City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: HELEN S. MCILVAINE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF HOUSING
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Request to Release FY 2024 Contingent Reserve Funds of $250,000 Allocated for a Local Housing Voucher Program Study.
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ISSUE: Release of $250,000 in FY 2024 contingent reserve funds for a Local Housing Voucher Program study.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council approve the release of contingent funds allocated in the FY 2024 budget process for a local housing voucher program study and to potentially support other consultant work related to the upcoming Housing Master Plan Update.
BACKGROUND: During the FY 2024 City budget process, City Council allocated $250,000 in contingent reserve funds to enable the Office of Housing to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of a local housing voucher program and how best to structure (e.g., legal review, eligibility criteria, subsidy amounts, landlord engagement, administration and case management, sustainability strategies, etc.) a voucher-like program to stabilize housing and enable access for low-income households across the City's private rental market. In its action, City Council also proposed that any remaining funds be leveraged to support the upcoming Housing Master Plan Update.
DISCUSSION: Housing staff, in consultation with the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), have drafted and released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to several regional and national housing consulting firms seeking their expertise and experience to conduct the above-described feasibility study and provide the City with several potential models and structures for the ongoing administration, operation, and funding of a local housing voucher program. Work will begin this Fall and the proposed scope of work includes consultation with community stakeholders interested in the design of the program.
The Housing Master Plan Update (“HMPU” or “Update”) will begin public outreach and meetings in Fall 2024, including introductory education sessions to ensure a common understanding of housing challenges and topics. Housing staff have begun internal work to prepare for the Update and propose that a portion of the contingency funds released now also be programmed for an Alexandria housing needs analysis since the findings of that assessment are critical to many HMPU topics. An RFP is being drafted for this work now, and it, too, will be released to select regional and national first early this Fall, pending Council’s action.
FISCAL IMPACT: Release of $250,000 from contingent reserve funds for the local housing voucher program study (currently estimated to cost less than $200,000) and for other work, including a housing needs analysis, to inform topics anticipated to be reviewed pursuant to the Housing Master Plan Update.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Eric Keeler, Deputy Director, Office of Housing
Gypsy Roberts, Chief, Finance and Administration Division, Office of Housing
Brandi Collins, Housing Program Manager, Office of Housing
Tamara Jovovic, Housing Program Manager, Office of Housing
Virginia Patton, Housing Program Manager, Office of Housing