HOW DO YOU SPELL HOUSING? P-H-A

HOW DO YOU SPELL HOUSING? P-H-A Workshop Presentation February 8, 2007 National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness By Hazel Weiss, M.A., HCD Manager Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department, Hayward, CA

The Playing Field, 1 Housing Quiz • Name the 10 most expensive states for renters. • Where does your state rank? • Name the most expensive US city for renters. • Name the leading obstacle in preventing homelessness.

The Playing field, 2 • Affordability Standard is paying no more than 30% of income for housing costs • A full-time worker at minimum wage ($5.15) cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment anywhere in the country. • Affordable rent for a full-time minimum wage worker is less than $300. • Nine in ten renter households earning average renter wage-$12.22-can’t afford a 2-bedroom apartment at FMR

Why partnering with your local public housing authorities is an important part of your community’s efforts to end homelessness They have RESOURCES! You can help them fulfill their mission They can help you fulfill your mission

PHA Resources • For example, Oakland Housing Authority in Oakland, CA provides: • 3,308 Public Housing units on 268 sites, • 1,386 units at large developments, • 1,615 units at scattered sites, and • 307 units in mixed-finance partnerships, and • 11,142 Section 8 Leased Housing units (rental assistance to private owners).

And, Oakland Housing Authority has: • A budgeted staff of 327 • Twelve major divisions: The Office of Real Estate Development; the Office of Program Administration including the Departments of Leased Housing, Financial Management, Management Information Systems, and California Affordable Housing Initiatives (CAHI), Inc; the Office of Property Operations with two Departments of Property Operations; the Departments of Human Resources and Police Services; and the Office of the Executive Director. • Your Agency has ? Staff and ? Major divisions? And ? Minor divisions…

More PHA Resources • The Housing Authority of Alameda County (HACA): • Provides rental assistance to over 7,000 low income households through its Section 8 and Affordable Housing programs • Tenant-based • Project-based assistance tied to specific dwellings • Owns 230 Affordable Housing (Public Housing) units

Where and How to Start Hint: think about a job search • Do your homework-research your PHA • Programs • Housing Choice Vouchers • Project-based Section 8 • Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation • Family Self-Sufficiency • HOPE VI • MTV

Keep on Going • History • Current issues and concerns • Identify points of intersection • Client needs • Resources • Organizational interests • Priorities • Mandates

Strategies • Capitalize on unique opportunities such as: • Making Transitions Work (MTW) program, A national effort to allow public housing authorities (PHAs) to design and test local approaches for Promoting self-sufficiency and reducing costs; • Preferences, special needs programs, set-asides • Formalize your agreements by Memorandums of Understanding or Contracts

SUMMARY • PHA’S ARE A VALUABLE RESOURCE. • DO YOUR RESEARCH. • IDENTIFY POINTS OF INTERSECTION • CAPITALIZE ON YOUR PHA’S UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES • FORMALIZE AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS. • “KEEP SMILING”

SPEAKER CONTACT INFORMATION Hazel Weiss, M.A. HCD Manager Co-chair, National Shelter Plus Care Coalition (NSC) Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department 224 W. Winton Avenue, Room 108 Hayward, CA 94544 voice: 510-670-5941 fax: 510-670-6378 TTD: 510-265-0253 email: hazel.weiss@acgov.org

HOW DO YOU SPELL HOUSING? P-H-A