OCHA Minutes 23-03-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HOUSING DEPARTMENT Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 6:00 PM Virtual Meeting: https://orangecountync.zoom.us/i/98126441099 • PHA-Web conversion commenced, 1st week of training done and 2nd week for last week of March Admin Plan Comprehensive Update Staff worked throughout 2022 to update the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan. This is the document required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) the outlines the details of HCV program processes and procedures. Staff aimed to reduce the bulk of this document, increase clarity, and incorporate trauma informed care into the policies and procedures outlines therein. Blake Rosser sent a document in advance of the meeting highlighting major changes as well as the old version of the Admin Plan, and the revised version of the Admin Plan. The February 2023 OCHA Board meeting began the discussion of these revisions and there are a few more items to consider. For the first of the unresolved items, the Board decided not to require Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) applicants to show a photo ID as part of the application process. The second item: Board like the language about OCHA "may" (not "must") terminate re: drug activity. There are many changes coming down the pike regarding drugs, including North Carolina potentially approving medical marijuana, and psychedelics becoming increasingly used for medical reasons. In practice, staff have only terminated Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) when participants have been evicted, as required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). The Board would like to have information about terminations as a standing item in the monthly Program Manager report, as well as a standing item that details how many formal and informal hearings were held the previous month, inclusive of the participant issue, decision, and any further actions. The process for informal hearings is that Staff Rosser schedules the meeting, with another Housing Dept. manager as "hearing officer" (HO). The HO hears evidence and sees relevant documents from both OCHA (represented by Staff Rosser) and participant/applicant, at which point hearing ends. Then, within 2 weeks the HO makes their determination, which Staff Rosser relays to the participant. A motion was made to approve the OCHA Administrative Plan as amended [Sykes, Carmody]. Mailing Address Hillsborough Office Chapel Hill Office P.O.Box 8181 300 W.Tryon Street 2501 Homestead Road Hillsborough,NC 27278 Hillsborough,NC 27278 Chapel Hill,NC 27516 Telephone(919)245-2490 • Fax(919)944-8496