TO: Chair and Housing Authority Commissioners
THROUGH: Kristin Retherford, Interim Executive Director
FROM: Nicole Utz, Housing Administrator
SUBJECT:
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Restructuring and rebranding the Salem Housing Authority to address future needs.
Ward(s): All Wards
Commissioners(s): All Commissioners
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe Community; Welcome and Livable Neighborhood
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SUMMARY:
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The Salem Housing Authority (SHA) plays a vital role in the continued development of permanent supportive housing and affordable housing in the community. As SHA strives to meet the community’s growing housing needs, restructuring the organization will help to keep up with continued demands to build more housing units, provide vital services to our homeless population, and continue operations as a Public Housing Authority.
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ISSUE:
Restructuring and rebranding the Salem Housing Authority to address affordable housing needs by pursuing best practices for strategic planning and housing authority growth as demonstrated by housing authorities around the country.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Funding the City of Salem (City) received from the Oregon Legislature provides the means to support the City’s response to housing insecurity and lack of affordable housing. For the last few years, the community has identified affordable housing and homelessness as top priorities and SHA has worked diligently to keep up with these growing demands. SHA has a very lean staff for the average Public Housing Authority and restructuring and rebranding the agency in accordance with best practices being undertaken by many housing authorities in Oregon and around the country would allow SHA to revive the agency and better align goals, missions, and values to meet current affordable housing and homeless needs.
Restructuring and rebranding are common methods for housing authorities to address capacity concerns. This process uses innovative and meaningful strategies that expand capacity through creating:
• A development team solely focused on real estate and development of new affordable housing that meets the needs of the community.
• A non-profit arm that provides social and homeless service programs like HRAP with the ability to apply for 501c3 grant funding to support long term goals related to outreach, navigation and serving the most vulnerable homeless population. The role of the non-profit will be consistent with and limited by the powers of the Housing Authority established in ORS chapter 456.
• A traditional Public Housing Authority structure that allows for Section 8 voucher programs and Public Housing units.
• An Affordable Housing Asset Management that handles the day-to-day operation and maintenance of limited partnership developments.
The organization would legally remain the Salem Housing Authority, but following a restructuring, it would also have a registered trade name. The change will also protect residents from negative connotations of words like “projects” and “housing” and avoid the stigma sometimes associated with living in publicly supported housing. A clear brand culture defines the focus of the housing authority while ensuring focus on diversity, equity and inclusion for staff and residents.
SHA serves the cities of Salem and Keizer and has grown significantly in the last decade from a traditional housing authority to a developer of high-quality affordable housing, homeless service provider, and social service collaborative partner in the community. This rapid growth has outpaced the staffing and strategic planning needs of the agency. Using this additional funding from the State will provide for long term strategic planning and staffing needs to help sustain expanding responsibilities that address the highest priorities of the City and add capacity to provide much needed affordable housing and homeless outreach services in the future.
Rebranding offers an opportunity for the agency to reconnect with residents, community residents, partners, and clients and reintroduce its program portfolio, expanded service operations, and initiatives to meet the growing needs of the City. Restructuring the organization will allow the agency to continue its mission to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing, and embark further on expanding the Homeless Rental Assistance Program to help end generational poverty and homelessness while encouraging community development of affordable housing through partnerships.
BACKGROUND:
The City has received a one-time $1,000,000 allocation for programs or services that address housing insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or homelessness. The funding was appropriated from 2021 Legislature ARPA dollars and must be expended no later than June 30, 2023. The funds would be used to pay for consulting services, legal fees, strategic planning, and staffing to implement efforts related to this initiative. Staff intends to return to the Commission in April for further action related to this issue.
Nicole Utz,
Salem Housing Authority
Attachments:
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