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: September 12, 2023 PLACE OF MEETING: In Person (City Hall Dogwood Room) w/ Virtual Option MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Meredith Anderson at 6:33 p.m. THOSE PRESENT: Commission Members Guests Meredith Anderson – Chair Phil Duncan, Council Member (Virtual) Jordan Hicks – Vice Chair Paul Boesen Hannah Jordan Michelle Parfett Justine Underhill Maria Marcus City Council Liaison Mikayla Edmunds, Student Rep Letty Hardi Joseph Cobucci, Student Rep Staff Kayleen Mark Brenden Woodley 1. Call to Order – Chair Meredith Anderson a. Call to order at 6:33 by Chair Meredith Anderson 2. Roll Call – Chair Meredith Anderson 3. Approval of Minutes – Chair Meredith Anderson a. Hanna Jordan and Mikayla Edmunds noted edits b. Jordan Hicks moved to approve c. Justine Underhill seconded d. Motion passed 4. Public Comments – Chair Meredith Anderson  i. No Public Attendees 5. Welcoming Falls Church - Paul Boesen a. This is the first formal check-in since program launch b. Welcoming Falls Church is a Refugee resettlement program i. The hope is the program will to catalyze more action to facilitate immigrant resettlement ii. Inspired by Pittsburgh iii. 18 mo. partial rent subsidies to extend beyond federal 3 mo subsidy c. The team held events like community engagements and book talks d. 3 families have arrived so far e. Brenden Woodley asked what sort of communications strategy are you using to get the word out? i. Paul Boesen responded the program is still in pilot and with success they will start coordinating f. Letty Hardi asked what the plan when the program runs out of the starter money i. Paul Boesen responded that they will begin planning now 6. Quinn/Homestretch project update a. Meredith Anderson said the feedback from community that we also want to have affordable units in the building b. Letty Hardi suggested maybe using the $1.9million elsewhere where we are better able to help more people who can’t afford services for example at Sunrise c. Justine suggested we use the interest from the $1.9 million to buy down market rate units that way we are able to help more people instead of providing services for 2 households d. Jordan Hick mentioned the goal of housing commission is to help more people attain affordable housing instead of 2 people with medical costs and we should discuss ways to use the $1.9 million 7. Housing Goals a. Hannah Jordan spoke on support for Unhoused populations b. Brenden Woodley mentioned the Demographer's Study progress i. First Draft submitted to staff for review ii. The City is planning a joint review session with the Housing and Planning Commission for December 6th 8. Housing Update – Staff Kayleen Mark a. Kayleen Mark gave update on Market rate CCAU i. Merrill house agreed to 2 units b. ADU Recertifications have been done 9. Affordable Homeownership Program Update – Staff Brenden Woodley a. Brenden Woodley gave primary updates i. Two closing now scheduled 1. One for this week and one for the 28th ii. Program Interest: Increase in online submissions from 124 to 143, total increase of 19. iii. Eligible Buyers: Increase from 3 to 10(inclusive of the closings), more than triple since our last meeting  iv. Offers have been made for 200 N Maple, however people have preferences for other units v. The City updated the Covenant and is preparing for the upcoming closings vi. The City signed the SPARC agreement with Va Housing vii. NHP is touring new properties including any 3 bedroom that comes on market viii. Marketing: The City has updated the program flyer and it will be a part of City tax correspondence ix. The City will send out a press release to media outlets to notify of the successful closings 10. VA Village Update – Staff Brenden Woodley a. Brenden Woodley gave primary updates: i. Wesley and the City continue to have weekly meetings to scope out costs for the project ii. The City and Wesley met with Va Housing to discuss Loan terms iii. The City and Wesley are preparing to submit all loan paperwork to Va Housing iv. Once this loan submission is done, a closing date can be established. b. HHS will update Council on Va Village at the 9/26 Council meeting c. HHS is Working with Wesley on CDBG application for FY23 then FY24 11. Other a. BW mentioned the Housing Commissioner position application was withdrawn 12. Adjourn 8:38p