2006 Moving To new Ways Annual Plan

SHA is one of about 30 housing authorities across the country participating in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) “Moving To new Ways” (MTW) Demonstration Program. This program allows SHA to test innovative methods to improve housing delivery to better meet local needs. While in MTW, SHA may propose and implement alternatives to national regulations for issues spelled out in an agreement signed by SHA and HUD in January 1999.

Each July, SHA adopts an annual plan that describes activities planned for the following fiscal year and highlights MTW initiatives. SHA's Board of Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2006 plan in July 2006 and it has been submitted to HUD for approval. FY 2006 runs from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006. Below are excerpts from the plan. To view the full plan and its appendices in PDF format, click here.

Stakeholder involvement   

As part of developing the MTW Plan, residents and others opportunities may review and comment on a draft. About 40 people attended a public hearing about the plan and annual agency budget in June 2005.

Moving To new Ways priorities for FY 2006   

In FY 2006, SHA will pursue the following MTW activities:

• SHA will work with HUD to extend the MTW agreement beyond FY 2006.
   

• Policy revisions to the public housing rent policy that were adopted in June 2005 to strengthen the effectiveness of incentives for employment, maintain high occupancy and reduce the possibility of income manipulation will be implemented in FY 2006.
   

• New members will be added to the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Coordinating Committee. FSS staff will improve case management through more participant contact and better coordination of services. SHA will also improve tracking and outcome reporting through the use of a database.

Meeting Seattle’s housing needs

• Stretch increasingly limited Housing Choice Voucher funds to serve as many households as possible. Changes include: new occupancy standards, rent policies to ensure all income available for living expenses is used in calculating tenant rent, and new fines to increase participant and landlord accountability and compliance.

In FY 2006, Ballard House will transition to a low-income, senior community. New people who move in will be 62 years of age or older.

• Continue the revitalization of Rainier Vista and High Point. During FY 2006:   
   

  • New low-income, senior and workforce housing will come on-line at High Point and will be constructed at Rainier Vista.

  • Homes for sale will be built by private builders. SHA has sold land to builders to construct homes for sale in both communities. Proceeds from the sales help fund the construction of low-income housing.

  • Planning will start for the redevelopment of mixed-use sites at Rainier Vista at the corner of MLK and Alaska Street and at High Point along 35^th Avenue Southwest.

• Private builders will continue to build and sell homes at NewHolly.  SHA will plan for the redevelopment of mixed-use sites on the corner of MLK and Othello Street.

• The reconfiguration of the Scattered-Sites portfolio will continue with the sale of about 80 units.  They will be replaced with others that are more efficient to manage and maintain.

• “homeWorks,” will begin.  homeWorks is a five-year capital program involving bond- and tax credit-financing to renovate 22 public housing high-rises, including comprehensive rehabilitation of building systems and common areas.

• SHA will plan for: improvements in marketability, security and building systems at Jefferson Terrace; redesign of the first floor and entry plaza of Bell Tower; possible expansion of Leschi House; and redevelopment of the Lake City Village site and adjacent property.

• SHA will continue to meet off-site replacement housing obligations for High Point and Scattered-Sites.

SHA purchased the Blue Topaz, a 24-unit apartment in Lake City, to replace sold scattered-site units.

Meeting the needs of residents and applicants

In FY 2006, SHA will:

• Continue the successful mental health crisis intervention and case management program in the public housing high-rises that was expanded during FY 2005.

• Maintain the highest possible level of employment services for SHA residents and Housing Choice Voucher participants.
   
• Apply for Housing Choice Vouchers if any opportunities arise.
   
• Building on the successful lease-up of Tri-Court, decide whether to add a second smoke-free community to offer a choice of neighborhoods.

During FY 2006, SHA will continue to strengthen programs that give residents access to computers and the Internet. SHA will also work to expand partnerships and funding to support community technology centers in or near High Point, Rainier Vista, Westwood Heights, Yesler Terrace and Center Park.

Asfaha Lemlem shows residents Tafere Wubneh and RajKumari Chelliah how to search the Internet at the Yesler Terrace Computer Lab.

Organizational improvements

Improvements planned for FY 2006 include:

• Implementation of the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in the Housing Choice Voucher program, following the successful pilot of the system in the 760-unit Mod Rehab program.

• Replacement of the current overhead allocation system with a revenue-based system to support central administrative costs. Instead of allocating overhead to business units, a property management, administrative or service fee will be charged that more accurately represents the costs of those services.

• The Policy and Procedures Manual and the Section 8 Administrative Plan will be clarified and updated as needed.

For more information about SHA's MTW annual plan or the MTW program, contact Andria Lazaga, Asset Management Coordinator, at alazaga@seattlehousing.org or (206) 615-3546.