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: February 9, 2021 PLACE OF MEETING: Virtual MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Chair Joshua Shokoor at 6:36 PM THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Staff Jordan Hicks, Vice Chair Dana Lewis Joshua Shokoor, Chair Noha Osman Peter Davis Planning Commission Liaison Kristina Martinez Andrea Caumont Meredith Anderson Student Liaison FCHC Liaison Jessie Cummings Thom Vaccaro Jillian Kendrick Council Liaison Guest: Letty Hardi Phil Duncan- Council Member Minutes from the January 12, 2020 meeting were Approved Proceedings: Meeting and Roll called to order – Chair Shokoor at 6:36 PM Reading of Virtual Meeting Notice – Staff Lewis Approval of Minutes – Chair Shokoor One motion to approve and seconded. Update -Voluntary Concessions Broad and Washington - Chair Shokoor  21 units with various housing types Total units– 18 units; 9 studio units at 40% AMI and 9 2 bedroom units at 60% AMI  Waiting list on a first come – first serve point system –utilizing ADU priorities  Cash in lieu payments (city obtains cash in lieu payments instead of ADUs) Tenant Response Update – Staff Osman  Office of Communication is putting it up  Distribute to rental buildings manually and put it on website  Waiting for IT to set up the automated message  “Fair Housing” definition to be included  “Landlord friendly language” propose changes about eviction process COVID-19 Vulnerable Populations Update - Staff Lewis  City receiving $13k from the VA Department of Housing and Community Development to assist residential/nonresidential customers to pay for utilities  CDBG funds will be utilized in March (1.5 months) after that we will no longer have funds  VA Rent Relief Program (CARES funds distributed to larger localities) new program scheduled to start in March ($520 million). City residents will utilize. o Each person is eligible for 15 months of rent assistance regardless of background/citizenship o Advocating that property managers apply for their residents o Anticipating shorter wait times  City funds still available for utilities and food if needed CDBG/ HOME UPDATE – Staff Lewis  Homestretch, Falls Church Housing Corp, Winter Hill using CDBG funds to serve members of the community. Programs are going well.  City holding weekly meetings with Fairfax County and Arlington regarding transition on July 1.  It will be the same amount of money allocated through Fairfax Affordable Housing Fund - Work Group Membership Nominations – Chair Shokoor/Staff Lewis  Recommendations made on Affordable Housing Fund Policy regarding prioritizing scoring system/affordable housing as a whole  Dedicate annual funding to the Affordable Housing Fund (can’t just rely on cash in lieu or ADU sales)  Council might be hesitant to put money into a fund with no projects  Applicants complete application with supporting documentation, Housing Commission convenes an Affordable Housing Fund workgroup  Recommendations for workgroup members to be emailed to Dana Lewis FY 2021 Housing Commission Annual Report – Chair Shokoor  Annual Report to be presented to the council  Any highlights/topics to be added to the 2020 report  To be completed within the next month  Send email recommendations to Joshua Shokoor Meeting Adjourned – 7:56 PM