2004 Moving To new Ways Annual Report

As 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, SHA has the opportunity to test innovative methods, improving housing to better meet local needs. In December 2004, the Board of Commissioners adopted Seattle Housing's fiscal year 2004 Moving To new Ways Annual Report, which summarizes the year's activities and accomplishments. 

Over 12,000 households, totaling over 24,000 individuals, benefited from SHA housing assistance by the end of the year, up from 10,900 households at the end of FY 2003. More than 88 percent of households receiving housing assistance have incomes below 30 percent of the area median income.  Some of the year's highlights are below. 

2004 Initiatives

• 282 residents of SHA housing enrolled in Employment Services. These services placed 130 residents into jobs with an average hourly wage of $10.77. Seventy-seven percent of these placements were jobs with benefits. Seven residents were hired into SHA jobs.
   

• Technology was used to better serve our residents and service providers. An online pre-application for housing downloadable was added to the Web site, along with  downloadable application materials in six languages - English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Russian and Somali.
   

• SHA's Web domain name was changed from www.sea-pha.org to www.seattlehousing.org to create a more memorable and accessible Web presence.

Milestones in Community Revitalization

• First steps were taken toward expedited rehabilitation of over 20 public housing high-rises.
   

• The rehabilitation of Tri-Court was completed. It is now a smoke-free community offering 87 units for residents who need or want this kind of housing.
   

• HUD approved designation of Ballard House for residents 62 years old and over.
   

• 71 Scattered Sites units were selected for replacement with units better located to meet the needs of low-income families.
   

• $200 million in construction activity continued at the three redevelopment sites - High Point, Rainier Vista and NewHolly - totaling 120 acres.

	High Point ground breaking in June 2004		Othello Station wall-raising celebration in September 2003		First rental units at Rainier Vista as of October 2004

Housing Resources

During FY 2004:

• SHA received 311 new Housing Choice Vouchers from the federal government.
   

• SHA committed 84 vouchers to a downtown hotel that, following renovation with City of Seattle Housing levy funds, will provide supportive housing for chronically homeless adults.
   

• 75 new units were completed and leased up by year end at Othello Station, 49 for public housing and 26 for work-force housing.
   

• 51 Holly Park replacement partnership units were completed and leased at year end. These included units within the Domingo/Viernes Apartments, the Tyree Scott Apartments and the Cate Apartments.
   

• SHA purchased 123 units throughout Seattle for preservation, neighborhood revitalization and replacement housing for the Yesler Community Center and Scattered Sites.
   

• SHA signed purchase and sale agreements with six builders for about 230 homeownership units in High Point selected by a competitive Request for Proposals process.

Performance Indicators

• SHA collected 98 percent of rent due in public housing.
   

• SHA responded within 30 days to more than 99 percent of regular work order requests received from residents of SHA communities; the fifth year of a trend of improved performance in this area. More than 99 percent of emergency work orders were addressed within 24 hours.
   

• The public housing vacancy rate was 2.87 percent; Section 8 New Construction was 2.97 percent; and the Seattle Senior Housing Program was 1.81 percent.
   

• SHA completed more than 99 percent of required inspections in public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program.
   

• SHA used 100 percent of the funds available in the Housing Choice Voucher program, and leased up 1,000 new voucher participants.
   

• For the seventh year in a row, SHA received an Annual Audit Report with no findings.
   

• During FY 2004, SHA made several changes to over­head allocation; for example, the costs of gasoline and telephone services were removed from overhead and charged to departments based on actual use, reducing overhead by $1.3 million.
   

• To help review and evaluate the public housing rent policy, a telephone survey was conducted to 222 of Seattle Housing's 1,250 public housing residents subject to the employment and TANF rent calculation methods. The survey found that the Tenant Trust Account is an important employment incentive, while rent steps and TANF rent formula are less important. To view the telephone survey results click here.

For the complete text of the report in PDF format click here.

For the complete text of the report appendices in PDF format click here.  The appendices contain information on resident and applicant demographics, SHA financial reports, capital activities and building vacancy rates, as well as evaluation of the Moving to new Ways public housing rent and applicant choice policies.

Each July during Moving to new Ways, SHA adopts an annual plan that describes activities planned for the following fiscal year. Click here for information on SHA's Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Moving to new Ways Plan.

As mentioned above, to help review and evaluate the public housing rent policy, a telephone survey of 222 of Seattle Housing's 1,250 public housing residents was conducted in FY 2004. To view the survey results, click here.

For more information about SHA's annual report or the Moving To new Ways program, contact Andria Lazaga at alazaga@seattlehousing.org or (206) 615-3546.