Loading...
10/09/2012 NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER October 9, 2012 Present: Peggy M. Cutkomp Chair Laurel E. Braswell Vice-Chair Lisa Hughes Board Member Linda Kemp Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Absent: Kip Corriveau Board Member Michael Potts Board Member Also Present: Geri Campos Lopez Economic Development & Housing Director Michael Holmes Housing Manager Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 3 – Approval of Minutes – September 11, 2012 Member Braswell moved to approve the minutes of the regular Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board meeting of September 11, 2012, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4 – Clearwater Housing Authority – Activities Update Clearwater Housing Authority Executive Director Jacqueline Rivera reviewed CHA’s (Clearwater Housing Authority) portfolio of properties in Clearwater, which includes public and mixed-income affordable housing. She said CHA’s subsidiary, Clearwater Housing Development Association, handles property management for CHA properties. Vacancies in the mixed-income properties are higher than wanted. CHA is working to acquire small multi-family properties for public housing, where preference for homeless families will be offered. The agency’s website is being updated. She said CHA also provides some administrative services to housing authorities in Dunedin and St. Petersburg for a fee. In response to questions, Ms. Rivera said CHA does not have assisted living facilities. She said CHA helps approximately 1,200 families with rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program; funding has increased since the agency sold Homer Villas and Jasmine Court (Condon Gardens), which were too expensive to maintain. She estimated the waiting list has 45 applicants for senior housing and 1,000 applicants for family housing. Ms. Rivera discussed the Housing Choice Voucher Program, CHA’s self sufficiency program, and the relationship between tenants, landlords, and CHA. She said while vouchers are portable, 98% of CHA issued vouchers are used in Clearwater. She said when families with Neighborhood & Affordable Housing 2012-10-09 1 CHA vouchers move out of Clearwater, the local authority usually absorbs these new residents into their rolls. 5 - City of Clearwater Homeless Initiatives Community Development Manager Ekaterini Gerakios discussed the history of homelessness in Clearwater, recent City efforts, and Clearwater’s new initiative, which coordinates efforts by agencies, faith based groups, the Pinellas County Sheriff, and Safe Harbor. The City is focused on behavior and does not intend to criminalize homelessness. Since June, progress has been made to change the culture of enabling homeless behavior and instead engages the homeless and encourages their participation in programs that would help them achieve self sufficiency. The City’s outreach team, with a Directions for Living representative and police officer, operates four days a week. They speak with homeless individuals and families and work to understand the root causes of their circumstances. Pinellas County needs significantly more housing units for homeless families, whose current living conditions are not tenable. Ms. Gerakios reviewed Metropolitan Ministries efforts to coordinate faith based groups to collect toys for low-income and homeless families. She requested board member input on homeless issues. Concerns were expressed that the number of homeless in residential communities on Clearwater Beach seems to have increased recently and many homeless sleep in unfit conditions in muck surrounding mangroves that line the Memorial Causeway. Discussion ensued regarding faith-based efforts to feed the poor and homeless. Housing Manager Michael Holmes referenced recent shortages at local food banks. 6 - Pinellas County Habitat for Humanity Community Housing Development Corporation, Inc. – CHDO Agreement Mr. Holmes reviewed the proposed agreement. Under the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program, the City must reserve at least15% of its HOME allocations for investment in housing to be developed, sponsored, or owned by CHDOs (Community Housing Development Organizations). In September 2011, Pinellas County Habitat for Humanity CHDO applied to be designated as a City eligible CHDO and for funding to develop affordable housing. Last December, the City entered into a CHDO agreement with the agency to provide $225,808.36 to develop affordable housing with funds from the FY (Fiscal Year) 2007, 2009 and 2010 HOME Program CHDO set-aside allocations. Due to delays outside the organization’s scope, the agency was unable to start the proposed project. The agency has obtained necessary approvals and now is ready to move forward with the same funding allocations. The new two-year agreement proposes to purchase three vacant parcels in the Stevens Creek Subdivision and build single-family homes. Staff certifies that Habitat CHDO meets HOME Program requirements. Member Hughes moved to recommend approval of a Community Housing Development Organization Agreement with Pinellas County Habitat for Humanity Community Housing Development Organization, Inc. to acquire and develop affordable housing units in the amount of $225,808.36; and recertify the agency as a City of Clearwater Community Housing Development Organization. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Neighborhood & Affordable Housing 2012-10-09 2 7—Old Business 7.1. Homeless Emergency Project— HEP West The Veteran Housing Grand Opening Ceremony is scheduled for October 25, 2012 at noon. Members were requested to verify attendance. 6— Next Meeting—November 13, 2012 7 -Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 10:17 a.m. followed by a tour of the Pinellas County Habitat for Humanity Stevens Creek Subdivision. / ��i� � Chair, �'- 2�; rhood . Affordable •1'- ' Advisory Board Attest: */A (11/41A---- Board Reporter Neighborhood &Affordable Housing 2012-10-09 3