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Agenda Report
April 15, 2024
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: William K. Huang, Director of Housing
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING: SUBMITTAL OF PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ANNUAL PLAN (2024) TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City of Pasadena (the "City"), as Successor Agency to the Pasadena Community Development Commission, after a public hearing:
1) Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per 15061 (b )(3), the "common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and
2) Approve the City's Public Housing Agency Annual Plan (2024), as attached to this report, and authorize the City Manager to execute any and all documents regarding its submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
BACKGROUND:
It is an annual requirement for the City of Pasadena ("City") to submit the Public Housing Agency Annual Plan ("Annual Plan") to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("hlUD") in order to remain eligible for funding for the Housing Choice Voucher ("HCV") program, commonly known as Section 8. The Annual Plan, along with the Five-Year Plan, make up the Public Housing Agency Plan ("PHA Plan").
The PhlA Plan consists of a HDD template and required attachments, the most significant of which is the Administrative Plan. The Administrative Plan lays out the policies and procedures of the rental assistance programs. The PhlA Plan utilizes a required format and is not a broader plan to address housing issues.
The current Five-Year Plan covers the period of 2020-2025 and was adopted by City Council on October 5, 2020. The Annual Plan 2024 describes the City's progress on MEETING OF 4/15/2024AGENDA ITEM NO..11
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2023
April 15,2024
goals that were set in the current Five-Year Plan, as well as any significant amendments or modifications to policies or procedures for the HCV program.
The HCV program administered by the City of Pasadena Housing Department ("CoPhlD", the name used by HDD to identify the City's public housing agency) provides housing assistance to approximately 1,400 very low and low-income households. This represents assistance for approximately two and a half percent (2.5%) of the households residing within the City of Pasadena. For the current fiscal year 2024, the total federal appropriation for the HCV Program is approximately $20.5 million.
ANNUAL PLAN OVERVIEW:
The Annual Plan 2024 describes the progress made on the goals and objectives set in the current Five-Year Plan. The table below summarizes progress on goals and selected objectives include the following:
GOALS:OBJECTIVES:PROGRESS:
Improve the availability of
safe, decent, and
affordable housing.
Strengthen outreach to the
landlord community.
Increase the availability of
rental vouchers by
applying for special needs
vouchers when available.
Increase housing choice
by monitoring of the
payment standards in
relation to average rents
within the city.
Landlord incentives
secured 39 units for
households experiencing
homelessness, brought 10
new landlords to the
program.
Working with Department
of Children & Family
Services to implement
rental vouchers for former
foster youth.
Increased payment
standard for rental
vouchers, lowering rent
burden for participating
families.
Promote fair housing and
equal opportunity.
Provide training to
employees, owners, and
residents through
workshops and mailers.
Two workshops are
scheduled for March and
April 2024 for Pasadena
landlords in partnership
with the Housing Rights
Center. Housing
Department staff
participated in fair housing
training.
Ensure effective
operations and program
management.
Utilize technology to
improve program access.
Working with the DolT to
develop an electronic filing
system to decrease the
Submission of Public hlousing Agency Annual Plan 2023
April 15,2024
time spent maintaining
paper files
A draft copy of the Annual Plan 2024 is included as Attachment A. Section D of the Annual Plan 2024 does not contain any data because it is not required yet. It is a new section as of the Annual Plan 2022 reporting format and will be used to document strategies and actions to meet the goals outlined in the PHAs' Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH). However, HDD has not yet provided guidance on the development of an AFH and has not required its submittal. Thus, the CoPHD is not required to complete this section.
ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN UPDATES:
The Administrative Plan was updated to incorporate changes required by the Final Rule implementing Sections 102 & 104 of the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) of 2016. On February 14, 2023, HUD published a final rule implementing Sections 102 and 104 of the HOTMA Act of.2016. These sections make changes to federal regulations addressing income, participant eligibility reexaminations, maximum asset limits and asset exceptions. Many of the provisions of HOTMA are intended to streamline administrative processes and reduce burdens on PHAs, thereby also reducing burdens on participants. Information about specific updates to the Administrative Plan is included as Attachment B.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The PHA Plan 2024 advances Policy HE-3.6 in the City's Housing Element (2021- 2029), which calls for the City to "support the provision of rental assistance for residents earning lower incomes, including persons with special needs consistent with City preference and priority categories and fair housing law." The Annual Plan 2024 is also in agreement with the following City-approved program plans and documents:
• Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2020-2024)
• Rental Assistance Program Policies & Procedures
PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENTS:
The Annual Plan 2024 was reviewed by the Resident Advisory Board (RAB) at its meeting of February 6, 2024. The RAB, which is comprised of Section 8 HCV Program participants, recommended that the Annual Plan 2024 be approved by the City Council.
It was then presented at a meeting on March 19, 2024 to which all rental assistance program participants were invited and encouraged to provide input and comments. The nineteen participants in attendance were supportive of the Annual Plan 2024 and had no recommendations.
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2023
April 15,2024
Copies of the Annual Plan 2024 have been made available to the general public on the Housing Department website for a public review and comment period beginning February 7, 2024 through the present, as required by HDD. Public notices of the City public hearing were posted in English, Spanish, and Armenian on the Housing Department website on February 29, 2024, and published in the Pasadena Journal on February 29, 2024.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), the "common sense" provision of CEQA which applies to activities which may have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The submittal of the Public Housing Agency Annual Plan to HDD will not have a significant effect on the environment and, hence, is not subject to CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Submission of the Annual Plan 2024 will have no direct fiscal impact on the General Fund. Its submission will ensure compliance with HUD-stipulated regulations for the City's receipt of federal funds in excess of $20.5 million to administer and provide HCV rental subsidies.
Respectfully submitted,
^1^^ i^
WILLIAM K: HUANG
Director of Housing
Department of Housing
Preparedly:
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Anne Lansing
Housing Assistance Officer
Approved by:
/IARQUE2
City Manager
ATTACHMENT A: PHA Annual Plan (2024)
ATTACHMENT B: Proposed changes to Administrative Plan