City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Funding Allocation for Rebuilding Together Alexandria.
BODY
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ISSUE: Request from Rebuilding Together Alexandria (RTA) for $50,000 in Housing Trust Fund (HTF) monies to be allocated for RTA activities in FY 2013.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve a grant of $50,000 in Housing Trust Fund (HTF) monies to Rebuilding Together
Alexandria (RTA) to fund its activities in FY 2013 as described in this report; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary funding documents and agreements.
BACKGROUND: Rebuilding Together Alexandria is a predominantly volunteer-supported, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that throughout the year repairs and rehabilitates homes of elderly, disabled and low-income residents within the city of Alexandria. RTA also helps repair nonprofit-owned facilities serving Alexandria's neediest residents. RTA is best known for sponsoring a one-day blitz National Rebuilding program during which crews of volunteers provide free home renovation/repair services and nonprofit facility repairs. RTA skilled and unskilled volunteers donate their time and manual labor, and various sponsors, including local businesses, civic organizations, and churches, donate needed supplies and money to purchase materials. Applicants are screened on the basis of need and on a scope of work that RTA volunteers can accomplish in one day. In FY 2012, 165 residents applied and 158 were helped.
DISCUSSION: RTA is requesting a total of $50,000 in grant funding from the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) for its FY 2013 program in order to serve an estimated 100 households and nonprofit organizations. Since FY 2004, RTA has received Housing Trust funding from the City to help its activities in repairing and renovating homes for the city's income-eligible homeowners. This FY 2013 request is for the same amount as in FY 2012, which was an increase from previous years related to an increase in requests for more comprehensive projects that require additional funds and more volunteers.
RTA has proposed that at least 70 percent of the grant amount go toward the purchase of supplies and materials, and that 30 percent be allocated for professional labor (to include plumbing, roofing, HVAC installation, fencing, tree removal/trimming, carpentering, and concrete/brick laying), as needed. The estimated average cost to purchase supplies and to complete repairs and renovations ranges from around $2,500 to $5,000 per household.
During FY 2012, RTA was allocated and expended $50,000 from the HTF, in addition to other sources raised, to repair and revitalize 154 Alexandria homes, one Neighborhood Stabilization property, and three nonprofit facilities. With an average of 1.69 people in each home, RTA directly served nearly 300 individuals. The average income of households assisted was $24,585, the average age of clients was 72, and 56% of the households had a resident with disabilities. Attachment I shows the amount of previous grants provided to RTA from the HTF and the number of households they were able to serve each year. The City's funding allocation will make up 7% of RTA's projected FY2013 revenue; it expects to leverage $13.96 in community donations and volunteer labor for every $1 in HTF grant funds.
On December 6, 2012, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) considered and approved staff's recommendation to allocate $50,000 to RTA. The City's FY2013 approved budget does not include an annual allocation for RTA, based on the principle that any organization seeking housing funds must submit an application for consideration during the year.
RTA recognizes and practices the City's Strategic Plan Goal 7, "Alexandria is a caring and inclusive community that values its rich diversity, history and culture, and promotes affordability." In keeping with this goal and the FY 2012 Council action, staff recommends that the allocation of $50,000 be granted to RTA so it can continue its mission "to preserve and revitalize homes and communities, assuring that Alexandria's low-income homeownersÂ… live in warmth, with safety and independence."
FISCAL IMPACT: Approval of this request would result in the expenditure of $50,000 in grant monies from the City's Housing Trust Fund. As of January 31, 2013, the Housing Trust Fund (including the HTF portion of the Housing Opportunities Fund) had a balance of $3,634,000, of which $2,470,000 is committed or reserved to specific projects or programs, leaving an unreserved balance of $1,164,000.
ATTACHMENT: RTA Funding Grants and Households Served, FY 2004 - FY 2012
STAFF:
Mildrilyn Davis, Director, Office of Housing
Eric Keeler, Division Chief, Office of Housing