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21 <br /> <br />However, the increased amount of HOME funds for rent subsidies will decrease the availability <br />of funds for security deposits and utility connections. Nevertheless, monies from the Risk <br />Mitigation and Housing Displacement Fund could be allocated to also cover the increase, but <br />these are usually one-time payments. <br /> <br />Implementation of the new OC-LRSP is proposed to begin in mid-January 2019 with an <br />announcement of the new program and a briefing for applicable service providers. The <br />application period is anticipated to begin February 1, 2019. However, this date may be delayed <br />for 10-15 days due to the integration of new software in order to handle the required new <br />Waiting List. <br /> <br />Approval is being sought to enter into an agreement with the Orange County Housing Authority. <br />This is due in part to HUD’s review of the overall agency and best practices in the public <br />housing industry. HUD requires an agreement between the parties if Housing Authority staff will <br />be used to conduct any part of the work. Most other communities (District of Columbia, Hawaii, <br />Massachusetts, Toronto, etc.) in the US and Canada who have or considered having a local or <br />state voucher program utilize a Housing Authority to administer the program. <br /> <br />Sherrill Hampton provided a sheet of answers to questions she received from <br />Commissioner Greene’s, the content of which she reviewed below: <br /> <br />RESPONSES TO COMMISSIONER GREENE’S QUESTIONS AND OTHER POINTS OF <br />CLARIFICATION <br />Question 1: <br />What would a “sponsor-based” rental assistance program be? <br />A Sponsored-based rental assistance component allows even greater flexibility and could be <br />used in two (2) different ways in conjunction with the Bond Program and/or HOME Program <br />where (1) a nonprofit or for-profit entity is developing new housing units or acquiring and <br />rehabilitating units. The vouchers are portable and would allow use at the new and/or acquired <br />sites, as well as at other sites owned by the participating non-profit and/or for-profit entities. <br />Under the (2) strategy, the Sponsor-based vouchers could be awarded to entities that agree to <br />provide supportive services to applicable tenants housed in their affordable units. <br />Note that this category of rental assistance will be employed in the future if the new program <br />receives a substantial investment to allow for its implementation. Staff included it in the initial <br />guidelines in case non-County funding is received in the near future that would allow for its <br />implementation. The category being recommended for initial implementation is tenant-based as <br />the funds appropriated only allow for approximately 15-20 vouchers. <br /> <br />Question 2: <br />Under the section on Funding Policies and Procedures, is there an error when describing <br />the OCHA Board as OCHA Board of Commissioners? <br />Yes that is an error. The section should read “The Orange County Board of County <br />Commissioners (BOCC) will review and approve all policies, procedures and guidelines, as well <br />as amendments, revisions or other changes for its new Local Rental Supplement Program. <br />However, given the experience the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) has with running <br />several federally-funded voucher programs, i.e. VASH and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) <br />Program, the BOCC will enter into an agreement with OCHA to administer the Local Rent <br />Supplement Program on behalf of the County. OCHA cannot implement any major policy <br />changes without the review and approval of the Orange County Board of County <br />Commissioners but may make minor changes to allow for best practices in the industry to be <br />incorporated or other minor revisions to ensure a smooth implementation, i.e. application period,