FINAL 2018 Housing & Community Development Action Plan

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AP-60 Public Housing - 91.420, 91.220(h) ' Introduction ' The Housing Authority of South Bend (HASB) continues to provide the residents of South Bend high quality services, despite being labeled as "troubled". In early 2015, a new Board of Commissioners was appointed to the Housing Authority. The Board is guiding the HASB toward financial and performance ' stability. For the first time since 2012, the HASB has a Board approved annual budget. The Housing Authority scored 80%on its recent physical inspections by HUD. Actions planned during the next year to address the needs to public housing The HASB is meeting the needs of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income families residing in the jurisdiction and is actively seeking to expand its capacity to assist more families on a continual basis. The HASB has 110 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) families in its rolls in the ' HCV Program and expects that number will increase by at least 11 during 2017. The Public Housing Program has 814 units and is regularly 97% + leased. The HASB added three additional single-family homes to the Public Housing inventory. , Actions to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and ' participate in homeownership The HASB participates in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS), a voluntary Program for Section 8 participants. Additionally, for the past 12 years residents of public housing have participated in a similar ' Program that combines the Public Housing Authority Section 32 Program with an Indiana State Program of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). The FSS Program requires that the head of household enter a five-year contract with the PHA during which time the family will receive supportive services through a ' case worker. The goal is that the family will eventually not require public assistance of any type. In return, any rent increases from increased income earnings that the participant experiences are placed in an interest bearing escrow account which the participant receives when they complete their five-year , contract. This escrow account can be used for a down payment on a home, education costs, or medical expenses. In the Public Housing Homeownership Program (now referred to as Section 32) at the Housing Authority of South Bend since it was begun and initially titled Turnkey III, well over 100 families , have moved from public housing to homeownership. If the PHA is designated as troubled, describe the manner in which financial assistance will be provided or other assistance The HASB was rated as a troubled Public Housing Authority during most of 2015. Currently, the HASB is ' waiting the scoring of its 2015 Financial Assessment Submission as well its Management Assessment (directly tied to the Financial Assessment). The HASB currently has 40 out of 50 points in the Public ' Housing Assessment System's 100 point scoring system and with 50 points remaining on the Financial and Management areas, the HASB needs only 20 of 50 points to move out of the troubled range. However, even if this should occur, HUD could continue treating the HASB as a troubled PHA. ' Annual Action Plan 48 , 2018 OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.06/30/2018) '