Housing and Community Development First (5th) Year Action Plan (2019)

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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 "sub-standard". In early 2015, a partial new Board of Commissioners was appointed to the Housing Authority. The Board as of October 2018 is still two board members short. The Board is guiding the HASB toward financial and performance stability.The HASB has hired a full time Finance Manager and is contracting with a financial consultant until early Spring 2019. 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 100 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing(VASH)families in it's rolls in the HCV Program and expects that number will increase by at least 11 during 2019. The Public Housing Program has 814 units and is regularly 97%+ leased. 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 began and initially titled Turnkey III, well over 100 families have moved from public housing to homeownership. The FSS Program now totals over 50 families and continues to grow. We have two new families moving 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 sub-standard Public Housing Authority during all of 2018. Currently, the HASB is awaiting the scoring of its 2017 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 Annual Action Plan 50 2019 OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.06/30/2018)