the City's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Affordable Housin g
Standards, Staff met with the City Attorney on April 18, 2012 to review questionnaire results and determine "nex t
steps" for those units that appear to be out of compliance with program requirements . Staff is also developing a n
ongoing formal process to monitor the City's Inclusionary Housing units .
On April 4, 2012, staff completed and submitted a local reviewing agency project evaluation form for ROE M
Development Corporation's 313 South Street Tax Credit Allocation Committee application . This document i s
required to be submitted to the State by local agencies with projects requesting low income housing tax credits .
The 313 South Street project includes 42 affordable housing rental units within four three-story buildings . The
units would be available for rent to extremely-low, very-low and low income households earning 30% to 60% o f
the area median income within the County . The project has received public assistance commitments from a
variety of sources including CDBG, Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), City Affordable Housin g
Fund, and development review and impact fee waivers . Local support is necessary for the project to be
competitive for tax credits on a State-wide basis .
Homeless Services
Staff has met with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) and County staff on a monthl y
basis regarding funding opportunities for the proposed Homeless Services Facility on 3451 South Higuera Street .
On February 21, 2012, Council approved $50,000 in CDBG fund ing from the 2012 Program Year to help fun d
pre-development costs for the design and construction of the Facility . This is in addition to the $25,000 CAPSLO
received in CDBG funds from the 2011 Program Year . The City also contributed $2,500 to fill a funding gap t o
open the warming station at Prado Day Center during times of inclement weather .
In recent yea's, RV's and even automobiles have increasingly emerged as a form of shelter for persons who hav e
not been able to obtain transitional or permanent housing and are seeking to escape the elements . On February 6 ,
2012, CAPSLO submitted a proposal to the City to establish a safe parking pilot program at the Prado Day Cente r
to address this growing community issue and advance a key goal to provide a form of transitional housing
consistent with the 10-Year Plan . On March 20, 2012, Council adopted a resolution to temporarily suspend th e
enforcement of Municipal Code Chapter 17 .16.015 (Recreational vehicle as dwelling unit) for six months for th e
Prado Day Center parking lot and authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with CAPSLO t o
implement a safe parking pilot program for up to five vehicles, subject to conditions . Staff is working with
CAPSLO on operational and budget details to implement the program consistent with Council's approval .
0 =council memouandu m
city of san Luis osispo, aOmmistRation Oepantmen t
DATE :
July 30, 201 2
TO :
City Council
FROM :
Katie Lichtig, City Manage r
SUBJECT :
City Resources Allocated for Homeless Services and Preventio n
Staff' has been asked to prepare a memo describing the range and scope of City resources that ar e
currently allocated to homeless services and prevention efforts . "Affordable Housing an d
Homeless Services" is currently identified by the City Council as an "other important objective "
in the 2011-13 Financial Plan . The objective of this goal follows .
Continue to facilitate provision of affordable as well as market-rate housing and provide
leadership in implementing the County's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness .
To achieve this objective, City staff members work closely with a variety of social servic e
providers and the Countywide Homeless Services Oversight Council . This work include s
administration of the City's Grants-In-Aid program, administration of the Communit y
Development Block Grant program, and participation in the planning and execution of a variet y
of special projects including the warming shelter at the Prado Day Center, the safe parking pilo t
program, and the homeless services center project .
Many activities that the City supports are not directly related to homelessness, but may in fac t
serve a homeless population . These include support for certain very-low income and transitiona l
housing projects, and support for social service programs such as Alliance for Pharmaceutica l
Access and the Noor Foundation that provide medical support and services to homeles s
individuals among their clientele .
Attached is a spreadsheet that lists all of the City's direct costs related to homelessness and socia l
services for fiscal year 2012-13 . Please let me know if you have any questions or comment s
about the attached information .
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City of San Luis Obispo - Homeless Services Suppor t
General Fund Suppor t
Prado Day Center 2012-1 3
Prado Day Center Direct Contribution $53,70 0
Bus Tokens for Prado Day Center $11,30 0
Water & Sewer Service""$ 24,07 0Garbage Service""$3,87 0
$92,940
Maxine Lewis Shelter Direct Contribution $45,000
Note : The City provided the land for th e
center at no charge and no annual lease .
"" Funding based on 2011-12 fiscal yea r
invoices
HRC Grants Related to Homelessnes s
CAPSLO - Case Management Homeless Prevention/Stabl e
Housing Projec t
People Self-Help Housing / Homelessness Preventio n
Women's Shelter / Homeless Preventio n
AIDS Support Network - AIDS Homeless Prevention
2012 .1 3
$8,000
$5,000
$5,00 0$4,00 0$22,00 0
Community Development - CDBG Funding 2012-1 3
CAPSLO - Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter $85,969
CAPSLO - Homeless Service Center Design & Drawings $50,000
(Total CDBG Funding 1$135,969
CDBG Grants not or indirectly related to Homelessnes s
CDBG Administration $40,52 5
Tri-Counties Housing Corporation $95,00 0
Habitat for Humanity $30,00 0
ROEM Development Corporation $39,26 3
Housing Element Implementation (City of SLO)$60,78 7
Total $265,575
HRC Grants (General Fund) not or indirectly related to Homelessnes s
Alliance for Pharmaceutical Access $2,70 0
Alpha Pregnancy & Parenting Support $3,00 0
Assistance League of SLO County $4,00 0
Big Brother Big Sister $4,00 0
CAPSLO / Adult Wellness $5,00 0
Casa Solana' God Beds $4,50 0
Community Counseling Center $4,50 0
SA $6,00 0
od Bank Coalition of SLO County/Senior Brown Bag $10,00 0
ALA - Q Youth Project $2,00 0
Literacy Council SLO County $6,00 0
Special Projects :
Prado - Safe Parking Program $3,75 0
ado - Warming Station (2011-12 Funding)$2,50 0
$6,25 0
r Foundation - in-house medical lab/supplies $5,000
e Cool Earth - Garden Matchmaking $3,000
La Clinica de Tolosa / Dental Care $2,000
Senior Nutrition / Hot Lunch Service $6,000
Senior Volunteer Services $1,50 0
Sexual Assault Recovery & Prevention Center $6,000
SLO child Dvelopment Center $8,00 0
SLO County Aids Support Network - Hepatitis C Project $4,000
SLO YMCA - Afterschool programs $2 .900
SLO Legal Alternatives Corp - Senior Legal Services $1,00 0
Special Olympics of SLO County $1,500
Transition Mental Health - Growing Grounds $2,500
Transition Mental Health - SLO Hotline $3,00 0
United Way - 211 Helpline $3,50 0
Wilshire Community Services : Good Neighbor program $2,00 0
Wilshire Community Services : Senior Peer Counseling $1,00 0
Total.'$104,600
Total Social Services Funding not or indirectly related t o
homelessness $370,175
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