Agenda - 01-22-2019 8-a - Minutes

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22 1 A Sponsored-based rental assistance component allows even greater flexibility and could be 2 used in two (2) different ways in conjunction with the Bond Program and/or HOME Program 3 where (1) a nonprofit or for-profit entity is developing new housing units or acquiring and 4 rehabilitating units. The vouchers are portable and would allow use at the new and/or acquired 5 sites, as well as at other sites owned by the participating non-profit and/or for-profit entities. 6 Under the (2) strategy, the Sponsor-based vouchers could be awarded to entities that agree to 7 provide supportive services to applicable tenants housed in their affordable units. 8 Note that this category of rental assistance will be employed in the future if the new program 9 receives a substantial investment to allow for its implementation. Staff included it in the initial 10 guidelines in case non-County funding is received in the near future that would allow for its 11 implementation. The category being recommended for initial implementation is tenant-based as 12 the funds appropriated only allow for approximately 15-20 vouchers. 13 14 Question 2: 15 Under the section on Funding Policies and Procedures, is there an error when 16 describing the OCHA Board as OCHA Board of Commissioners? 17 Yes that is an error. The section should read "The Orange County Board of County 18 Commissioners (BOCC) will review and approve all policies, procedures and guidelines, as well 19 as amendments, revisions or other changes for its new Local Rental Supplement Program. 20 However, given the experience the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) has with running 21 several federally-funded voucher programs, i.e. VASH and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) 22 Program, the BOCC will enter into an agreement with OCHA to administer the Local Rent 23 Supplement Program on behalf of the County. OCHA cannot implement any major policy 24 changes without the review and approval of the Orange County Board of County 25 Commissioners but may make minor changes to allow for best practices in the industry to be 26 incorporated or other minor revisions to ensure a smooth implementation, i.e. application 27 period, forms of outreach, etc. In addition, the OCHA, from time-to-time, may make 28 recommendations to the BOCC for other needed changes and/or revisions". 29 30 Page 2 — Responses to Commissioner Greene's Questions 31 Question 3: 32 Under the section on Screening &Assessment, what are the assumptions about support 33 services that these tenants will get? 34 For the tenant-based and project-based categories, there are no assumptions about the 35 provision of supportive services that a tenant may receive. Like the federally-funded Housing 36 Choice Voucher Program, the provision of supportive services is not mandated. This only takes 37 place with the Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher Program. That is why the statement is 38 included in the guidelines that "the individual must not require a level of care that is not offered 39 by the OC Local Rent Supplement Program". 40 Only the Sponsored-base Category allows for an option to award vouchers to entities seeking 41 vouchers and also providing supportive services. Note that even in this case, the OC-LRSP still 42 would not be providing funding for supportive services. 43 44 Question 4: 45 Where are the definitions for homelessness and victim of domestic violence? Is it 46 included in the document? 47 The definitions were not included in the document but staff used the definitions from the current 48 HCV Administrative Plan as it relates to homelessness and victims of domestic violence. These 49 definitions follow HUD policy regarding homelessness and domestic violence.