[Housing and Affordability Committee on September 17, 2024.]
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ALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER SO WE CAN BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TIME FOR OUR TIME IS IN HIGH DEMAND TODAY.
I'M COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY.
UM, AND IN CHAMBERS WE HAVE OUR MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, MARTHA CASTEX, TATUM, COUNCIL MEMBER WILL RAMIREZ, AND OUR VICE CHAIR OF COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS IN CHAMBERS REPRESENTING OFFICES OF COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, STAFF FROM THE VICE MAYOR PROTI, AND THEN STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON FROM DISTRICT B.
UH, GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT DOWN.
DIRECTOR, YOU READY TO GO? I'M JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, COLLEAGUES, WE, WE, I KNOW WE HAVE A SCHEDULED ENGAGEMENT, UM, AFTER THIS.
AND SO JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE REGARDING ANY OF THE ITEMS OR FOLLOW UP WILL BE DOCUMENTED.
WE'LL WORK WITH THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO GET THOSE RESPONSES BACK TO YOU IN A 72 HOUR TURNAROUND FOR YOUR REQUEST.
SO WE'RE TAKING COPIOUS NOTES AS WE GO THROUGH TODAY'S AGENDA TODAY.
WE'LL HEAR FROM, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECTOR, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PLANNING AND GRANT REPORTING, REPORTING DIVISION, PUBLIC SERVICES AND MULTIFAMILY.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE CLOSING COMMENTS FROM OUR DIRECTOR.
WE DO HAVE ONE, UH, INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING AS OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH.
UM, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, UM, FOR YOUR REMARKS.
IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS THAT, UM, ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING, YOU CAN SIGN UP AT THAT TABLE, UM, AND THEN WE'LL CALL YOUR NAME.
SO, UH, GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR.
UM, THESE MEETINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
I KNOW TODAY IS, WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE IN AN HOUR, SO I'M GONNA LET YOU DRIVE MORE OF THE TIMING.
UM, BUT WE'LL GO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE'LL START WITH, UH, UH, PLANNING AND, UH, START WITH THE ITEM THAT'S FOR THE RUSH AMENDMENT ON THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT.
HCD WILL BE SEEKING AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE SUBMISSION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2024 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR ENTITLEMENT FUNDING.
UM, AS A RESULT OF RECENT DISASTERS, THE DERECHO AND HURRICANE BARREL, HUD HAS IDENTIFIED A NEW LANE OF, UH, SPECIAL ALLOCATION OF FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS CALLED RAPID UNSHELTERED SURVIVOR HOUSING OR RUSH.
AS A RESULT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TO THE CITY A MILLION DOLLARS TO, AND WE WILL BE USING THAT TO SUPPORT RAPID REHOUSING.
SO, 975, OR EXCUSE ME, $25,000 GOES TO THE RAPID REHOUSING AND 75,000 TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT GRANT.
AND SO WE ARE SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE AND JUST, AND COLLEAGUES, UM, JUST PLEASE PAY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS A NOTE TAG ON THIS ITEM, AND THIS SHOULD BE COMING UP ON THE AGENDA VERY SOON.
SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUCCESSES OF THAT INVESTMENT.
NOW, NOW WE'LL HAVE MELODY BARR DISCUSS THE, UH, TWO SOME IMPORTANT ITEMS ON PUBLIC SERVICES.
WE'LL START WITH THE, UH, CONTRACT WITH THE T-D-H-C-A.
SO FOR ITEMS, UM, FOR ITEMS THREE A AND B, I WILL BE PRESENTING THESE TWO TOGETHER.
THE DEPARTMENT'S PRESENTING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, A RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL OF ORDINANCES THAT AUTHORIZES CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, T-D-H-C-A AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL ACCEPT AN AWARD OF HOMELESS HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAM FUNDS, ALSO REFERRED TO AS HHSP.
THE ORDINANCE WILL AUTHORIZE, UM, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO REPRESENT THE CITY FOR THE HHSP AWARD AND PROVIDE THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACTS AND AUTHORIZE AMENDMENT CHANGES.
THE 2024 HHSP AWARD AMOUNT CONSISTS OF A GENERAL ALLOCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,153,871, AND AN ADDITIONAL SET ASIDE AMOUNT OF 403 $400,342 TO ADDRESS THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FOR A COMBINED AWARD AMOUNT OF $1,554,213 PER T-D-H-C-A,
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THESE FUNDS MUST BE USED BY THE CITY ON ACTIVITIES ELIMINATING AND OR PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS.SPECIFIC ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT OR PROCUREMENT OF HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PERSONS, REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURES TARGETED TO SERVING HOMELESS PERSONS OR PERSONS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, PROVISIONS OF DIRECT SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO HOMELESS PERSONS OR PERSONS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS OR OTHER HOMELESSNESS RELATED ACTIVITIES.
AS APPROVED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THE YOUTH SET ASIDE FUNDING MUST BE USED ON ACTIVITIES ELIMINATING AND OR PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS IN YOUTH HEADED HOUSEHOLDS.
FOR THIS GRANT, YOUTH HEADED HOUSEHOLDS ARE AGES 18 TO 24.
SPECIFIC ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, STREET OUTREACH, AND TRANSITIONAL LIVING FOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN YOUTH HEADED HOUSEHOLDS, PROVISIONS OF DIRECT SERVICE AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN YOUTH HEADED HOUSEHOLDS OR OTHER HOMELESS RELATED ACTIVITIES.
AS APPROVED BY T-D-H-C-A, THE STATE PROVIDES HHSP FUNDING TO THE NINE LARGEST CITIES IN TEXAS IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
CITIES CURRENTLY SERVE THROUGH HHSP, INCLUDE ARLINGTON AUSTIN, CORPUS CHRISTI, DALLAS, EL PASO, FORT WORTH, HOUSTON PLANO, AND SAN ANTONIO, AND FUTURE ORDINANCES.
ALLOCATING THE ACCEPTED HHSP FUNDS FOR USE BY LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE, WILL BE BROUGHT AND PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FUTURE.
I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE C.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING A FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY TO PROVIDE UP TO AN ADDITIONAL $580,791 IN HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERVICES PROGRAM FUNDING, WHICH IS THE HHSP TO BE UTILIZED AS PART OF THE CONTINUED OPERATIONS FOR THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL SUPPORT ELIGIBLE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO FOOD SUPPLIES AND SECURITY SERVICES REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE USE OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK.
GRANT CARES ACT OR CDBG CV FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOOD.
HHSP FUNDING WILL ASSIST IN PROVIDING THREE MEALS A DAY TO CLIENTS RESIDING AT THIS FACILITY.
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT TERM EXPIRES JANUARY 31ST, 2025, AND IS NOT BEING EXTENDED WITH THIS AMENDMENT.
THERE WERE NO FINDINGS DURING THE LAST ANNUAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING OF THIS AGENCY.
AND THE AGENCY HAS EXPENDED APPROXIMATELY 88% OF THE ALLOCATED FUNDS THROUGH JUNE OF 2024.
THE COALITION HAS RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH THE CITY FOR VARIOUS, UH, GRANT AGREEMENTS SINCE 2005, AND TODAY WE HAVE HOST SWAY RODRIGUEZ, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND STRATEGY HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND THE LAST ITEM BEFORE, BEFORE YOU GO FORWARD WITH THIS, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE, UH, NAVIGATION CENTER IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE ENTIRE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IN HOUSTON.
IT REALLY HAS ALLOWED US TO MOVE FURTHER AND QUICKER MOVING PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE, AND I HOPE THAT COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT.
SO THE LAST ITEM, 3D IS WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE ARE PULLING THIS ITEM FROM THE AGENDA.
WE DO PLAN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM NEXT MONTH.
AND I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS IN THE QUEUE AT THIS TIME.
RYAN BIBBS OR OR ERIC SELLERS.
THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY WE'VE HAD TO PRESENT A PFC RESOLUTION FOR A PROPOSAL.
UH, THIS IS THROUGH THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THERE ARE THREE PROPOSALS, UH, IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THAT.
UM, THIS IS A ONGOING, UH, CONVERSATION, NEGOTIATIONS WITH US AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR, CO-CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEFS OF STAFF.
TODAY WE WANTED TO, UH, BRING FORTH THE, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, UH, TITLE, UH, NINE, THE CHAPTER 3 0 3 PUBLIC FACILITIES.
UH, THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, A FEW REVISIONS TO THE, TO THE CHAPTER, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND ONE IT, ONE CHANGE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, IS TO, UM, EACH PROJECT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY.
SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS THOSE THREE PROJECTS THEY'RE BROUGHT TO US TODAY.
UH, THEY'RE FROM HOUSTON, HOUSING AUTHORITIES, PUBLIC FACILITIES.
FIRST PROJECT YOU HAVE HERE IS A LOWER MED CENTER LOCATED AT 1 0 2 1 MAIN STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT K, NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, FAMILY.
NEXT PROJECT IS AZA PARK ROW, LOCATED AT 1100 BLACK HAWK STREET COUNCIL
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DISTRICT, A NEW PROJECT, UH, TARGET FAMILY.NEXT PROJECT IS OR CIRCLE, LOCATED AT 12 7 81.
MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD COUNCIL, DISTRICT D, NEW CONSTRUCTION TARGET POPULATION IS FAMILY.
THIS SLIDE HERE IS, UH, THIS SHOWING THAT WE'VE PERFORMED A THRESHOLD REVIEW AND RECOMMEND, UH, THE THREE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE IN, IN FRONT OF YOU.
QUESTION, CAN, IS THERE ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO LANGUAGE, UH, INSTEAD OF LISTING IT AS LOW POVERTY, IS THERE ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO TALK ABOUT, WE'LL DO THAT.
CAN WE MAKE NOTE OF THAT? THAT'S A GOOD COMMENT.
THIS SLIDE IS, UH, DESCRIBING THE UNIT MIX.
YOU HAVE ONE BEDROOMS, TWO BEDROOMS, UH, YOU HAVE 60% A MI, 80% A MI, AND YOU HAVE MARKETY RATE.
ALSO, UH, THE PERCENTAGES OF THE 60% AMIS ARE 20%, 80% AM I, YOU HAVE 30% THERE.
AND THEN THE MARKET RATE, YOU HAVE 49% OF THE UNITS WILL BE MARKET RATE.
UH, THE SECOND SECTION OF THIS SLIDE, THIS DISPLAYS THE, UH, SOURCES AND USES.
YOU HAVE YOUR LOAN AND EQUITY PORTION THERE, DISPLAYED TOTAL COSTS AND PRICE PER UNIT.
AND THEN THE RIGHT SECTION OF THE BOTTOM DESCRIBES THE HARD COST AND SOFT COST OF THE PROJECT.
THAT'S FOR DISTRICT AOR MED CENTER.
THIS SLIDE HAS THE, UH, DISPLAYS THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT.
AND HERE WE HAVE A RENDERING FOR LAURA MED CENTER, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
SORRY, QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR NICHOLS.
DIRECTOR NICHOLS, WHEN, UH, THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, UH, MAKES THESE DEALS WITH DEVELOPERS ON THE PFCS, IS THE, IS THE CITY'S HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT A DEPARTMENT INVOLVED IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS OR NOT? UH, WE, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH THE, UM, DISCUSSION AROUND THE INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THE, UH, WHAT DO WE CALL THE, UM, THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER HOUSING AUTHORITY? WE QAPS, BUT RIGHT, WE, WE LOOK AT THE, UH, THEY'LL, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT WORD THAN QAP ANYWAY, FOR THE, FOR THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS.
AND WE DISCUSS THAT WITH THEM.
AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT ENGAGING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPERS WHO PUT IN THEIR PLAN.
WE ARE LOOKED TO FOR APPROVAL, AND WE HOPE OVER TIME WE WILL HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW DEVELOPERS, UH, ARE APPROVED AND WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT QUALIFICATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED THAT REALLY BUILD WHO GETS THE TAX EXEMPTION AND WHO DOES NOT DO.
DO YOU THINK THE CITY'S INTEREST COULD BE BETTER PROTECTED IF OUR HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WERE A PART OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS? UH, I, I HOPE WE CAN BE A PART OF IT GOING FORWARD.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO.
AND I THINK, AGAIN, NOW IT'S COMING TO CITY COUNCIL TO BE THE, UM, UM, UM, VOICE THAT HA HAS THE LAST SAY.
I THINK THAT BECOMES IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE EXEMPTIONS ARE, ARE BENEFITING THE MOST PEOPLE IN THE BEST WAY.
AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF TAX EXEMPT PROCESSES.
THIS IS THE ONLY 1, 3 0 3 THAT COMES TO THE CITY.
UM, THERE ARE THE THREE 90 FOURS THAT ARE, UM, EQUITABLE TITLES THAT DON'T COME THROUGH THE CITY.
UH, AS WELL AS THERE ARE HOLES IN THIS ACT THAT ALLOW, UH, FOREIGN COUNTIES TO HA UH, DO THIS AND PUT TAX EXEMPTIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY, UM, THAT I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WILL CLEAN UP THIS YEAR.
AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT COUNSEL BEING A CHECK, UM, WHEN IT COMES BEFORE US, IT'S BASICALLY ALREADY A DONE DEAL.
ALL THE WORK'S BEEN DONE ON IT.
THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, IS A DONE DEAL.
THE, UH, THE DEVELOPERS HAVE THEIR, UM, UM, SITES ON THE, ON THE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND IT'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO OTHER THAN VOTE IT UP OR DOWN.
AND I'M RECOMMENDING HIGHLY THAT WE ACCEPT THESE MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW TO BEST USE THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
WELL, IF, IF YOU'RE SAYING YOU THINK COUNCIL AND THE HOUSING, UH, DEPARTMENT H YOU, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE A GREATER SAY UP FRONT DURING THE PROCESS.
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I, I AGREE WITH YOU.IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, SIR.
UH, DIRECTOR, I THINK YOU WERE LOOKING FOR, UH, THE TITLE.
AND BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, MR. BIBBS, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IS IN CHAMBERS AND THEN STAFF FROM AT LARGE FOUR, FIVE, AND DISTRICT G.
UH, PLEASE NOTE THE, UH, THE ITEM THAT HAS THE QUALIFICATIONS IS CALLED A QBS QUALIFIED BASED SOLUTIONS.
AND THAT IS PUBLISHED ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES WEBSITE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE INVOLVEMENT IN, IN MAKING SURE AGAIN, THAT IT MEETS THE, UH, GOALS OF THE CITY, WHICH IS, I WOULD SAY MORE HOUSING FOR HIGHLY VULNERABLE FOR, FOR PEOPLE WITH VERY LOW AMIS, UH, MORE HOUSING IN GENERAL FOR WORKFORCE AND HOUSING THAT IS CLOSER INTO THE CITY INSTEAD OF BEING FURTHER OUT.
THIS IS THE NEXT PROJECT THAT WE ARE BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
AA PARK ROW, UH, IN COUNCIL DISTRICT, A ONE BEDROOMS, TWO BEDROOMS, AND THREE BEDROOMS AT SIXTIES.
UH, YOU HAVE THE TOTAL SOURCE CON TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST AT 81 MILLION.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR TOTAL SOURCES THERE, DE DESCRIBING THE HARD CALLS AND SOFT CALLS.
AND HERE YOU HAVE A MAP DISPLAYING WHERE THE PROJECT IS LOCATED.
AND THE RENDERING OF THE PROJECT.
HERE WE HAVE OR CIRCLE LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT D ONE BEDROOMS, TWO BEDROOMS, AND THREE BEDROOMS. YOU HAVE 60% AMIS, 80% AMIS AND SUMMIT MARKET.
THERE YOU HAVE YOUR TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COSTS, LOW PRICE PER UNIT, AND YOUR HARD COSTS AND SALT COSTS.
I'M CURIOUS, UM, IN THE DEFINITION OF FAMILY, I NOTICED WE HAVE, EACH PROJECT HAS, SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE THREE BEDROOM OPTIONS, RIGHT? WHICH IS FINE.
BUT IF THERE'S A, IF THIS IS A ONE IN TWO BEDROOM PROPERTY AND IT'S SERVING PROFESSIONALS IN JUNIOR CAREER INDIVIDUALS, IS THERE ANOTHER WAY THAT THAT, THAT BE DEFINED? 'CAUSE I, IF I HEAR FAMILY, I'M THINKING WE'RE GONNA HAVE 60, 80 MARKET WITH SOME THREE BEDROOMS MM-HMM
RIGHT? SO IF NOT, WHICH IS FINE.
IS THERE ANOTHER DEFINITION OR WAY THAT THAT CAN BE LANGUAGED DEFINED? BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE LOCATIONS, THEY'RE NEXT TO MAJOR WORK CENTERS, RIGHT? SO WHEN I SEE AOR NEXT TO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S TMC, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, UP AND THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING THAT THESE ARE LVNS PEOPLE IN SCHOOL.
SO DOES IT HAVE TO BE DEFINED AS A FAMILY PROJECT OR IS THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING WE DEFINE, OR IS THAT WHAT WE'RE USING BASED ON HOW WE DEFINE LIKE TECH DEALS OR PFC DEALS? WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS, UH, DEFINED IN THE PACKAGE INFORMATION THAT THAT WAS SENT OVER FROM SURE.
I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE, IT IT MAKES, UM, IT GIVES THE PROJECT ANOTHER STORY TO TELL THE DEVELOP MM-HMM
ANOTHER A RIGHT ABOUT THE POPULATION WE'RE SERVING MM-HMM
BECAUSE IF I HEAR FAMILY, I'M THINKING WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE THREE BEDROOMS AVAILABLE AND MANY OF THESE PROJECTS DON'T.
SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MISSING MIDDLE, THE JUNIOR PROFESSIONAL MM-HMM
LIKE THIS, WHO THESE PROJECTS ARE GEARED FOR MM-HMM
SO THERE'S A BETTER WAY FOR US TO COMMUNICATE THAT.
COUNCILWOMAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
I DO WANNA MENTION THAT DAVID NORTHERN, WHO'S THE CEO OF THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IS HERE TODAY, TODAY, ALONG WITH DAVID COOPERMAN, WHO IS THE LEAD NEGOTIATOR WITH THE VARIOUS DEVELOPERS.
AND THEY'RE HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND HERE IS A, A RENDERING OF THE OR OR CIRCLE LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT D.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, COLLEAGUES, IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WE'LL, UM, FACILITATE THAT BETWEEN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO GET THAT TO YOUR OFFICES IN 72 HOURS.
WHAT, WHY, WHY I'M GOING SKIP ONE MINUTE TO D FROM DR.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.
UM, WE WANNA MOVE TO MULTIFAMILY HOME NOFA.
UH, THE CITY IS SEEKING APPLICANTS WHO CAN CONSTRUCT AND REHABILITATE MANAGE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING FOR LOW TO
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MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES, LEVERAGING BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES.THIS IS OUR FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE.
IT'S A $20 MILLION NOFA AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BIBBS, WHO WILL BE COORDINATING THAT.
UH, WE'RE TARGETING, UH, PUBLISHING THE NOFA ON OUR WEBSITE.
UH, WITHIN THIS WEEK, WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, UH, THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE WILL BE HOME PARTNERSHIP FUNDING APPROXIMATELY, APPROXIMATELY 20 $20 MILLION.
AND THEN, UH, AFTER WE PUBLISH THIS WEEK, THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE'LL HAVE A INFORMATION SESSION THAT WE'LL UH, PUT ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO BE A PART OF THE INFORMATION SESSION AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MORE OF THE, UH, DETAILS AND, AND EXACTLY THE, UH, THE TYPE OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
BUT, UM, ANYONE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROJECT AND APPLY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT NEW CONSTRUCTION REHAB, IT'S 4%, 9% TYPE OF PROJECT, SO SURE.
JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THE, UH, REHAB, UH, PORTION OF THIS NOFA THAT IS A, UM, I THINK EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS RAISED THAT POINT THROUGH THE LITECH PROCESS.
AND THEN ALSO WHEN WE DO FOURS AND, AND THIS DEAL.
SO IF THERE'S A, UH, A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH Y'ALL ARE PRIORITIZING IN YOUR INFORMATION SESSION, SO THESE DEVELOPERS KNOW KIND OF WHERE THEY GET THEIR POINTS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SHARE, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.
UM, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME REHAB PROJECTS THAT I'M SURE MANY OF US WOULD WELCOME.
UM, AND, UM, THEY WOULD GAIN SUPPORT, UH, WITH THESE FUNDS.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM.
SO IS THIS THE, THE NOTE FOR, FOR FUNDING FOR, UM, THE AWARDEES, UM, FOR THIS YEAR'S ROUND OF TAX CREDITS? THEY ARE, UH, CAN APPLY.
WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE PUTTING OUT OUR NOTE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT TAX CREDITS ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AND REVIEW AND, AND, AND APPLY TO OUR APPLICATION.
SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MEET THAT 11 ONE DEADLINE.
SO WE'RE HAVE A NO OUT THIS COMING UP MONTH, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT ANOTHER NO OUT AROUND MARCH OR SO IS OUR, IS OUR TARGET.
SO IS THERE AN OPPOR? SO I'M THINKING ABOUT APPLICANTS WHO ARE IN THE NEW ROUND MM-HMM
WHO KNOW THAT THEY PROBABLY ARE GOING TO RECEIVE THE TAX CREDITS, BUT THEY HAVE TO SHORE UP THAT THEY CAN MAKE THESE PROJECTS HAPPEN.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE A LETTER TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS OR CAN, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PROVE TO, UM, THE T-D-A-C-A MM-HMM
THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE VIABLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A 11 ONE DEADLINE AND I'M WATCHING A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT IN DISTRICT K, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MISS THESE, THESE DEADLINES DON'T, UM, PASS US UP.
AND, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE NOFA 24TH.
THEY GOTTA COME BACK TO US IN JANUARY FOR THE NEW ROUND.
I KNOW, BUT THEY HAVE AN 11 ONE DEADLINE THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET.
BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO, WE STILL HAVE TO VOTE FOR RESOLUTION.
WE CAN'T GIVE THEM A YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 24 THAT ALREADY WENT THROUGH.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GO TO 25, BUT HOW WILL THEY MEET THAT 11 ONE DEADLINE IF THE NOVA'S NOT GONNA COME OUT UNTIL MARCH? THIS, THIS, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND SEE WHAT THEY'LL NEED FROM US AS THEY, AS THEY APPLY THROUGH THIS APPLICATION.
IF THEY GET THE AWARD, WE'LL, WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO, TO GET THEM INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO GET THE T-D-A-C-A TO, UH, CORRESPOND TO THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE UP FOR AN AWARD TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE'LL TRY TO WORK WITH THEM IN THAT CAPACITY.
WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE T-D-H-C-A AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE BROUGHT UP WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SPREADING THE, UH, AWARDS OUT OVER THE YEAR, DOING, NOT JUST DOING ONCE A YEAR, BUT DOING SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR LIKE OTHER STATES.
AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES WITH THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT WILL SOLVE SOME OF THESE TIMING ISSUES.
AGAIN, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS THE, UM, INEFFICIENCY OF OUR CURRENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SYSTEM.
IT'S JUST INEFFICIENT AND WE'LL JUST KEEP WORKING TO BUILD SOME EFFICIENCIES IN.
AND THAT MAY BE A, A BIG IDEA THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS NEW NOTE IS WE'RE ASKING ALL THE DEVELOPERS TO BRING US YOUR POWER OUTAGE PLAN.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY HEAVILY, YOU KNOW, REVIEWING WHAT THE POWER OUTAGE PLAN LOOKS LIKE.
ARE YOU DOING GENERATORS? WHAT PART OF THE PROPERTY YOU DOING GENERATORS ON? IS IT ON ALL YOUR BUILDINGS? IS IT ON, UM, YOUR OPEN AREAS
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OR COMMON AREAS? SO THAT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THIS NEW NOTE FOR TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE TACKLE ANY POWER OUTAGE SCENARIOS GOING FORWARD.UM, AND I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON, UH, THE MAYOR PROTESTS QUESTION.
SO THE TARGET RELEASE DATE IS TOMORROW 2024 FOR THIS, UH, HOME NOFA UM, THE TAX CREDITS THAT HAVE, WE'VE GIVEN RESOLUTIONS FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, AND I WANNA SAY THAT THAT MIGHT BE THE QUESTION IS, CAN, ARE THEY ABLE TO APPLY? UM, AS OF TOMORROW? YEAH.
SO WHY DON'T, 'CAUSE I ALSO HAVE A PROJECT IN DISTRICT I THAT I WANT TO SEE, UH, COME TO FRUITION AS WELL.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME GAP FUNDING THAT THEY MIGHT BE NEEDING.
AND SO THIS, THIS, UH, THIS APPLICATION IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED FOR THAT PROJECT AS WELL.
WHAT IS, WHAT'S THE ANTICIPATED, UM, NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT Y'ALL THINK Y'ALL MIGHT BE ABLE TO? THERE'S A CAP, UH, THAT WE HAVE ON, UH, EACH DEAL, THIS, WHICH WILL BE $4 MILLION.
SO IF I CAN GET FOUR OR FIVE DEALS, IT'D BE GREAT.
SO WE HAVE IT TODAY TO BE ABLE TO LET 'EM KNOW, APPLY, AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'RE GOING TO THE NO CONTACT PERIOD, CORRECT? RIGHT.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE OUT IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
IT'S, IT'LL BE PUBLISHED IN A COUPLE OF TOMORROW.
IT SAYS SEPTEMBER 18TH, TOMORROW, AND THEN TOMORROW THE CONTACT PERIOD STARTS TOMORROW.
UM, AS FAR AS LETTERS OF SUPPORT, DO WE WORK ON THAT NOW OR AFTER NO CONTACT.
CAN WE STILL GIVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE, UH, THIS APPLICATION? YOU CAN STILL SIT THOSE, THEY'LL BE, THEY'LL GO THROUGH OUR PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT.
MS. JONES, TAMIKA JONES, OUR CFO.
UH, I'M REALLY VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT SHE AND HER STAFF HAVE BEEN DOING.
UM, I THINK THE GLO AND OTHERS ARE MUCH MORE MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF THIS WORK.
WE HAVE A VERY SHORT UPDATE FOR YOU.
IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT I WILL PROVIDE BEGINNING, UH, STARTING THIS MONTH THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE CONTRACT IS JUST A VERY HIGH LEVEL VIEW.
SO THAT WAY YOU AND THE COMMITTEE CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE WITH EACH OF THE PROGRAMS. SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE PROGRAMS WHERE WE HAVE COMPLETED CLOSEOUT, THOSE WHERE THE CLOSEOUT IS IN PROGRESS, AND THEN WHERE PROGRAMS THAT ARE REMAINING THAT ARE STILL UNDERWAY.
SO THAT WAY YOU CAN SEE HOW EACH OF THE PROGRAMS ARE PROGRESSING THROUGH CLOSEOUT.
UH, CURRENTLY THE TEAM IS WORKING ON CLOSING OUT THE HOME DRYERS PROGRAM, THE PLANNING PROGRAM, AND THEN THE HOPE PROGRAM.
THIS PROVIDES YOU WITH A SNAPSHOT AS OF THE END OF LAST WEEK, JUST SHOWING YOU WHERE WE ARE RELATED TO THE DECEMBER 31ST BENCHMARKS FOR EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE PROGRESSING ALONG.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE BUYOUT PROGRAM, WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GLO ON PROVIDING THE URA ASSISTANCE, I BELIEVE.
UM, DID THE ITEM COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON THE URA ITEM? YEP.
SO THAT WAY WE'LL BE WORKING WITH, UH, THE GLO THERE.
AND THEN ALSO WE'LL BE WORKING TOWARDS, UH, THE MULTIFAMILY BENCHMARK AS WELL AS THE, UH, SMALL RENTAL BENCHMARK GOING INTO THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THEN THE OTHER PROGRAMS WILL BE HEADING INTO CLOSEOUT.
SO THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL THERE.
NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE DAY.
I KNOW THE TEAMS, BUT I SEE THE DAY IS YES, WE ARE, WE ARE FEVER FEVERISHLY WORKING TOWARDS CLOSEOUT.
AND GETTING THE GLO ALL OF THEIR REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, UH, TRUST AND BELIEVE WE WANT TO, UH, CLOSE OUT THESE PROGRAMS, UM, ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET.
SO, AND I, I, I, I APPRECIATE JUST AS ALWAYS THE CONTINUED, UH, DETAILED LEVEL OF THE BENCHMARKS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS AN, UM, AN AUGUST DURING OUR COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, THERE WAS AN INTIMATION THAT IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH GEO, LOOKING AT SOME REALLOCATION OF FUNDS ONCE WE RIGHT SIZED OUR ALLOCATION TO GO BACK TO, UM, HOMEOWNERS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
BUT IF WE'RE CLOSING OUT THAT PIECE, WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT'S THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF THOSE DOLLARS REENTERING OUR SYSTEM? WE ARE, UM, ACTUALLY A CONVERSATION HAPPENED AT THE END OF LAST WEEK WHERE WE, UM, HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH GLO.
UM, THEY ARE STILL INTRODUCTORY CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT THAT FINAL DOLLAR AMOUNT WILL BE AND WHERE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT MOVEMENTS, WHERE WE WILL REMOVE FROM ONE PROGRAM AND REALLOCATE TO ANOTHER.
AND LOGISTICALLY, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT WORK AND HOW DO WE MAKE IT WORK AND PUT IT ON A SEPARATE LINE ITEM SO THAT NOT ONLY THE COMMITTEE, BUT THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN SEE.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS HOME BUYER'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM? SO THAT WAY
[00:30:01]
WE CAN DISTINCTIVELY PUT IT ON A DIFFERENT LINE.WE WERE, YOU KNOW, TEASING AROUND, WE'RE CALLING IT HOME BUYERS 2.0.
UM, JUST TO BE SIMPLE, SO THAT WAY WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND, AND BE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR IT DIFFERENTLY.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE IT ALL.
BUT WE ARE IN THE INTRODUCTORY CONVERSATIONS, NOT READY TO PUT A NUMBER OUT THERE YET FOR SURE.
UM, BUT WE ARE OPTIMISTIC, UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE TO OUR HOME BUYERS.
LISTEN TO HEAR GLO AND OPTIMISTIC IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE SAME SENTENCE.
I WOULD SAYING THAT EVERYTHING IS UP.
SAYING IT WITH A SMILE AND SAYING IT WITH A SMILE.
EVERY, WE CAN ONLY GO UP FROM HERE.
AND I'LL JUST GO QUICKLY THROUGH THE OTHER ITEMS. WE DIDN'T, DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SLIDES.
WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING AT 2100 MEMORIAL.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
IT, UH, IT, IT, AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S AMAZING.
CAROLINA LIFE'S ALSO ON AUGUST 2ND.
UH, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN COUNCILMAN MES DAVIS, UH, HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, HIS NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AT THE ALI AILEY CENTER.
AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PLACES UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
I LOOK AT THIS AND I SEE A LOT OF OPENINGS COMING UP.
UM, RICHMOND SENIOR VILLAGE, 98%.
I MEAN, WE CAN JUST KEEP GOING ON THROUGH THESE OST LOTS AT 85%.
I MEAN, THIS IS, THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT, UH, COMPLETION OF DEVELOPMENTS AND WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THESE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK AGAIN.
I WISH I COULD SAY THAT THE, UM, THAT THE, UH, EASE OF FINANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS BETTER.
I WISH WE COULD SAY THERE WAS MORE DOLLARS.
I'M EXCITED BY THE CONVERSATION IN THE NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE OF IDEAS TO DO THAT.
AND WE ARE IN, WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH OUR NATIONAL LEADERS, BOTH, UM, IN NON-PROFITS, IN THINK TANKS ABOUT WHAT WE SEE AND WHAT COULD BE DONE IN THE AREA OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE MAYOR HAS IT, IT'S HIS NUM ONE OF HIS KEY ISSUES.
AND WE JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE DOLLARS IN HERE.
THIS IS TRULY ALL ABOUT BRINGING THE DOLLARS IN.
NO, ELI, MOVING THOSE SLIDES REAL FAST.
DOWN, DOWN, ELI, I WAS TRYING TO GET YOU TO NO, NO, NO, NO, YOU'RE GOOD.
I WAS, I WAS GONNA MAKE A OST LOSS.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE, THESE WILL HAVE IMPACTS ON HUMAN BEINGS.
AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO IS HELP EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME VISITING WITH THE CHRONICLE AND OTHER ENTITIES ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE'S HUGE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT IT.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.
AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL TOO AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR, UH, COMMENTS WITH THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
AND ACTUALLY, UH, THIS, THIS IS WONDERFUL.
THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPLETED AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
I ACTUALLY HAD A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT PFCS, PLEASE.
AND, UH, I NOTICE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PERSONNEL FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
UH, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS? MADAM CHAIR? UM, YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, ARE YOU STILL
IF IT'S, THEN I'LL, I'LL, SO LET ME DO THAT AND THEN AFTERWARDS, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS SO THEY CAN HAVE, UM, SOME UNINTERRUPTED TIME.
AND I WAS JUST WANTED TO, UH, BRING A, BRING A QUESTION A LITTLE BIT ON THE, THE OST LOFT.
WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH CENTERPOINT.
UM, AND JUST GENERALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PERMITTING IT, ARE THERE WAYS WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE, ESPECIALLY THESE ARE CITY OF HOUSTON PROJECTS, THAT WE CAN PUSH THROUGH THESE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THE LONGER THAT IT TAKES, THE LONGER, YOU KNOW, THE MORE MONEY IT COSTS ON DEVELOPERS.
UM, ANY INSIGHT ON, ON PUSHING ON TO THE POINT ONGOING, UH, UH, NEGOTIATIONS AND I WOULD SAY THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT.
HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING GETS TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
WE HAD HAD A PROGRAM WHERE WE WERE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE THERE.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, BUT IT IS, UH, THERE ARE, I'M NEW TO THE CITY.
AND, UM, THIS AREA, UM, AND TWO OTHER AREAS OR AREAS THAT I'M HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT BECAUSE I, I WANT THINGS TO BE DONE.
WELL, I MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE BUREAUCRACY BEHIND IT, BUT WE JUST NEED TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN, IN, IN THIS CONVERSATION DIRECTOR BECAUSE IT, YOU
[00:35:01]
KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP A CERTAIN PRICE POINT, BUT AS, AS TIME GOES ON, PRICE ESCALATES AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOPERS ARE NOT GONNA WANNA BE, WANNA BUILD ANYMORE.AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OF COURSE WITH OUR CHAIRWOMAN, HOWEVER, WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT PERMITTING, BUT THEN ALSO THOSE LIKE CENTER POINT, RIGHT.
ALL THESE OTHER UTILITIES, FAST TRACK THOSE THINGS WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH CENTER POINT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD THOUGHT.
AND WE NEED TO, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH CENTER POINT TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP.
I HAVE NOT BUILT THAT YET, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.
SO CAN WE HAVE, UH, DAVID NORTHERN CEO FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THEN AFTER THAT, THAT WE DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER SIGNED UP.
SO I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT WE WILL LET US NOT BE VERBOSE IN OUR RESPONSES.
SO DAVID, DAVID'S WHISPERING TO ME 'CAUSE HE AND I TALK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM YESTERDAY THAT WE SAW, BUT IT'S A, SO, I MEAN, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP.
UM, CHAIRWOMAN AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE AND, AND, AND TAKING SOME QUESTIONS.
SO WITH REGARD TO THE PFCS AND, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, I, I KNOW THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY GETS, GETS, UH, MONEY, UH, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MULTIPLE WAYS FROM, FROM THESE PFCS.
AND I WANNA KNOW, UH, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE HOW MUCH, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS GONNA GET ON THESE DEALS? WELL, EACH DEAL, WE, UM, EACH INVESTMENT WE DO IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE HAVE A FORMULA, IT'S A PART OF OUR QBS AND IT DETERMINES BASED ON THAT EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UH, RECEIVES AS OUR PARTNERSHIP.
WHAT IS THAT FORMULA? WELL, I, I DON'T KNOW IT OFF HAND IN TERMS OF OKAY.
BREAKING DOWN EACH ONE, BUT I CAN SHOW YOU, UH, THAT ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF THE FORMULA.
I KNOW WHEN WE CAME TO COMMITTEE, WHAT A FEW MONTHS BACK, WE DID HAVE THAT FORMULA, BUT I CAN MAKE SURE I SEND YOU THE EXACT FORMULA BASED ON HOW WE, UH, CALCULATE.
YEAH, IF YOU COULD SEND THAT, UH, TO US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND WHEN YOU DO RECEIVE, UH, PROCEEDS FROM THESE PFC DEALS, UH, HOW, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT, WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE PROCEEDS? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT, UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE FUNDING BETTER DEPARTMENT, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE RECEIVE NO MONEY FROM THE STATE OR THE CITY.
AND SO IN TERMS OF CONTINUING OUR AFFORDABILITY, IN TERMS OF BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WE USE THAT INCOME FOR THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST RECEIVED A CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD FOR CUNY HOMES IN A THIRD WORLD AREA.
THE HOUSING AUTHOR INVEST IN 48 MILLION INTO THAT PROJECT OVER EIGHT YEARS.
AND SO WITHOUT HAVING INCOME FROM DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO DEALS LIKE THAT TO BRING IN MORE DEEP AFFORDABILITY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVER VARIOUS, UM, DISTRICTS.
UM, IF I MAY, MY NAME IS SHANNON DAVIS HUNTER.
I AM THE OUTSIDE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR THE HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I'D LIKE TO ADD ON TO THAT, THAT, UM, IN RESPONSE TO, UM, CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS REALLY BEEFED UP THEIR COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THEIR ASSET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, THERE'S A PARTICULAR ASSET MANAGEMENT FEE THAT, UH, IS USED THAT, THAT IS CHARGED TO THE DEVELOPER FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THOSE NEW HIRES THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS HAD TO, UM, TAKE ON TO ENSURE THAT THEIR COMPLIANCE AND ASSET MANAGEMENT ARE UP TO SNUFF AND MAKE SURE DEVELOPERS AREN'T GETTING OVER, UM, ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
SO THAT'S JUST ONE, IN INSTANCE OF WHAT THOSE FUNDS GO FOR.
AND THOSE ARE EARMARKED FUNDS.
SO THAT, THAT'S A NEW, NEW FEE.
THE ASSET MANAGEMENT FEE THEN THAT'S TACKED ON THESE DEALS ARE, IT'S RELATIVELY NEW.
IT HAS NOT BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, BUT IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE BEFORE SIX MONTHS.
AND, AND WHAT IS IT EXACTLY? IT'S A PERCENTAGE.
IT IS A, UM, IT'S A 25 OR $50,000 PER YEAR SUBJECT TO ESCALATION BASED UPON, UH, HOW THE PROJECT IS DOING.
NOW, NOW WITH REGARD TO, UM, THE MONEY THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY GETS, UH, ARE YOU SAYING DIRECTOR NORTHERN, THAT, THAT IT GOES INTO A BIG POT AND IT, IT GETS SPENT ON, UH, EVERYTHING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DOES OR DOES IT GET ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS PROJECTS? WELL, PURPOSES A A LITTLE OF BOTH.
FOR EXAMPLE, AGAIN, IN MOST CASES, HUT UNDERFUNDS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, IN EVERY PROGRAM AND THE INCOME THAT WE USE IS A BUSINESS ACTIVITY.
SO THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES NOWADAYS, THEY, WE HAVE TO ACT AS A BUSINESS.
WE NEVER RECEIVE FULL FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE WANT TO GET OUTTA RECEIVING THAT, UM, FUNDING AND NOT BE, UM, RUN OUR BUSINESS BASED ON THAT.
AND SO WHEN WE PURCHASE LAND, IF ANY PROPERTIES MAY BE FAILING BECAUSE OF ANY PARTICULAR REASON, IF WE NEED MAJOR REPAIRS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE INCOME OR IT'S NOT PART OF THE GRANT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE RECEIVE CERTAIN GRANT DOLLARS, UH, EVERY YEAR TO WORK
[00:40:01]
ON OUR PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS.A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE REPAIRS TO KEEP 'EM UP TO DATE.
AND SO ANY OTHER INCOME THAT WE RECEIVE, WE UTILIZE THAT FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
AND IF I COULD CIRCLE BACK, BUT WE DO HAVE A MAYOR PROTE IN THE QUEUE, SO I IF YOU CAN MAKE IT OKAY, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, STAND, STAND DOWN FOR NOW YOUR QUESTION.
AND, AND, AND, UH, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SIT WITH YOU, SIR, AND GO OVER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS IN DETAIL.
THAT'LL BE HELPFUL, MAYOR PRO TIM.
UH, DIRECTOR, MY QUESTION KIND OF STEMS AROUND HOW WE DETERMINE THE ONE BEDROOMS AND TWO BEDROOMS ON THESE PROPERTIES.
ARE WE FINDING THAT WE NEED WAY MORE ONE BEDROOMS THAN TWO BEDROOMS IN THESE PROPERTIES? BECAUSE I'M NOTICING THAT A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OVER 300 UNITS, THE MAJORITY OF THE UNITS ARE ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS AS OPPOSED TO TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS.
WELL, IN MOST CASES, THE, THE NUMBER OF, UH, WELL THE BEDROOM SIZE IS BASED ON THE ACTUAL DEAL THAT GOAT COMES IN.
AND A LOT OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW ARE WORKFORCE, UM, PROPERTIES.
AND IT'S NOT A MAJOR FAMILY PROPERTY.
AND I KNOW EARLIER WE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WORD FAMILY, UM, AND I KNOW THE COMMITTEE MAY KNOW THIS, HUD DETERMINES FAMILY AS ONE PERSON.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE USE THAT TERM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANY INVESTMENT OR ANY UNIT.
WELL, I MEAN, BASED ON THE, THE PFCS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE ALREADY ON THE GROUND, DO, ARE WE FINDING THAT THERE IS MORE OF A DEMAND FOR ONE BEDROOMS? BECAUSE A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO IT SPECIFICALLY IN SOME OF THE SENIOR, UM, THEY WANT A TWO BEDROOM AND THERE'S ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF TWO BEDROOMS ON THESE PROPERTIES, AND THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF ONE BEDROOMS, LIKE THE, THE ONE IN, UM, ALL LOWER MED CENTER.
WE GOT 271 BEDROOMS AND 96 2 BEDROOMS. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY SENIOR PFC DEALS, THE SENIOR, UH, PROPERTY.
NO, I, I, I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE AS WELL.
SO I'M, I'M ASKING, UM, ARE WE SEEING MORE OF A DEMAND FOR ONE BEDROOMS AS OPPOSED TO TWO BEDROOMS? BECAUSE MY FEEDBACK HAS BEEN PEOPLE WANT A TWO BEDROOM MORE THAN THEY WANT A ONE BEDROOM, EVEN IF IT'S ONE PERSON.
UM, WELL, OUR GUIDELINES INDIVIDUAL, THE ONLY WAY AN INDIVIDUAL ON OUR PROGRAM CAN GET A TWO BEDROOM IF THEY HAVE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
NOW IF THEY GO INTO THE GENERAL MARKET AND THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY THAT PRICE, THEN THEY CAN HAVE THAT.
BUT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE, IN TERMS OF DEMAND, WE FILL ALL OUR UNITS.
SO IT'S A DEMAND FOR ONE TWOS AND THREES.
IN A LOT OF CASES, LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROPERTIES OR PUBLIC HOUSING PROPERTIES HAVE MORE BEDROOM SIZES.
AND MAY I ADD ON, IF, IF YOU HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CAN AFFORD A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT, EVEN AT THE AFFORDABLE RATE, THEY PROBABLY DON'T NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THE TWO BEDROOM IN ALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS, ISS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A ONE BEDROOM 'CAUSE BASED UPON THE EXPECTATION OF MORE THAN ONE INCOME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT MY POINT IS, ARE WE FINDING THAT THERE IS MORE OF A DEMAND FOR ONE BEDROOMS AS OPPOSED TO TWO BEDROOMS BASED ON THE PFCS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I CAN'T, I HAVE TO COME BACK TO THAT.
UM, AGAIN, ALL THE UNITS THAT WE, UM, UM, PRODUCE ARE FIELD, THE ONE BEDROOMS, TWO BEDROOMS AND THREE BEDROOMS. AND SO WE FEEL THE DEMAND IS BASICALLY EQUAL, BUT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BASED ON OUR CURRENT WAIT LIST.
NOW, OUR WAIT LIST IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WAIT LIST.
RIGHT? AND SO WE HAVE TO GET WHAT OUR DEVELOPERS AND I DO WANNA MAKE A NOTE THAT OUR THREE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU LOOKED AT TODAY, THE DEVELOPERS ARE HERE IN, IN THE, UM, AUDIENCE ALSO.
BUT I CAN FOLLOW BACK UP WITH THAT.
I HAVE TO TALK TO THE DEVELOPERS AND KIND OF SEE, UM, THE ASSET MANAGEMENT, WHAT THEIR WAIT LIST LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THEIR UNITS.
AND IF I CAN, UM, ADD A CLOSING COMMENT TO THAT, UM, BECAUSE IT IS 10 45.
UH, ONE THING THAT I THINK WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SENIOR DEVELOPMENTS AND THOSE COMING THROUGH, WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT ARE RAISING GRANDCHILDREN.
UM, AND MANY OF THESE PROPERTIES, IF IT'S A LITECH DEAL, PARTICULARLY, LIKE THEY CAN'T, THESE ARE JUST 55 PLUS.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT, UH, FAMILIES ARE DIFFERENT NOW.
UM, AND SO IF DEVELOPERS HAVE AN APPETITE FOR SENIOR, JUST TO KEEP IN MIND THAT MANY SENIORS ARE STILL RAISING CHILDREN.
UM, AND STILL NEED HOUSING IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE WHERE AN ADDITIONAL ROOM MIGHT BE NECESSARY, UM, WHERE THE INCOME MAY NEED TO FIT THE ONE BEDROOM BRACKET, BUT THEY'RE STILL SERVING A LARGER POPULATION.
I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE SOME REAL THOUGHT AND IMAGINATION TO THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A HUGE DEED OF MAKING SURE SOME OF OUR SENIORS ARE IN SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, BUT STILL CAN GET THEIR KIDS TO A AND B RATED SCHOOLS, TRANSIT JOBS, ALL OF THAT.
UM, DEFINITELY A CONVERSATION.
SO IN YOUR FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEVELOPERS, UM, AND, AND, AND WELCOME THE DEVELOPERS TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL OFFICES, UM, JUST ABOUT THEIR VISION AND WHAT THEY ANTICIPATE IN DISTRICTS A, K AND D PARTICULARLY ON THESE PROJECTS.
UM, AND OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ, UM, SO WE CAN HAVE A LARGER CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN LOCKSTEP.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE AND I'M BEING SUMMONED DOWN TO THE CITY HALL CHAMBERS.
[00:45:01]
THEN COUNCIL OFFICES, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, PLEASE MAKE IT YOUR, UH, INTEREST TO MEET WITH THEM, UM, AND ALLOW THEM TO SCHEDULE TIME WITH YOUR OFFICES AND THEN ASK THOSE MEANINGFUL QUESTIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.UM, THANK YOU TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND IT'S 10 45 VICE CHAIR.
YOU READY? OH, I'M, I'M SO SORRY.
WE DO HAVE THREE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
UH, SHARON MARSHALL, FORGIVE ME.
BUT YOU LOOK, WE WAS READY THOUGH, RIGHT? I WAS READY.
'CAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE A HOUSING COMMITTEE IF MY DOUG SMITH DIDN'T SHOW UP.
COUPLE, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I WISH YOU COULD ADDRESS.
UH, DIRECTOR NICHOLS SAID THAT ONE OF THEIR GOALS WAS TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, WHAT THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DOES AND HOW THEY WORK.
QUESTION I HAVE FOR THEM IS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NINE PROJECTS THEY SHOWED TODAY, UH, THE AVERAGE COST PER UNIT IS $322,000.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE PROJECTS, UH, THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THE 3 0 3 FINANCING, THEIR AVERAGE COST IS $175,000.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE THE PROJECTS THAT THE CITY BUILDS NEARLY TWICE AS EXPENSIVE PER UNIT THAN THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS THAT WERE, WERE, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.
AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION RELATES TO THE 3 0 3 DEALS AND TAX EXEMPTION.
UH, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF CONFUSION REGARDING THIS.
THIS IS ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE TAX CAP IS CALCULATED, NEW CONSTRUCTION IS ADDED TO THE PREVIOUS, UH, ALLOWED AMOUNT SO THAT YOU CAN DRAW OR YOU CAN GET THE PROPERTY TAX ON THOSE NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
UH, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT SAY, NO, BECAUSE WE HAVE A TAX CAP, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL.
THIS IS A HUGE IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT I, THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT $173 MILLION WORTH OF POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES THAT IF YOU PASS THESE, IN MY OPINION, YOU'RE GONNA FOREGO THE TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES, AND FOR A LONG, PROBABLY THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.
AND IF YOU COULD GET AN ANSWER TO THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
DONNA RICKENBACKER WITH EMRICH COMPANIES FIRST.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ FOR YOUR STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO CENTER POINT AND SOME OTHER STRUGGLES THAT WE'RE HAVING, UM, ON OST LOFTS, MY DEVELOPMENT, AS YOU ARE AWARE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, THANK YOU TO, TO STAFF FOR SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO PRIORITIZE THE PERMITTING PROCESS, UM, TO GET THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS ON THE GROUND IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK TO THE NOFA THAT'S THAT THE, UM, HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S GETTING READY TO ISSUE.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CRITERIA IS, BUT I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE FROM A POINTS PERSPECTIVE, WHICH I ASSUME THIS APPLICATION'S COMING OUT AND, AND BEING PRIORITIZED BASED ON POINTS, UM, PRIORITIZE THOSE THAT WERE AWARDED 9% TAX CREDITS IN THIS 2024 ROUND REASONING IS THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED WITH T-D-H-C-A TAX CREDITS AND THEY'RE READY TO GO AND THEY HAVE GET FUNDING GAPS, OBVIOUSLY.
AND THEN SIMULTANEOUSLY WE'VE GOT, UM, CONSTRUCTION THAT NEEDS TO GET STARTED.
WE'VE GOT DELIVERY AND TIMELINES ASSOCIATED WITH T-D-H-C-A THAT WE HAVE TO HONOR PLACED IN SERVICE AND ALL THAT.
SO THESE PROJECTS ARE READY TO GO.
I HOPE AND PRAY THAT, UM, WE CAN PRIORITIZE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE, ARE READY TO GO, GIVEN THAT THEY ARE, THEY WERE AWARDED THE TAX CREDITS.
ALSO, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE 9% TAX CREDIT AWARDED TRANSACTIONS ARE VERY DEEP INCOME RESTRICTED.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD AT LEAST 10% OF OUR UNITS AT 30% OF THE A MI AND THEN FIFTIES AND 60% OF THE A MI.
THERE ARE VERY FEW MARKET RATE UNITS, IF ANY, IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
THESE ARE TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FOR THOSE EARNING VERY LOW INCOMES.
SO I'M, I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN MOVE THOSE FORWARD AND PRIORITIZE THEM.
OH, ONE LAST THING, AND I, AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE WITH RESPECT TO THE 11 ONE DEADLINE, THAT THE 9% DEALS THAT WERE AWARDED THIS ROUND HAVE ON TOP OF THEM.
I, I HOPE THAT WE CAN AT LEAST BE IN A POSITION TO DO WHAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT USED TO PROVIDE.
[00:50:01]
RECOGNIZES THAT WE'VE APPLIED AND THAT PROVIDES THE TERMS AND THE DATES OF THOSE, UM, AWARDS SO THAT I CAN AT LEAST PRESENT THAT TO T-D-H-C-A AND SEE WHAT, IF ANYTHING, I CAN DO TO GET SOME EXTENSIONS FROM THEM.BEFORE WE ADJOIN, I'D LIKE TO REMIND, UH, EVERYONE THAT OUR NEXT HCA MEETING WILL BE HELD OCTOBER 15TH, 2024.
THE DISTRICT F OFFICE WILL BE SENDING OUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
UH, THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE AND THE PRESENTATIONS, UH, BEING HERE TODAY.
AND IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.