TO: Chair and Housing Authority Commissioners
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, Executive Director
FROM: Nicole Utz, Administrator
SUBJECT:
title
Participation in US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s demolition/disposition program.
Ward(s): All Wards
Commissioners(s): All Commissioners
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Welcoming and Livable Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
To preserve affordable housing in our community, and maintenance standards expected by residents, SHA recommends transitioning 28 Authority-owned units to HUD’s Section 18 Demolition/Disposition program.
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ISSUE:
Shall the Salem Housing Authority Commission adopt Resolution No. 2309 authorizing the Salem Housing Authority to apply to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove 28 units from the public housing program through Section 18 Demolition/Disposition?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2309 authorizing the Salem Housing Authority to apply to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to remove 28 units from the public housing program through Section 18 Demolition / Disposition.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
SHA believes this program would provide more sufficiency opportunities for families that currently reside in this building located on Lee Street / 25th in NE Salem. The neighborhood has not been an ideal location for employment opportunities, schooling, and criminal activity. Families would have an opportunity through the tenant protection voucher to find a more ideal location for their family. Our landlord navigator would work with each family through the transition and SHA would provide relocation assistance.
Transitioning to Tenant Protection Vouchers through the Section 8 program offers residents more flexibility and security in a difficult housing market.
BACKGROUND:
The future of federal funding for publicly-owned housing is uncertain, with decreasing support the most likely outcome. The Salem Housing Authority does not have the resources to maintain an outdated 50-year-old building in NE Salem, nor will HUD allow for the use of funds in rehabilitation as it exceeds the amount of value for the existing site. The project is considered obsolete to HUD.
In 2019 and again in 2022 SHA heard from residents of this project that they would be in favor of a transition to tenant-based assistance. Since the public housing program is phasing out, families have limited access to transfer to projects that offer more opportunities demographically.
SHA met with residents to discuss this option, and to date there has been no opposition. Residents are pleased that the process of disposing of the project offer mobility options to move somewhere of their choice vs. having to remain in one location to keep their assistance.
Jessica Blakely
Director of Development & Strategy
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2309