The Home Forward YTD Board Packages link in the right pane has been updated with materials for the Tuesday, October 18th Board meeting. Meeting is 6:15 PM at Multnomah County Building 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
In reading the packet I noticed briefing materials on significant rent reforms planned for implementation in April of 2012.
From the Executive Director's Report to the Board, a summary of those changes:
...we are moving to calculating rent on gross income and eliminating a web of deductions that were intrusive for our residents and consumed inordinate staff time.
For seniors and persons with disabilities, we will set rent at 27.5 percent of gross income, with triennial reviews and no minimum rent. [Note: My calculation is that 65% of HF Public housing residents and about 50% of all HF tenant based voucher tenants are either elderly or disabled, so this appears to be a significant reduction in income verification workload].
For residents who are able to work, we will calculate rent at 27.5 percent of gross income for the first two years, and then increase it to the higher of 29 percent or a minimum rent of $100 a month in years three and four. Under the new system, a resident whose income increases will have a longer time before their rent increases.
Beyond four years, rent for residents able to work will be calculated at the higher of 31 percent or a minimum rent of $200 a month. Reviews will occur every two years for
these residents.
The new rent calculation will result in lower rents for the majority of our residents and higher rents for some. We’ve developed a phase-in and hardship policy that will cap
increases in certain cases and prevent excessive rent burdens in others. Work on implementation began in February. Rents will be calculated under the new
system starting April 1, 2012.
If you want to see the extensive planning and work that went into developing and implementing the rent reform changes take a look at "Attachment A" (PDF pages 28 to 31) to October 18th package. It
Changes Go Beyond Rent Reform:
In addition to the rent reform changes, Home Forward is also making multiple changes to their Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan [for PUBLIC Housing] (see PDF pages 52-71) and their Section 8 Administrative Plan (see PDF pages 72-79).
One example from the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan [for Public Housing]: HAP will now define "senior" as age 55 and older, instead of the prior definition of senior as age 62 and older.
One More Thing: Hillsdale Terrace Name Change; Relocation Update.
The proposed new name for Hillsdale Terrace is Stephens Creek Crossing. Packet materials also indicate this relocation update:
" Forty-four households will be relocated. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has provided sixty Section 8 vouchers for the project"
Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.
