Housing Commission

City of Falls Church Housing Commission MINUTES 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: January 12, 2021 PLACE OF MEETING: Virtual MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chair Jordan Hicks at 6:30 PM THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Jordan Hicks, Vice Chair Dana Lewis Joshua Shokoor, Chair Akida Rouzi Peter Davis Nancy Vincent Kristina Martinez Planning Commission Liaison Meredith Anderson Student Liaison FCHC Liaison Jessie Cummings Thom Vaccaro Jillian Kendrick Council Liaison Guest: Letty Hardi Phil Duncan- Resident Debbie Hiscott Brian Bowden Marc Davis Scott Adams Maury Stern Deborah Roth Andrea Caumont Minutes from the December 8, 2020 meeting were Approved Proceedings: Meeting and Roll called to order – Vice Chair Hicks at 6:35 PM Reading of Virtual Meeting Notice – Staff Lewis Approval of Minutes – Vice Chair Hicks One motion to approve and seconded. Voluntary Concessions Broad and Washington Request - Chair Shokoor, Scott Adams and Maury Stern, McGuire Woods Development  21 units with various housing types at 60% AMI – 18 units; 9 studio units at 40% AMI 9 units at 60% AMI 2 bedroom  Cash in lieu payments (City obtains cash in lieu payments instead of ADUs)  Option for voluntary concessions to be prioritized on Broad and Washington (possible 13 additional studio units at 80% AMI)  Option to achieve 10% of units as ADUs  Flexibility in AMI levels and unit types for additional ADUs Final Amazon Reach Project Application Submitted – Staff Lewis  Application submitted December 2020  Homeownership: partner with non-profit (National Housing Partnership/Falls Church Housing Corporation) to serve approximately 18 households – purchase market rate for sale housing to sell to city households whose programs meet the first-time homebuyer criteria  Sell at a lower rate for qualified buyers who meet the 50%-80% AMI (people who work/live in the city have the highest priority)  Up to $20k per property (some single-family detached townhouses and mostly condominiums for approximately 18 units)  When do we hear back about the application/when would the funds be available? COVID Vulnerable Populations Update – Staff Lewis  City receiving $13k from the VA Department of Housing and Community Development to assist residential/nonresidential customers with water payments (staff made 80+ phone calls, total of 6 to applied for funds)  CDC’s eviction moratorium extended till February  Homeownership relief through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: single family foreclosure moratorium extended through January 31, 2021  Deadline to request COVID-19 forbearance extended to February 28, 2021  As of December 8th, 309 rental checks have been provided to landlords  Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development received grant from CARES act to help past due water/utility bills – refer city residents to them  $5,000+ towards emergency utility assistance  5 day pay or quit notice to become 14 day pay or quit notice after notice to vacate  City shelter will not open this year due to social distancing concerns and lack of volunteers  Provided food to 58 persons, 45 gift cards for Thanksgiving, utilities provided to 23 residents and gift cards will be sent out for Christmas  Gave an update on what the City has done for vulnerable populations affected by COVID  Fifty-seven residents are being provided rental assistance this month and there has been one eviction but was not COVID related  Outreach continues with regards to services available Overview of Affordable Housing Fund – Policy & Application Process – Intern Noha Osman and Staff Lewis  Purpose is to maintain existing affordable housing and create new affordable housing  Funds awarded on application basis open to the public and are site specific and can be submitted at any time  Specialized housing is available for elderly, mentally/physically disabled or homeless persons  Funds are dispersed through city council who approves and authorizes contracts – restricted covenants will be recorded on the property Meeting Adjourned – 8:12 PM