DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood and Housing Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Verónica R. Soto, AICP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on the City’s Affordable Housing Business Plan progress for the month of January 2019
SUMMARY:
Briefing on the progress regarding the implementation of the City’s Affordable Housing Business Plan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The FY 2019 Adopted Budget includes $25 million for Affordable Housing initiatives including $17 million in new funding. The $25 million budget includes $11.7 million for housing preservation and repair, $3.2 million for homebuyer assistance, $1.4 million to develop a coordinated housing system, $7.7 million for gap financing, and a $1 million risk mitigation fund. In November, the City received a $1 million private sector donation for additional funding for our Under 1 Roof program.
ISSUE:
Below is a table that summarizes the implementation status for the 10 housing-related activities that are included in the FY 2019 Affordable Housing Business Plan. Following the table are summary paragraphs that provide updates on each activity.
|
Activity |
2019 Status (October through January) |
|
Consolidate City Housing Staff into the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department (NHSD) |
Completed |
|
Affordable Housing Coordination across all Housing Entities |
On Schedule |
|
Reconstitute the Housing Commission |
Completed |
|
LISC Support Contract Execution |
Completed |
|
Under 1 Roof Program Delivery |
Behind Schedule 83 of 109 Roofs Completed |
|
Owner Occupied Rehab Program Delivery |
Behind Schedule 71 of 72 Clients Qualified |
|
Homebuyer Assistance & Counseling Programs |
Behind Schedule 39 of 67 Clients Completed |
|
Housing Trust & PFC Strategic Plan Development |
On Schedule |
|
Gap Financing awards for new Affordable Rental and Homeownership Development Projects |
Completed |
|
Develop a Risk Mitigation Fund Policy |
On Schedule |
Consolidate staff
• Housing related services that were administered by the Office of EastPoint and the Department of Human Services were consolidated into NHSD
• 11 positions were transferred to NHSD in late September, eight from the Human Services Department and three from the Eastpoint offices.
Coordinated Housing System
• A total of eight employees will coordinate with over 30 housing partners in the community to coordinate information and strategies for affordable housing in San Antonio.
• Six of the eight positions have been filled and have begun engaging with the partner agencies to coordinate affordable housing strategies.
o The Affordable Housing Administrator position will be filled by early February
o The final position will be advertised and filled in the last quarter of FY 2019 as scheduled in the affordable housing three-year business plan.
Reconstitute the Housing Commission
• City Council approved the restructuring of the San Antonio Housing Commission by updating the name, composition, charge, and appointment terms.
• The new Housing Commission is comprised of nine members.
o Five of the nine members were at large appointments and approved by City Council on Thursday, January 17.
o The remaining four are the CEO, or their designee, of VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio Housing Authority, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, and the San Antonio Housing Trust.
LISC Contract Execution
• The FY 2019 $250,000 contract with LISC was fully executed in early October.
o LISC will support at least 396 units of affordable housing over the year.
o LISC is required to provide at least 75 hours of Technical Assistance to at least six non-profit and/or governmental agencies, to invest $182,000 in Capacity Building funding to non-profit organizations engaged in community development work in San Antonio, and to commit at least $1.5 million in capital to support community development real estate projects in San Antonio.
Under 1 Roof
• 83 roofs have been replaced up to January 2019. That is 26 roofs behind schedule of 109.
• Staff is coordinating with City Attorney’s Office to expedite qualifying of applicants resulting in program being back on schedule by February.
Owner Occupied Rehabilitation
• Qualified 71 residents for the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation, one less than expected.
• Construction of homes will begin in the second quarter of FY 2019. Rehabilitation of the homes will be done in a staggered approach starting in February 2019.
Homebuyer Assistance & Counseling Programs:
• Assisted 39 residents close on a mortgage loan, 28 less than target of 67 year to date.
• 24 residents prequalified for the program are currently searching for a home to buy.
• Staff meetings with realtors, developers and Community Housing Development Organizations to increase participants.
Strategic Plan/Review of Housing Trust & Public Facility Corporation:
• Staff has begun reviewing and collecting background documentation for the San Antonio Housing Trust (SAHT) third-party assessment.
• Staff also has notified the SAHT and Public Facility Corporation/Finance Corporation Board of Directors to ensure they understand and are committed to the organizational review process.
• The recommended consultant that was selected through a Request for Proposals process was considered by City Council on January 17 and began their work in January 2019.
Gap Financing
• Two Requests for Applications were released for gap financing of new affordable housing units for Rental Housing and Homeownership Housing developments.
o 330 Rental Housing units to be developed through the RFA (goal was 111).
o 53 Homeownership Housing units to be developed through the RFA (goal was 25).
o Development projects will yield over 380 new affordable housing units which are 269 more units than the goal metrics.
• The Rental Housing Development projects were approved by City Council on December 6 and the Homeownership Development Projects were considered by City Council on January 10.
o The Rental Units will be for those at or below 60% AMI and the Homeownership Units will be for those at or below 80% AMI.
Risk Mitigation Fund
• The Risk Mitigation policy is on schedule and was reviewed by the Comprehensive Plan Committee on January 16. The Risk Mitigation policy will provide guidelines for the utilization of the $1 million Risk Mitigation Fund included in the FY 2019 Budget for the displacement of residents in San Antonio.
• Staff held four additional community input meetings in order to develop a draft risk mitigation policy frame work.
• Final version will be presented to Comprehensive Plan Committee on February 20 and to City Council on March 7.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This report is for briefing purposes only
RECOMMENDATION:
This report is for briefing purposes only