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POLICY PROPOSAL
DATE FILE NUMBER SUBJECT Funding for Assisted Housing PAGE__!OF___3
8/11/$1 CP-87 Sites
PROPOSAL PROPOSED BY: CqY MIIANAG R'S REVIEW
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Background
During the past two years the issue of site selection for assisted housing has been one
of the most controversial issues facing the City and has probably been the least
understood than any issue faced by the City in quite some time,
The City Council has taken three decisive steps to help achieve needed assisted housing
and improve understanding of the complex housing issues. The first step was the
adoption of a program for pre-selection of*public housing sites, Under this proposal,
the City Council provided a process to select sites using HUD criteria; acquire options;
citizen input; and the use of Section 108 loan funds to purchase sites.
The next step was the approval of the Fair Share Housing Allocation Plan. This policy
was adopted in June, 1980, and was intended to disburse assisted housing throughout
the City in each Council district. It was, and still remains, the policy of the City
Council to achieve a balance in our assisted housing program by working closely with
the Housing Authority, Community Development Council, Human Relations Commission,
interested citizen groups and citizenry at large.
The third step that the Council has taken was the approval of a public relations
program to be carried out by City staff working with a team of citizen volunteers and
staff from the Housing Authority. Beginning in February, information on assisted
housing is being disseminated throughout the City to various groups and organizations.
While these three steps within themselves will not provide assisted housing, I believe
they create the framework whereby we can expedite construction of assisted housing units
for those citizens who need them.
Since the approval of legislation authorizing public housing authorities in the State
of Texas, it is clear that the Housing Authorities are charged with the major respon-
sibility for providing public and assisted housing throughout Texas communities. In
Fort Worth, we have left housing problems and housing programs entirely up to our local
housing authority. Given the limited tools with which the Housing Authority has had to
work with in the past, it has done a commendable job. However, much more needs to
be done with the City and the Housing Authority working together to pool- their resources
and combine staff expertise, until we achieve the housing goals identified in our annual
housing assistance plan.
LEGALITY El
FISCAL NOTE ED
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
'
POLICY PROPOSAL (cont'd) PAGE?OF 3
I understand that Fort Worth will soon be receiving a new allocation and we must
begin immediately to find sites for these new units. In addition, if the Housing
Authority loses some of its units in the Butler Housing Complex as a result of
North-South Freeway expansion, these units must be replaced. Consequently, we
must not only provide sites for new assisted housing but we must also find sites
for our displaced public housing units. In order to acquire the necessary number
of sites, I am recommending that the City Council approve the following proposal to
expedite housing in the City of Fort Worth.
Proposal
I propose that the City Council approve the allocation of $500,000 contained in
Year 7 Community Development Block Grant application and an additional $500,000
from Year 8 Community Development Block Grant application for a total of $1,000,000
to be used to obtain site options as well as acquire land when it is determined
sites have been chosen that meet both HUD and the City's criteria.
This policy would allow the Housing Authority to hire appraisers to appraise pro-
perty under a contractual agreement with the City. The Housing Authority would be
authorized to pay for such appraisals, pay option cost involved, and finally to
acquire the property, if necessary to underwrite land costs, in order to retain
eligible sites for assisted and/or public housing. Further the Housing Authority
will reimburse the City for these options and/or land acquisition costs once a
developer has been approved by HUD to construct assisted or public housing and has
arranged for the long-term financing of such housing units, unless it is necessary
to underwrite land costs in order to make a project economically feasible.
When sites have been optioned that meet HUD and the City's criteria, the City
Manager will notify the City Council as soon as practical of these eligible sites.
The City Manager and his staff will assist the Housing Authority to provide oppor-
tunities for citizens who live near proposed sites to have input in selected sites
when a developer has proposed construction on any of the sites.
This new policy proposal is intended to clarify the role of the Housing Authority
and the City as they relate to site acquisition and construction of public housing
and assisted housing in the City of Fort Worth. I believe that the Housing
Authority must serve as a catalyst for providing assisted and public housing through-
out the City but only with full support of the City Council and the City staff.
This policy gives the Housing Authority the tools to obtain public/assisted housing
sites in a timely basis and at the same time, it will ocntinue our previous policy
of involving citizens.
Legality
The City Council by adoption of CP-58 and CP-71 committed itself to assisting in
the process to provide low and moderate income housing, and this proposed policy
will complement previous Council action. Also, House Hill 796 passed in the last
legislative session and signed into law by the Governor, which requires posting
of notice of intent to build subsidized housing will be the responsibility of the
Housing Authority.
CITY OF FORT WORTH
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PAGE-2—OF
PROPOSAL (cont'd) PAGE
Fiscal Note
The funds will all be allocated from the Community Development Block Grant Program
and no general funds will be used to obtain options or acquire sites.
City Manager's Comments
By setting aside $1,000,000 for options and site acquisitions, the City Council
will be providing another essential tool for the construction of assisted housing
in the City.
Woodie Woods, Mayor
My C NCI.
AUG 11 101)
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CITY OF FORT WORTH