Title
HOLD a public hearing on the Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plans for Program years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 to provide new construction of affordable rental housing.
Summary
DATE: February 21, 2023
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Leslie Hinkle, Executive Director of Community Development
SUBJECT: A reprogramming of HOME funds to assist with development of affordable rental housing
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
In City fiscal years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, the Community Development Advisory Committee recommended application for the North Killeen Housing Redevelopment Program (NKHRD). The NKHRD was funded with HUD HOME grant program funds with the purpose of offering rehabilitation funding to owners and landlords to rehab the older rental units in north Killeen area. The first year of funding was not adequate to address the necessary requirements of rental housing rehab when using home funds (i.e., testing and abatement of lead-based paint hazards, vacate units for the most recent 12 months to avoid relocation payments to tenant occupants during the rehabilitation).
Complexities of the HOME program restrict occupancy of HOME assisted rental units to low-income persons, as well as restricting the amount of chargeable rent for assisted units to maximums issued by HUD; maximums are as much as 15% ($142.00/$113.00) a month less than the fair market rate at $957/$815 for 2 bedroom and $754/$641 for 1 bedroom. Property owners/property managers were not interested in participating in annual income calculations for eligible low-income tenants and did not want to be restricted to a rent structure defined by HUD. Additionally, the requirement to formally bid the project and have a structured set of drawings and specifications was also an impediment and the property owners/managers did not want to commit the funds in exchange for updated units with income and rent restrictions for the 10-year compliance period.
An amendment to the Communi...
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