1994 Reading Housing Authority Annual Report

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Reading Housing Authority 1994 ANNUAL. REPORT The Reading Housing Authority was organized and incorporated in 1963. At that time construction on a 40 unit elderly/handicapped (State 667 Program) development was commenced at Frank D. Tanner Drive. The Authority has continuously pursued available funding programs for housing people of low /very-low incomes. Currently, the Authority manages 84 elderly/handicapped units; 16 family units; 8 special needs units and also operates two rental assistance programs: 8 State MRVP and 105 Federal Section 8 certificates /vouchers. These programs are strictly monitored for compliance with all local, State and Federal standards to insure that the residents live in decent, safe and sanitary housing. Under all programs, an eligible tenant would pay 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent. For those units owned/managed by the Authority, we are pleased to report that through good management and budgetary compliance, the REA does not require an operating subsidy from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at this time. Under the rental assistance programs, the RHA directly renders the balance for rent to participating landlords in accordance with Federal rem guidelines. The Federal Section 8 Program allows portability for those receiving assistance. This me that participants who have a Certificate can now live anywhere within the State; voucher holders live anywhere within the country. At year end, the RHA had 30 certificates or voucher holders li in 15 other communities. Conversely, the RHA had 9 certificates or voucher holders living in Re from 7 other communities. In January 1994, the Authority opened its Section 8 waiting list for eligible applicants, Tl RHA received over 400 applications for housing assistance in a 3 -day period. The staff reviewed qualified all eligible applicants for the program. It is expected that this list will remain closed for another 18 months. The Authority's Section 8 Program currently has 25 Family Self- Sufficiency (FSS) slots. This program seeks to assist the rising number of very low- income families to move from welfare dependency toward full employment and economic self - sufficiency. In order to offer FSS participants the best opportunity for success, the RHA is part of a 4 -Town consortium comprised of housing authorities from Melrose, Wakefield, Saugus and Reading. The program is staffed by a Program Coordinator, and a Family Resource Coordinator for the Town of Reading to coordinate and oversee the progress of participants and enlist the support of local and area -wide organizations for training, education, child care, transportation, counseling and employment opportunities. Currently the RFIA has 12 FSS participants and we expect that program participation will increase during the coming year. The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program is a redesign of the former State 707 Rental Assis Program and funding for this program has been severely reduced. Originally, the RHA had 16 participants in this program. Currently, there are only 6 families receiving assistance.