TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the development of an incentive program to encourage landlord acceptance of subsidized tenants through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On April 4, 2017, the City Council requested the City Manager, the Health and Human Services (Health) Department, and the Development Services Department to develop an incentive package to encourage landlord acceptance of subsidized tenants through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. It was requested that the incentive package incorporate options to: align and streamline the current City-mandated inspections with the HUD-mandated HCV inspections; waive various permits and inspection costs for apartment owners who accept HCVs; create a damage mitigation fund that provides financial assistance to landlords to mitigate damage caused by tenants during their occupancy under the HCV Program; and, provide landlords vacancy permits to hold units while the landlord is going through the HCV Program approval process.
As communicated in a memo to the Mayor and City Council on June 30, 2017, the Health and Development Services Departments have reviewed the available options for the requested incentive program, and provide the following opportunities:
1. Streamlining current City-mandated inspections with HUD-mandated HCV inspections.
The Housing Authority conducts HUD-mandated inspections each time a new tenant moves into a subsidized apartment unit, and every one to two years after that to ensure the safety of the unit. The City-mandated Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program (PRHIP) inspects less frequently. To streamline and coordinate inspections, Development Services will provide a list of all buildings scheduled for inspection in the upcoming 30 days. When the Housing Authority is scheduled to conduct an inspection in one of the PRHIP scheduled buildings, the Housing Authority will notify Development Services, and the visits will be coor...
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