DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood and Housing Services Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Verónica R. Soto, FAICP, Neighborhood and Housing Services Department Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUMMARY:
Director to report updates on Neighborhood and Housing Services Department Programs
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Each month the Director prepares a report on program updates directly affecting the Commission and its charge.
ISSUE:
Topics to be discussed are: (a) Follow up Answers to Questions Asked During Commission Meeting on April 28, 2021; (b) Fiscal Year 2022 Budget; (c) SHIP & ForEveryoneHome Update; (d) Housing Bond Update; (e) Housing Voucher Incentive Policy Update; (f) Chief Housing Officer Update; (g) Equity Action Plan; (h) Upcoming Meetings
a) Follow up Answers to Questions Asked During Commission Meeting on April 28, 2021
During the April 28, 2021 meeting, Commissioners asked 7 questions regarding the following topics:
• March Meeting Minutes
• Housing Affordability Definition
• Retreat Report
• Fair Housing
b) Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Update
The City Council will have a priorities setting session for the FY 2022 Budget on June 25, 2021. Staff will provide updates as budget development continues.
c) SHIP & ForEveryoneHome Updates
Work on both the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP) and ForEveryoneHome initiative continues through May. The ForEveryoneHome initiative conducted a public survey which closed on April 30th and received 311 responses. The ForEveryoneHome team is currently selecting two of the 34 recommendations to be fully developed by Grounded Solutions Network into implementation plans through June.
The selected strategies as well as other priority items from ForEveryoneHome will be incorporated into the SHIP. The four stakeholder forums began workshopping strategies in May and expect to have complete drafts in June.
d) Housing Bond Update
On May 1, San Antonio voters passed an amendment to the City Charter which allows the City is issue bonds for any public purpose not prohibited by the Texas Constitution, which greatly increases the uses in future housing bond elections. This amendment allows for City staff to begin the process to recommend an affordable housing bond that aligns with the City’s Housing Policy Framework, the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP) and the ForEveryoneHome initiative.
The proposed timeline for the next City bond program slated to go before the voters is May 2022. Prior to the election, the City will be supporting several citizen bond committees who will make determinations on specific bond priorities and projects. The Housing Commission has been asked by the Mayors’ office to develop a set of evaluation criteria for bond projects.
e) Housing Voucher Incentive Policy Update
The San Antonio City Council considered an ordinance that would ban property owners who receive city incentives from refusing to rent to someone who uses a housing voucher to help pay their rent. The Housing Commission unanimously supported this measure at their February meeting. During the May 13 meeting of City Council, the item passed unanimously, and councilmembers thanked the Commission for their work.
f) Chief Housing Officer Update
Candidates for the Chief Housing Officer position were screened in Spring 2020 and none were selected after a recruitment process that included extensive community input and engagement on the job description and the qualities desired for the Chief Housing Officer. Several Housing Commissioners provided this feedback directly to the recruiter in late 2019 prior to the formal job posting. The hiring process was placed on hold through COVID-19. Discussions are currently underway regarding next steps to reinitiate the recruitment process.
g) Equity Action Plan
In collaboration with the Office of Equity, NHSD staff developed a draft Equity Action Plan for the departments use over the next two years. The draft plan focuses on tracking the impact of NHSD programs on racial disparities in community and incorporates suggested actions from ForEveryoneHome as well as internal changes.
h) Upcoming Meetings
The next regular meeting will be held on June 23, 2021.
ALTERNATIVES
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.