City of Alexandria, Virginia
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Memorandum
DATE: NOVEMBER 20, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: KATE GARVEY, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Request to Repeal Senior Rent Relief Resolution No. 2019, Adopt a New Senior Rent Relief Resolution to Reflect the Economic Changes Impacting the City's Low-Income Older Adults and Disabled Residents, and Amend the Senior Rent Relief Program Eligibility Criteria. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE:
The City's Senior Rent Relief Program (SRRP), with an annual income criterion of $25,600, has not been adjusted since 2002. The current SRRP annual income criteria and subsidy amounts do not keep pace with the City's rising cost of living and ongoing housing affordability concerns.
RECOMMENDATIONS: That City Council:
1. Repeal the current SRRP Resolution 2019 in its entirety.
2. Repeal the current name of Senior Rent Relief Program and change it to "Rent Relief for Older and Disabled Adults" to reflect more age-friendly language and the target population.
3. Adopt the proposed replacement of Resolution 2019 and accept the new Resolution, number to be assigned following approval, which authorizes recommended program modifications and sets forth other associated terms and conditions.
4. Approve a change in the City's income eligibility criteria from at or below $25,600 to thirty percent (30%) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Area Median Income (AMI) limits as outlined by the newly adopted Resolution, number to be assigned following approval.
5. Approve the new exemption amounts to determine the income disregards associated with the program as reflected in the newly adopted Resolution, number to be assigned following approval; and
6. Approve the provision of a two-tiered subsidy of eit...
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