2017 Social Service Funding Application Non-Alcohol Funds submitted by HCCI May 26, 2016

Transcription

1 Legal Name of Agency: 2017 Social Service Funding Application Non-Alcohol Funds submitted by HCCI May 26, 2016 SECTION 1. APPLICANT INFORMATION Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI) Name of Program for Which Funding is Requested: 1 Rental Housing Counseling and Education Primary Contact Information (must be available by phone June 7, 2016 from 8:30 to 12:30) Contact Name and Title: Teresa Baker, Supervisor, HCCI s Rental Housing Program Address: 2518 Ridge Court, Lawrence, KS and 1195 SW Buchanan, Topeka, KS Telephone: Fax: tbaker@hcci-ks.org SECTION 2. REQUEST INFORMATION A. Amount of funds requested from the City for this program for calendar year 2017: $ 17,100 B. Will these funds be used for capital outlay (equipment or facilities?) If so, please describe: No, this funding request is not for a capital outlay. C. Will these funds be used to leverage other funds? If so, how: Yes, these funds (if awarded) will help leverage funding from the United Way of Douglas County, from the City of Lawrence CDBG funds, and from local donors. This Social Service Non-alcohol funding also helps leverage funds from HUD through HCCI s grant proposal for Local Housing Counseling (HUD Local). D. Did you receive City funding for this program in 2016? If so, list the amount and source for funding (i.e. General Fund, Alcohol Fund, etc.): Yes, the City of Lawrence awarded HCCI $15,580 from the General Fund for How would any reduction in city funding in 2017 impact your agency? HCCI applies local funding from the City of Lawrence, United Way of Douglas County, and private donations to fund the important work HCCI is doing to provide Rental Housing Counseling and Education for Lawrence tenants and also for landlords, property managers and tenant advocates. Total program costs for Lawrence are $28,937. In 2016 the city reduced this Social Services grant funding to HCCI by $1,520. HCCI was able to absorb this $1,520 loss and still continue to provide outstanding phone counseling for Tenant/Landlord issues. However, HCCI has absorbed other significant budget cuts to this program (see chart on page 2). HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling staff is operating at full capacity. There is no wiggle room to absorb additional cuts and still meet the needs of renters using this program. The majority of these renters (98%) are very-low and low-income households. The review committee may not be aware that the city also awards funds from their CDBG allocation to HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling Program. City of Lawrence CDBG funding has been reduced each year since 2011 and was significantly reduced in 2014, 2015 and again in The 2016 CDBG allocation to HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling Program was $4,762 - an 80% reduction from the 2013 award of $24,400. Awards from the city s CDBG funding were as high as $25,000 in 2009 and 2010 and HCCI was able to counsel many more Lawrence renters and landlords. HCCI fully understands the factors that contribute to necessary grant budget cuts from CDBG that is contingent on HUD awards to the city. HCCI has also experienced diminished awards from HUD over the past five years from $73,913 in (for example) to $29,821 for In fact, HCCI s HUD awards (since 2013)

2 have been fully allocated specifically to HCCI s Consumer Credit Counseling for pre-purchase, post-purchase and mortgage default counseling to help homeowners keep the investment they have in their homes. HCCI has not designated any of its HUD funding for this HCCI Rental Housing Counseling Program since Without HUD funding for this program, HCCI is totally relying on local funding from the city, United Way of Douglas County and local donors to meet the local need. Chart of counseling outputs and funding provided for HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling and Education Program. Counsel Types Short-Term Counsels (30 45 minutes) Counsels (60 plus minutes) Education Participants Education Classes Total People Served City of Lawrence funding sources CDBG Funding $25,000 $25,000 $20,788 $24,990 $24,440 $11,905 $10,000 $4,762 General Funding /Social $17,100 $17,100 $17,100 $17,100 $17,100 $17,100 $17,100 $15,580 United Way Douglas CO (internal allocation to Rental Counseling from the total award amount) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,000 $4,000 $4,000 HUD (internal allocation to Rental Counseling from the total award amount) $5,000 $5,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Funding $47,100 $47,100 $37,888 $42,090 $41,540 $31,005 $31,100 $24,342 Negative impact on Lawrence residents: This HCCI work is reducing the number of calls to city hall from tenants with complaints or questions about rental housing issues. In 2015, 82% of persons contacting HCCI s Rental Housing phone lines were renters; 10% were landlords and property managers; and 8% were tenant advocates. HCCI expects to serve a similar mix of callers in 2017 with the vast majority of renters served being very-low and low-income renters. If funding continues to be reduced, HCCI will need to analyze and prioritize services and determine how best to meet the needs for: 1) counseling services - primarily to help renters understand their rights and responsibilities; and 2) pro-active education workshops primarily helping landlords and property managers understand their rights and responsibilities; and 2

3 3) pro-active public education classes primarily helping renters understand how important it is to: read and understand Tenant/Landlord contracts before signing the lease agreement; know what to expect in the move-in/move-out and deposit refund negotiating process; learn their options to address issues (such as poor maintenance, illegal entry, eviction notices). This program meets a significant city need of HUD s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), Final Rule. HCCI hesitates to consider reducing education classes for tenants. HCCI s 1 to 4 hour workshops for Lawrence landlords and property managers are requested two to three times per year. HCCI finds landlords are often misinformed (or unaware) about how Fair Housing Law applies to marketing and accommodating tenants who are, for example, physically challenged. HCCI has developed other workshops for local non-profits who frequently turn to HCCI because they are trying to advocate on behalf of a client s tenant s rights. HCCI is especially glad to be a resource for agencies such as Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority, Ballard, Salvation Army Willow Domestic Violence Center, Family Promise, Bert Nash, Catholic Charities and the housing offices of Haskell and KU. HCCI s educational classes explain (in laymen s terms) the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords. HCCI s outcomes demonstrate the counseling and education services HCCI provides are a proven positive way to advance better relationships and dispel common misunderstandings about the responsibilities and rights of both landlords and tenants. Expanding the Rental Housing Inspection Program citywide has raised awareness for tenants of their rights and has, for some tenants, probably increased their willingness to file complaints regarding actual or perceived substandard rental housing issues. Landlords are learning how they must maintain city housing code standards. HCCI s website linked with the City s Rental Housing Inspection policies and HCCI s counseling and education serve as a reliable resource for Lawrence residents. 2. If you are requesting an increase in funding over 2016, please explain why and exactly how the additional funds will be used: HCCI requests an increase of $1,520 to bring the award to HCCI back to the level of 2015 funding at $17,100. Restored funding will help support the costs of HCCI s counseling for low-income tenants. SECTION 3. PROGRAM BUDGET INFORMATION A. Provide a detailed budget for the proposed program using the following categories: personnel (list each staff position individually and note if new or existing), fringe benefits, travel, office space, supplies, equipment, other. Personnel: includes three existing Rental Housing Counseling Staff Supervisor/Educator existing work involves supervision, community outreach, developing / presenting education programs, data management and reporting Counselor 1 existing - work involves counseling and education presentations charged to this grant Counselor 2 existing - work involves counseling charged to this grant Total Personnel: $21,000 Fringe Benefits (13% of salary) 2,730 Travel 351 Office space 1,390 Supplies 130 Equipment 684 Other 2,652 Contractual (accounting, audit, 580 Telephone / 703 Printing / 851 Insurance / 518 Total Program Expense for Lawrence $28,937 3

4 B. What percent of 2017 program costs are being requested from the City? HCCI s request of $17,100 represents 59% of total program costs ($28,937). C. Provide a list of all anticipated sources of funding and funding amount for this program in 2017: City of Lawrence General Fund $ 17,100 City of Lawrence CDBG Fund 4,762 United Way of Douglas County (internal allocation from the total award amount) 4,000 Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority (for classes for tenants) 250 Total $ 26,112 SECTION 4. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM / NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY PROGRAM A. Provide a brief statement of the problem or need your agency proposes to address with the requested funding and/or the impact of not funding this program. The statement should include characteristics of the client population that will be served by this program. If possible, include statistical data to document this need. HCCI values this partnership with the city. HCCI s website is prominently listed on the city s Rental Licensing website as a resource for tenants, especially for questions related to civil matters such as potential lease violations, issues with roommates, pet and service animal policies and other concerns that are not directly related to city housing code. HCCI serves as a valuable resource for addressing calls from the general public that might otherwise absorb a great deal of city staff time. U.S. Census (2014) indicates rental housing units make up 54% of Lawrence housing stock. HCCI s free Rental Housing Counseling by phone and free public education programs help both tenants and landlords understand their rights and also their responsibilities as defined by Fair Housing Law, the Kansas Residential Landlord Tenant Act and city code. There is a high need for renters, landlords, property managers, and concerned neighbors to know and understand the rights and responsibilities of all parties concerned when rental housing issues (such as inadequate maintenance) require city inspection. When these issues are left unchecked, they pose high health risks for tenants and have the potential to result in dilapidated rental units that also reduce the taxable evaluation of adjoining properties. This proposal describes the work Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. has done since 1988 and will continue to do - to fill the need in Lawrence for accurate, reliable, and readily available information about the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants regarding all aspects of rental housing. B. How was the need for this program determined? HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling and Education Program addresses needs that are parallel with the City s strategy as outlined in Step Up to Better Housing. The HCCI s Tenant and Landlord Rental Housing Counseling and Education Program is named as a key service throughout Lawrence s Consolidated Plan including as a special needs/homeless population partner. Tenant-Landlord counseling was initiated by HCCI in 1972 in Topeka and was initiated in Lawrence in 1988 at the request of the Lawrence City Commission. Tenant and Landlord Counseling and Education is HCCI s longest-running program. HCCI has offices in Topeka, Lawrence, and Manhattan. Topeka is the largest service area for HCCI and Lawrence is the second largest service area for Rental Housing Counseling. C. Why should this problem/need be addressed by the City? HCCI s purpose and mission aligns precisely with the City s mission to fully address the negative effects for the whole city of unsafe and blighted rental housing stock that poses a health and safety risk to tenants and also greatly depreciates property values for adjoining homeowners. HCCI Counselors address these issues daily: substandard maintenance, unlawful evictions, nonpayment of rent for a variety of reasons, 4

5 security deposit returns, availability of accessible housing after an accident or illness, drug use by roommates or neighbors, and issues related with out-of-town landlords who are not cognizant of, or ignore, local or state housing laws. HCCI is known locally as the go to experts for Rental Housing questions for both tenants and landlords / property managers. Please see bios attached for HCCI s three Rental Housing Counselors: Teresa Baker, Supervisor, Anahi Hernandez, and Ashton Veazey. HCCI expects to counsel about 245 Lawrence renters, landlords and property managers in 2017 and provide at least 6 Rental Education classes for the general public in These free classes - described below have in the last few years been scheduled at the Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence High School, Free State High School, Ballard Center, Salvation Army, Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority, Lawrence Shelter, Lawrence Neighborhood Associations, and other interested organizations. The Lawrence Landlords Association periodically invites HCCI to speak at their meetings. HCCI is always glad to speak and answer questions from landlords and property managers to help foster better understanding of the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and Fair Housing Law. HCCI Website Resources for Tenants and Landlords HCCI has extensive information regarding frequently asked questions about rental housing on its website at HCCI s website is a trusted resource that gives accurate, helpful information quickly. Landlords, property managers and tenants may view HCCI s Landlord Handbook and HCCI s Tenant Handbook online at no charge. They may print the handbooks from the website at no charge. Printed handbooks are also available at a nominal charge to cover postage/handling. D. How does the program align with the Community Health Plan (see page one)? HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling and Education Program will be an immediate resource for the City, the Douglas County Health Department, and interested neighborhood groups addressing the lack of affordable, safe and decent rental housing. HCCI s highly experienced Rental Housing Counselors have the expertise and experience to research and respond to a variety of rental housing issues. All of the counseling and education HCCI will provide is based on helping renters, landlords and the general public understand how rental housing issues can be resolved following the guidelines of Federal Fair Housing Law, the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and City Housing Code. SECTION 5. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICES A. Provide a brief description of the service you will provide and explain how it will respond to the need you identified in Section 4. The description should include how many clients will be served, and should describe as specifically as possible the interaction that will take place between the provider and the user of the service. HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling and Education Program helps people help themselves to maintain adequate, safe, affordable and equitable rental housing through counseling, education and collaboration with other agencies. Historically, about 90% of clients served by this program are low-income households. HCCI Strategic Plan for 2015 and into 2017 includes the following activities for the City of Lawrence: 1. counsel and educate to advance and fulfill the Fair Housing Rule, 2. provide direct counseling for more than 200 unduplicated households annually, 3. develop and present approximately 6 community education programs targeting renters and landlords, 4. continue active participation in partnerships that develop affordable housing units, and 5. concentrate on partnerships that move homeless individuals and families from shelters to homes. HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling services are available weekdays from 8:00-6:00. Persons are counseled by telephone using a call log system that gives priority to callers with urgent rental situations such as unlawful eviction by a landlord. Teresa Baker, Supervisor of HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling Program does community outreach and is a frequent guest speaker regarding rental housing issues for Douglas County groups. HCCI provides support for the program through reception duties, data management and reporting. 5

6 When an individual contacts HCCI, they are entered into the HCCI database as a client and are only counted one time regardless of how frequently they may contact HCCI for assistance about that particular issue. HCCI s preventive education services are especially useful for low-income households and other at-risk groups such as Lawrence high school students moving out of their parent s homes and into rental housing for the first time. The programs teach basic life skills essential for renters to be successful as tenants. HCCI also provides education classes for landlords and property managers. Education Programs for tenants include: fair housing law, basic rights, responsibilities, appropriate behavior and communication skills. Education Programs for landlords and the public provide information about the rental application and screening process including: fair housing law, maintenance, landlord s rights and responsibilities regarding entry to the rental unit, the appropriate process when a tenant eviction is necessary, and the appropriate procedure landlords must follow when tenants abandon personal possessions. As mentioned earlier, HCCI routinely presents classes at Ballard, Lawrence Community Shelter, The Landlords of Lawrence Association, Salvation Army, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority, and USD 497 Lawrence High and Free State High and GED classes. B. What other agencies in the community are providing similar types of services. What efforts have you made to avoid duplication or coordinate services with those agencies? There are no other agencies in Douglas County or the State of Kansas providing the unique Tenant-Landlord Counseling and Education services HCCI provides. SECTION 6. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES Please provide three specific program objectives for Objectives should demonstrate the purpose of the program and measure the amount of service delivered or the effectiveness of the services delivered. A time frame and numerical goal should also be included. Examples include, 75% of clients receiving job training will retain their job one year after being hired, increased fundraising efforts will result in a 15% increase in donations in 2017, credit counseling services will be provided to 600 clients in 2017, etc. Applicants will be expected to report their progress toward meeting these objectives in their six-month and annual reports to the City. HCCI s Rental Housing Counseling and Education Program Objectives are listed below. At least 90% of people counseled one-to-one (or attending an HCCI class or workshop) will report they learned something new they can immediately use to resolve their rental housing issue. Sample forms from HCCI (contracts, move-in/moveout checklists, notice of landlord entry) will especially help tenants take appropriate steps to resolve their issues. At least 90% of people counseled one-to-one (or attending an HCCI class or workshop) will report they feel better prepared to implement their rights and responsibilities to resolve their rental housing issues satisfactorily under the guidelines of the Kansas Residential Landlord and tenant Act, City Code and Fair Housing Law. At least 90% of people counseled one-to-one will report they avoided homelessness with the information and next steps Action Plans they received from HCCI. Thank you for considering this proposal from Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. 6