In 2008, the Housing Commission was reinstated as a Move to Work (MTW) agency. MTW status authorizes the Housing Commission to operate the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program under a special agreement and authorizations to better address the housing needs of the community. The program is known locally as Moving Forward.

The Housing Commission is required to submit an annual plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) detailing the new initiatives the agency expects to implement in the coming fiscal year. The Housing Commission is soliciting public comment on the plan and changes being considered for fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011).  

1. VASH as MTW. The Housing Commission is requesting to allow VASH voucher holders all the advantages and programmatic resources available to MTW voucher holders. Initiatives included in the Fiscal Year 2010 MTW annual plan participants, as well as any future initiatives approved by HUD, will extend to all VASH voucher program.

2. Allow Higher Rents for Voucher Assisted Units. The Housing Commission requests authorization to charge reduced rents for Housing Commission owned units not occupied by Housing Choice Voucher participants within the constraints of rent reasonableness.

3. Allow Higher Rents for Project Based Units. The proposed initiative expands the preceding initiative to include Project Based Voucher units in addition to Housing Commission owned units using a revised rent reasonableness protocol.

4. Authorize PBV Units to Exceed Rent Reasonableness. The Housing Commission requests the ability to authorize carefully selected PBV owners to charge rents exceeding rent reasonableness levels.

5. Authorize commitment of PBV to Housing Commission owned units. The Housing Commission requests a commitment of Project Based Vouchers for utilization at the former Public Housing units.

6. Two year occupancy term for PBV tenants before eligible for a voucher. The proposed initiative will require Project Based Voucher holders to complete two years of occupancy before becoming eligible to participate Housing Choice Voucher program. Current regulations require only a one year waiting period before PBV tenants become eligible for a tenant based voucher. The proposed initiative increases the mandatory waiting period to two years in order to reduce costs, promote self-sufficiency, and increase housing choices.

7. Acquisition of Additional Affordable Units. The Housing Commission proposes to use Broader Uses of Funds authority under the MTW program to purchase affordable housing units in San Diego.

8. Disregard retirement accounts. The proposed initiative for the upcoming fiscal year will authorize the Housing Commission to disregard retirement accounts when verifying a participant’s assets.

9. Revise Earned Income Verification (EIV) Utilization. Effective January 31, 2010 HUD is requiring the use of the EIV Income Information Report with all mandatory certifications. SDHC requests permission to utilize the EIV report once per year during the annual certification cycle. The EIV used for the purposes of the annual certification will be used during any subsequent certifications occurring prior to the next scheduled annual certification.

10. Development of Public Housing Units Using a Combination of Funds. SDHC requests HUD approval to use MTW funds in conjunction with Replacement Housing Factor Funds (RHF) to develop public housing units during Fiscal Year 2011. SDHC anticipates acquiring and rehabilitating an additional 30 public housing units by June 30, 2011. The initiative will increase housing choices for low-income families.

11. Sponsor-Based Vouchers for the Homeless. In an effort to help address the problem of homelessness within the City of San Diego, SDHC requests permission to implement a sponsor-based voucher program geared toward reducing instances of homelessness. Program participants would receive housing and supportive services from a designated service provider.

12. Broader Uses of Funds for Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). Asset building programs are offered to rental assistance participants seeking to save money and build capital.  IDAs are a component of the asset building programs offered by SDHC. SDHC is requesting authorization to utilize MTW broader use of funds authority to subsidize IDAs not authorized by federal regulations as well as replace diminishing local funds.

13. Enhance Family Self-Sufficiency Program. Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) services are offered to Housing Choice Voucher participants as a means for achieving economic self-sufficiency during the course of program participation. Current regulations require the family’s head of household to participate in the FSS program in order for other adult household members to partake in FSS activities. SDHC is requesting the authority to permit all adult household members to enroll in the FSS program regardless of familial status.

Additionally, the Housing Commission received permission from HUD to move forward with amending the Move to Work agreement to include Broader Uses of Funds authority.. This authority allows the Housing Commission to use both Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) and Section 9 (Public Housing) monies to fund activities outside of Section 8 and Section 9, as long as the activities serve low-income families and meet one of the three statutory objectives of MTW. Click here to read the amended language as contained in Attachment D.

The Housing Commission will hold a Public Hearing to receive comments regarding the draft Moving Forward proposal and MTW plan amendment to include broader uses of funds on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. at the Housing Commission office located at 1122 Broadway in the Fourth Floor Conference Room. Please direct all public comments to Jennifer Kelly at 619-578-7125 or jennifek@sdhc.org.

Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2011 draft Moving Forward Annual Plan.