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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2024.09.19 - 41993 AGENDA ITEM: Amendment #1 to the Unlocking Doors Oakland County Policy and Reduce the Allocated American Rescue Plan Local Coronavirus Recovery Funds DEPARTMENT: Health & Human Services - Neighborhood and Housing Development MEETING: Board of Commissioners DATE: Thursday, September 19, 2024 9:30 AM - Click to View Agenda ITEM SUMMARY SHEET COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD Resolution #2024-4460 Motion to approve the attached amendment #1 to the Unlocking Doors Oakland County Policy and reduce the allocated American Rescue Plan Act Funds. ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY Amendment Penny Luebs INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Miscellaneous Resolution #21176 authorized the creation of the Unlocking Doors Oakland County program on a limited, one-time funded, pilot program basis with expenditures of up to $315,000 of American Rescue Plan Act – Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to provide rental housing accessibility assistance, adoption of program policies and procedures, and a contract for services with the Alliance for Housing to act as program administration, with Neighborhood and Housing Development Division acting as contract administrator for the program. The original contract for Unlocking Doors was in the budget amount of $315,000. Currently, $309,500 still remains unspent on this contract. Support from the County Executive team was given to request a reduction in the Unlocking Doors contract by $100,000 and move it into the Shelter Capacity Contract for new and additional shelter operations. Guide House has reviewed these requests and approved the updated scope amendment for Unlocking Doors and the use of funds for homeless shelter operations. On December 7, 2023 via resolution #2023-3612, the Board of Commissioners authorized an additional $2,000,000 to the Shelter Capacity Fund to be used to further increase the number of available emergency shelter beds for both individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community and to de-congregate currently available units to improve safety and privacy. Research shows that 1,147 individuals in Oakland County reported experiencing homelessness in 2022. Homelessness is defined as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes people on the street, in an emergency shelter, and places not meant for human habitation. Currently, Oakland County does not have enough shelter bed availability to address the needs of all homeless individuals. In order to increase the number of shelter beds and provide expansion of shelter availability for individuals who are homeless, Neighborhood & Housing Development, in conjunction with the Continuum of Care, will provide a one-time allocation of $100,000 for new shelter operations and additional expansion. POLICY ANALYSIS The policy and scope of the original Unlocking Doors program has been expanded to include the creation and administration of an Oakland County web-based housing platform, and to provide payments to landlords who lease to eligible individuals as defined in the policy through the platform. The expansion of the policy and scope will improve access to housing for individuals who have limited resources, poor credit, or other barriers to affordable leased housing by incentivizing eligible landlords and property managers to rent to those individuals based on the availability of the fund and pursuant to the policy. The grantee, Alliance for Housing, is uniquely qualified to implement and administer the Program as the Continuum of Care for Oakland County. BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No Committee members can contact Barbara Winter, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at 248.821.3065 or winterb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional information. CONTACT Khadija Walker-Fobbs, Officer ITEM REVIEW TRACKING Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 9/19/2024 AGENDA DEADLINE: 09/19/2024 9:30 AM ATTACHMENTS 1. Unlocking Doors Policy Amended (2024) COMMITTEE TRACKING 2024-09-10 Public Health & Safety - Recommend to Board 2024-09-19 Full Board - Adopt Motioned by: Commissioner Penny Luebs Seconded by: Commissioner Linnie Taylor Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell, Penny Luebs, Christine Long, Robert Hoffman, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson, Ann Erickson Gault, Linnie Taylor (15) No: Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat (2) Abstain: None (0) Absent: Kristen Nelson (1) Passed UNLOCKING DOORS OAKLAND PROGRAM POLICY SECTION I. PURPOSE Oakland County’s Unlocking Doors Oakland Program (the “Program”) is a tool to encourage landlords to rent to homeless persons who lack sufficient credit and rental payments references, or who are otherwise perceived as a high-risk tenant. The Program will be subsidized and operated by the Alliance for Housing Oakland County (Alliance for Housing), which is the Continuum of Care (CoC) for Oakland County. The Program will also include the CoC creation and administration of a web-based “Platform” where Program beneficiaries can find available rental units. Specific policies governing the fund were drafted with input from members of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, the Alliance for Housing registry/Community Interagency Service Team members, and local service providers to Oakland County’s homeless population. The Program parameters include: ▪All homeless persons who are working with a community-based housing program or Alliance for Housing program and/or; receive a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) with a Homeless Preference or Permanent Supportive Housing through the Alliance for Housing’s special programs will be eligible under the Program; ▪Landlords must first try and resolve tenant issues with the Case Manager prior to making a claim or processing an eviction; ▪The Program will, subject to this policy, reimburse the expenses to landlords for damages that exceed the amount covered by a tenant’s security deposit; ▪The Program will, upon Oakland County’s receipt of a request for reimbursement from the Alliance for Housing based on a landlord claim approved by the Alliance for Housing, pay to the Alliance for Housing an amount for the Alliance for Housing to reimburse the landlord for tenant caused damages identified in a Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspection, if the tenant cannot pay for them; ▪Landlords can only submit one claim per tenant; ▪Claims can only be made during a tenant’s first eighteen months in housing; and ▪Claim amounts are capped at a maximum of $3,000 per tenant. ▪Payments to Landlords renting units are capped at a maximum of $1,000 for a signed lease through the approved web-based Platform with an eligible beneficiary. SECTION II. PROGRAM OVERVIEW We all need a safe place to call home. Yet that basic need is increasingly out of reach for many people. Non-Congregate housing is a significant protective factor against the spread of COVID-19. The Alliance for Housing recognizes the investment of landlords willing to help homeless individuals and to help limit the spread of COVID-19. While over 90% of the homeless individuals housed through Alliance for Housing programs are successful, some landlords may be wary of renting to someone who does not have sufficient credit history or rental reference. The Program addresses this issue by offering eligible landlords a reimbursement for minor unit repairs when they rent their home or apartment to a homeless individual with a qualifying HCV. The Program helps preserve the investment of an eligible landlord while ensuring safe, affordable housing for someone in need. Additionally, the Program will offer landlords payment for leasing available units to eligible beneficiaries through a web-based Platform administered by the Alliance for Housing. SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS To be eligible for the Program, the landlord must: •Agree there will be an attempt to resolve tenant issues with the Case Manager prior to making a claim or initiating the eviction process (the Program should only be used as a last resort when no alternative method can be identified to address the issue with the tenant); and •Enter into a Housing Assistance Payment Contract with the Alliance for Housing and be in good standing with that contract. •Utilize the Platform to lease a housing unit to an eligible individual for payment. SECTION IV. QUALIFIED DAMAGES Only damages to property leased by an eligible landlord may be reimbursed from if the following conditions are met as evidenced by such landlord’s claim: -The tenant caused damages exceed the security deposit or the tenant caused damages are identified on an HQS inspection and will lead to eviction; -The damage was caused as a result of a tenant’s occupancy, while under a rental agreement at the time the damage was incurred; -The damage is beyond normal wear and tear; and -The tenant’s occupancy in the unit has not exceeded eighteen months. SECTION V. REIMBURSEMENT & PAYMENT PROCESS When an eligible landlord identifies that there are qualified damages to their property, they may submit to the Alliance for Housing a claim for reimbursement along with the documentation requested to support the claim. A landlord may only submit one claim per tenant and the reimbursement amount is capped at a maximum of $3,000. All claims will be verified prior to approval and are based on actual expenses incurred and paid. Approved claims will be paid within 30 days of submission. To submit a claim or request for lease payment, a landlord must undertake the following steps: 1. Contact the Program Manager designated by the Alliance for Housing to confirm eligibility to participate in the Program and obtain a Reimbursement Claim Form (the “Claim Form”) 2. The following documents must be attached with the Claim Form: -Documentation of efforts to resolve tenant issues with the Case Manager or Program Manager; -Documentation of the damages such as copy of the failed HQS inspection notice; -Tenant ledger showing amounts charged for damages and the security deposit held for the unit; -Invoices/receipts reflected as paid confirming the amounts requested; and -Any other documentation or information requested by the Program Manager to substantiate the claim described in the Claim Form. 3. Claim Forms must be submitted to the Program Manager: -Within the first sixty (60) days after the landlord takes possession of the unit; or -Within sixty (60) days of repairing tenant caused damages on a failed HQS inspection that would otherwise lead to eviction. 4. Request of payment for leasing a housing unit through the Platform to an eligible individual requires: -Submission of the signed lease to the Program Manager -Program Manager verification of unit listing on the Platform. SECTION VI. PROGRAM FUNDING Program funding may be reduced or eliminated based upon the ability of Oakland County to meet its primary constitutional and statutory duties. Oakland County expressly reserves the right to adjust the funds available through the Program at any time based upon the Oakland County budget needs and this caveat shall apply regardless of whether this statement is explicitly incorporated in any publications or documents relating to the Program.