2007 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 2007 plan in July 2006 and it has been submitted to HUD for approval. In April 2007, SHA amended the FY 2007 plan to extend the fiscal year through December 31, 2007. Below are excerpts from the plan. To view the full plan, its appendices, and amendment in PDF format, click here.

Stakeholder involvement   

As part of developing the MTW Plan, residents and others had opportunities to review and comment on a draft. About 30 people attended a public hearing about the plan and annual agency budget in June 2006.

Moving To new Ways priorities for FY 2007   

In FY 2007, SHA will pursue the following MTW activities.

• A renewal of SHA’s Designation Plan, which designates Ballard House and Westwood Heights for elderly and near elderly residents, will be requested.
   

• The Family Self-Sufficiency Program will be revamped to better meet locally-defined needs.
   

• Effects of the applicant choice policy will continue to be evaluated. The policy or procedures may be refined to streamline admissions, support implementation of the King County 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness or ensure consistency with low-income housing tax credit rules.
   

• SHA will look for grants and support partners' fundraising to maintain the best possible level of service for The Job Connection, the grant-funded employment services program at Yesler Terrace, NewHolly, Rainier Vista, High Point and the north end. 

Meeting Seattle’s housing needs

In FY 2007, SHA will:

• Continue “homeWorks,” 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.

Greenlake Plaza was the first of
22 low-income public housing high-rises
to be renovated. The work has been well-received
by residents and the surrounding community.

• Begin the community conversation about the future of Yesler Terrace. This will involve Yesler Terrace residents, neighbors and local businesses in a process to create a vision for a new community.
   

• Continue to reconfigure the Scattered-Sites portfolio by selling about 60-70 units and replacing them with others that are more efficient to manage and maintain.

In FY 2007, SHA will identify replacement housing options for Holly Court, and begin planning for the redevelopment of this poorly-designed and -constructed community and adjacent property that SHA owns.

Meeting the needs of residents and applicants

In FY 2007, SHA will:

• Decide whether, on the successful lease-up of Tri-Court, to add a second smoke-free community to offer a choice of neighborhoods to residents. SHA will coordinate with homeWorks and the tobacco prevention program of Seattle-King County Public Health Department to help make this decision.
   

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

• Continue to support technology labs and strengthen programs that give residents at High Point, Rainier Vista, Westwood Heights, Yesler Terrace and Center Park, access to computers and the Internet.
   

• Assess the feasibility of offering residents a way to pay their rent electronically. 
   

• Promote best practices in self-sufficiency for SHA residents through Outcomes for Independence, a new initiative to evaluate strategies, recommend policy and program improvements, and seek out partnerships and additional funding for services.  
   

• Continue to apply for Housing Choice Vouchers if any opportunities arise. 

Organizational improvements

Improvements planned for FY 2007 include:

• Shift SHA’s fiscal year from October 1 through September 30 to January 1 through December 31.  The 2007 fiscal year was extended three months to December 31 by an amendment to the annual plan adopted by the SHA Board in April 2007.
   

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment for office and maintenance shop space needs to plan for future organizational needs.
   

• Continue to clarify and update the Section 8 Administrative Plan and the SHA Policy and Procedures Manual, particularly to incorporate low-income housing tax credit compliance requirements in public housing.

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.