Housing Commission

MINUTES HOUSING COMMISSION PURPOSE OF MEETING: The five-member Commission is appointed by the City Council for three-year terms. The Housing Commission maintains awareness of housing needs and opportunities, including affordable housing; proposes housing policy initiatives and changes; investigates fair housing complaints and conciliates these complaints; mediates conflicts relating to the Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act and offers reconciliatory services in conflicts relating to other housing laws. DATE OF MEETING: October 21, 2014 PLACE OF MEETING: The Oak Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: _Julio Idrobo AT: 6:35 p.m. THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Julio Idrobo, Vice-Chair ____X___ Dana Lewis: ______X______ Donald Brobst ___X____ Sue Richter ____X_____ Tori McKinney ___X____ M.T. Gutmanis __X__ Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Chairman Idrobo. Approval of Minutes: No minutes to approve Public Hearing Presentation of two CDBG applications: 1. Mount Daniel Elementary School – Request $8,720 Presenter: Kathy Halayko, Principal, Mount Daniel In 2002 the Literacy Program began and over the years it changed to include a Family Outreach Program. The Outreach Program has evolved into two areas the Homework Club and ESOL program. Both programs have supports for families to assist in self- sufficiency, learning English, and preparing for their place in the work force and achieving citizenship. The Adult English Language Class has five adults attending. They have had a hard time finding an instructor last year but have secured an instructor for this year. With this program, adults begin with developing the foundations for learning basic skills and English language. In addition to building the adult learners’ education and employment skills, they recognize the creative thinking skills as well as problem solving and interpersonal skills.  Homework Club assists children with their homework. Many of the children have parents or grandparents in the home who have limited or no English language skills, which means little or no help with their homework. The goal of this program is to give the children much needed assistance with school work and to provide enrichment in the areas of reading, writing and math. A second goal is provide the parents and other family members with the opportunity and strategies to help their child with their school work. Questions from Commissioners: You had five adults last year are there any newcomers this year? Last year they were all new and are still in the program. Is it difficult to find teachers for ESOL program? There are two types of learning in the classes. The ESOL is a more structured program and it is harder to retain participants. What are they doing different to make the program successful? They change the learning of each participant. It is difficult at times for the instructor based on the knowledge of each participant and the instructor gears the instruction toward each one to give them what they need. Any type of resources – how do you refer to another level of coordination? We have referred participants to NOVA. They have done much recently since there are no resources. The instructor this year has experience in teaching different levels. If funds were not an issue what is the estimated pool to serve? Approximately 40 families if they felt it was needed. What is the number of participants in the Homework Club? We have 25 families and five adults in the Adult Education program. How often does the Homework Club and Adult Education Programs meet? The Homework Club meets once a week at the Boy Scout House on Spring Street. Any of the clients from Homestretch attend? No they don’t With happens if you don’t get all CDBG funds requested? We would have less amount of time for the programs. Also the School Board likes the model of this program and they have encouraged this for other schools. They are looking for grants to fund this program. 2. FCHC Virginia Community Development Corporation – Request $85,000 Presenter: Carol-Ann Mason Funding is for two projects that are 1) the replacement of a 20-year old boiler in Winter Hill Apartments and 2) repair concrete issues around the property that includes: sidewalks and steps, curb and gutter repairs, and replacing the ADA ramp for accessibility.  The broiler heats thirty three units, the office and the Community Room. The Community Room also serves as the emergency heating and cooling center for the community. Questions from Commissioners: What are the numbers of proposals received for the broiler? The RFP is not done yet and cannot be done until the funding is approved. Of the two components of this proposal which is the most important? They are equally important. On the ADA ram, do you need a new one or to redo one? Do they need additional ramps? The ramp needs to be redone and I’m not sure how many ramps or if they need additional ones. Second part of the proposal is a surprise since the first project is safety issues and shouldn’t the repairs be done as part of the normal repair and maintenance? I don’t see any additional resources for this project. Do they have additional resources to do this just in case? They would find the money somewhere to make the repairs. Do you have a capital budget? What are the long term capital budget expenditures for these types of things? Would like to know what the capital expenditure side is or the operating budget. Will need to check on this and get the information. How many broilers on the property and have they all been upgraded? Will have to get back on this answer. Will provide to Dana Lewis. END OF PUBLIC HEARING New Business: Discussion of final funding recommendation for FY2016. A lengthy discussion took place regarding the CDBG/HOME grant funding recommendations. The Commission looked at the needs, scores, and debated each proposal’s merit. The Commission reviewed the funds available for public services and nonpublic services versus what was requested. In the event that additional funds become available, the Housing Commission voted allocating the remaining amount among the proposals that did not receive full funding based on HUD requirements. In the event funds are decreased then this deduction would also be distributed equally among all proposals. Available Requested Public Service $ 7,946 $23,720 Non Public Service $85,296 $85,000 A consensus was reached by the Commissioners on the funding recommendations for each of the programs as follows: Public Service proposals (3 proposals received) - $7,946 available Mt. Daniel Family Outreach Program: ESOL Adult Literacy Program and Homework Club - $8,720 requested Recommended to fund $$2,946 for this program. Their score was 17.6 Falls Church Community Services Council: Emergency Assistance Program – requested $4,000 Recommended to fund $4,000 for this program. Their score was 17.4 CASA de Maryland: Tenant Counseling – requested $11,000 Recommended to fund $1,000 for this program. Their score was 14 Non Public Service Proposal (1 proposal received) - $85,296 available FCHC Virginia Community Development Corporation: Senior Project Enhancements for Safety Issues – requested $85,000 Recommended to fund $85,000 for this program. Their score was 13.4 HOME funds (1 proposal received) = $ $26,081 available Homestretch: Traditional Housing for Homeless Families – Requested $26,000 Recommend to fund $26,000 for this program. Other required funding: Funding is required for CDBG administration – Total $10,595 which is split in half between the City of Falls Church Housing and Human Services and Arlington County for administration. Staff Report: • Staff is working on the convents at Rushmore. They have more units when doing the calculations (18 units). • It was reported at a meeting at George Mason High School last week, that since the Silver Line has opened ridership has gone down at the West Falls Church Metro Station. Overall parking lot is 75% full. • Chair Idrobo reported he attended a development roundtable and was asked about the housing policy regarding the new development. They attendees all asked why we don’t get more units back from the developers. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.  Community Development Block Grant and HOME Program Funding Recommendations FY2016 RECAP FY 16 Housing FY 16 FY 16 Commission FY 15 CDBG CDBG CDBG App CDBG Applicant/Project Award Requested Score Recommend Public Services Falls Church City Public Schools Mt. Daniel Family Outreach Program 5,000 8,720 17.6 2,946 Falls Church Community Services Council Emergency Monetary Assistance 3,249 4,000 17.4 4,000 CASA de Maryland Tenant Counseling N/A 11,000 14 1,000 Total 23,720 7,946 Non-Public Services FCHC Virginia Community Development Corporation Senior Project Enhancements for Safety Issues 55,000 85,000 13.4 85,000 Housing & Human Services CDBG Administration (required) 5,421 5,297 Required 5,297 Arlington County CDBG Administration (required) 5,421 5,298 Required 5,298 Total 95,595 85,296 FY16 Housing FY 15 FY 16 FY 16 Commission HOME PROGRAM Award Requested App Score Recommend Homestretch Transitional Housing for Homeless Families 20,000 26,000 18.7 26,000 Total 26,000 26,000 The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703 248-5005, (TTY 711).