Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition May 19, 2017, 1:00 PM at VCIL, Montpelier

Transcription

1 Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition May 19, 2017, 1:00 PM at VCIL, Montpelier Present: Ted Wimpey, CVOEO; Erhard Mahnke, Consultant; Miranda Lescaze, CSC; Ray Brewster, Consultant; Jen Hollar, VHCB; Kate Ash, Senator Leahy s Office; Kevin Veller, Congressman Welch s Office; Shaun Gilpin, DHCD; Corrine Yonce & Luke Dodge, VAHC VISTAs; Debbie Silverwolf, VT Law School; Matt Levin, Early Childhood Alliance; Seth Leonard, USDA; Alison Friedkin, Downstreet; Patricia Tedesco, VCIL; Beth Ann Mayer, VT Interfaith; Kara Casey, VT Network; Laurel Chen, Daniel Blankenship, VSHA; Ari Kisler, VT Coalition for Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs; Gus Seelig, VHCB; Sarah Kenney, Rural Edge; Brian Pickard, Rural Edge On the Phone: David Ely, Twin Pines; Martin Hahn, VHCB; Sarah Kobylenski, Upper Valley Haven I. Introductions & Announcements Ted reported Loralee Morrow, Steering Committee member, must resign from the coalition because she is moving out of state and is leaving Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission. He encouraged attendees to consider becoming a Board member, and/or nominating potential members. II. Secretary and Treasurer s Reports Miranda Lescaze taking minutes for Cindy Reid today. Sarah reported an account balance of $18,306 with all bills paid. The coalition has received $3600 in income as of the end of April including dues and in-kind contributions for office space and bookkeeping. Seventy-three members have paid dues to date. Sarah encourages anyone who has not yet paid for dues to pay them as soon as possible. Review of minutes Alison Friedkin moved to approve, seconded by Patricia Tedesco. Minutes approved. Ray circulated the in-kind donation sheet. III. Staff Report Erhard distributed the meeting packet. Luke and Communications intern Lily have been preparing a newsletter, which was passed around. Corrine Yonce just finished interviews at South Burlington Community Housing and her interviews with residents are on the Voices of Home website, It was a very successful project, and sharing the interviews with residents last week was very moving. Corinne has also been continuing to support residents at Decker Towers. Residents recently wrote a letter to 7 Days in response to an article that had painted their home in an unfavorable light. Publication of the letter was a significant step towards the residents feeling like they have a voice in their community. They will be holding a meeting next week re: how to find support when someone is in mental crisis. Luke Dodge echoed Corrine s remarks re: the South Burlington Community Housing interviews; they are powerful stories about how people got to where they are and how they maintain their independence. An additional interview was conducted with a resident from Good Samaritan Haven. They are beginning new partnerships with Randolph Community Development Corp. Luke reported on his work with the Coalition to End Homelessness: The recent Point in Time Count counted 1225 total homeless individuals counted, which is an increase of over 100 individuals from last year s count. The only category in which the homeless count decreased was the number of homeless Veterans. This year s data will have special significance because it will be the baseline for HUD s Homeless Youth Strategy. The full Point In Time report should be out in the next couple of weeks, including reports by county. IV. FY 17 Federal Budget Kate Ash provided an update on the Federal Budget and shared a three-page handout summarizing the FY2017 consolidated appropriations act. 1 P a g e

2 1. FY17 Appropriations President Trump passed the FY17 Appropriations Act at the beginning of May. The budget blueprint the resident released a couple of months ago included many program eliminations which were not included in this FY17 appropriations act. This FY17 appropriations act will fund and keep the government functioning for the rest of the fiscal year. The good news is that the Appropriations Act includes a number of increases. The agreement includes $38.8 billion for HUD including: The FY17 THUD Omnibus spending bill funds most HUD programs at or above FY16 levels Includes $41.5 million for various housing market surveys Includes new funding for HUD Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Includes $6 million for national rent reform study Preserves the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness through FY 2018 Other highlights: CDBG, HOME and Neighborworks were all preserved at FY16 levels Includes a $60M increase to the Emergency Solutions grants program Includes $43 million for projects in up to 11 urban and rural communities to demonstrate how a comprehensive approach to serving homeless youth can reduce youth homelessness Directs HUD to implement the Performance Partnership Pilots to support disconnected youth Ben Carson s interest in Healthy Homes shone in the inclusion of a $35M increase to the Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control initiative Includes a record funding level for the CDFI Fund this year. Includes $801 million, a 430% increase, to support opiate treatment and prevention programs. 2. FY18 Budget Initial indications suggest it will be similar to the skinny budget that the Administration shared months ago where LIHEAP was eliminated, SAMHSA decreased, and public housing was gutted both on the capital and subsidy side. The Save America s Treasures program which has not been funded for many years may receive funding. Cuts to non-defense programs are likely to be considered to augment defense programs. The reconciliation process expedited consideration of certain bills, not subject to filibuster in Senate is being looked to as a process for accomplishing tax reform. This means that mandated, entitlement programs not normally up for debate, are on the table (Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, NHTF). 3. Tax reform The Senator and colleagues are working on strategies to protect and expand LIHTC and NMTC. They will be looking for Vermont s help in telling stories about how important these programs are. 4. Housing Trust Fund FY2017 sees an increase Vermont will receive its HTF, HOME, and CDBG allocations together. Kate thanked everyone for the help showcasing the great work we do here in VT. There s a great need for advocacy and advocacy really makes a difference. At a recent press conference re: the Community Services Block Grant, LIHEAP, etc., Senator Leahy shared Jan Demers statement. That news conference made it to eight different states. The story of how partners are collaborating and working together in Vermont was an impactful story. Kevin Veller echoed Kate s summary and added another piece of good news: the FY17 Appropriation Act includes $21M for housing for people with AIDS. Though Social Security is safe, the agency has lost so many staff and it is very hard to fill those positions. Another area of optimism is that the health care bill that came out of the House is not likely to go anywhere because of the number of hurdles it would have to go through in the Senate. 2 P a g e

3 Erhard noted that he and Gus will be meeting with the NE Housing Network to strategize advocacy as a region. He added that the FY 17 budget does not include enough S8 for vouchers currently in use. Kate added that many smaller programs did not make it, and this is an environment where many smaller programs will get eaten up. The president has called for a government shutdown if his wall is not funded. Gus mentioned that HAC has reported that an undersecretary will not be named for USDA. Also that we re hearing from partners that we are likely to see a 20% increase in the price of lumber (due to imposition of a tariff on Canadian lumber), which will affect housing construction cost. V. Youth Homelessness Prevention Plan Ari Kisler, Assistant Director of VCRHYP (Vermont Coalition of Runaway & Homeless Youth Programs) Ari introduced the group to the Coalition and reported that they have convened a joint committee of two Continuums of Care, called the Youth Homelessness Prevention Plan Committee, who have drafted a proposed framework for their work. The committee s goals are to: Increase data collection and analysis to gain better understanding of youth homelessness in Vermont Develop a shared understanding of evidence-informed practices to address youth homelessness, current Vermont and national resources, and what interventions increase positive outcomes. Create a statewide plan to end youth homelessness through increasing capacity for interventions that reduce risk factors, build protective factors and mitigate long-term impacts of experiences of homelessness. Interventions should address core outcomes for youth. Ensure that every community has the capacity to identify and engage youth at risk of experiencing homelessness and intervene to prevent loss, reduce barriers to emergency crisis services, and increase short- and long-term housing supports appropriate for the unique populations needs. The meeting packet includes a copy of the joint committee proposal, and draft framework. The committee has good representation from over 15 programs and partners. They have connected with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) in Boston who have helped them put together the draft prevention plan. The committee is looking for ways this youth plan can align with the State s family plan and are looking at example plans from Wisconsin, Calgary, Connecticut, and King County WA. They are looking for ways to meaningfully engage youth in the development of the plan: through focus groups, reaching out to youth in current programs, etc. Moving forward they are looking at a coordinated entry process, and planning key stakeholder interviews, and plan to prepare a timeline with specific benchmarks. Discussion/comment Debbie Silverwolf emphasized the importance of involving youth and suggested asking them what questions were not asked on the survey that should have been. Kevin asked about how to support the committee with their data analysis need Erhard suggested reaching out to VHFA and Leslie Black-Plumeau for data analysis support. Daniel mentioned that Youth Demonstration Program funding is an opportunity, but at the time it was only available through VSHA, and the committee didn t have the capacity to apply at that time. The committee is happy to be focusing on technical assistance at this point. He offered that Rapid Rehousing is a good approach, but that Transitional Housing is administratively difficult and HUD is moving away from this approach. Alison asked if educators and schools were part of the group s outreach. Ari said that the committee does include an educator representative. VI. Con Plan Update Shaun Gilpin gave an update on the annual update to the Consolidated Plan. At the final advisory group meeting the group made three small changes: added a description of the 15% availability goal, further explained the rationale behind the amount that is awarded to housing (85%), and changed the amount awarded to strong communities from 12 to 15%. Also, the maximum award for CDBG planning grants was changed from $30,000 to $60,000 and the amount of CDBG monies allocated to Planning Grants changed from 3% of the total to $150,000. The plan is now finalized with the exception of the final HTF and CDBG 3 P a g e

4 allocations from HUD. HUD has advised not to submit the plan until this allocation is known and can be included. August 16 th is the deadline for submission to HUD. VII. Introduction & Special Project Debbie Silverwolf Debbie introduced herself, and shared her story. She is a resident of Good Samaritan Haven in Barre, interested in returning to farming. She is currently writing a business plan. In Washington, Lopez Community Land Trust is doing something she d like to do here: overlay a conservation easement with a housing cooperative. She asked the group to get in touch with her to share ideas or contacts. VIII. State Legislative Wrap-up Erhard summarized last night s legislative adjournment. The legislature reached an impasse with the Governor regarding possible revenue from restructuring teacher s health care benefits statewide. It seems clear that the Governor s proposal is about collective bargaining as much as cost savings, as the Senate s proposal did also include the savings. This morning the governor made it clear that he would veto the Education Tax bill as well as the budget. The Senate Economic Development Bill which includes the TIF and $35M Housing Bond - will not take effect until the budget is passed. This was an attempt by the legislature to entice the Governor to not veto, but was not successful. Gus thanked everyone who has worked on this, and reflected that he wrote his first memo on the housing bond back in Jen H. added that both the House and Senate had near unanimous support from all three parties. The $35M revenue bond will be issued by VHFA. The proceeds will be administered through VHCB through the typical application process. These funds will increase what VHCB is able to do for housing usually $6M in grants per year - by $10-$15M per year. This will allow the state to play a bit of catchup both new housing and preservation. The bond will require $2.5M of debt service each year. The final structure for financing the debt service on the Bond is a portion of the Property Transfer Tax surcharge for the Clean Water Fund ($1M) together with $1.5M from VHCB s annual appropriation. This approach ended up pitting the environmental community against the housing community, but eventually we were able to move past that. The full PTT surcharge was extended until 2027, which locks in $4M annually for the Clean Water Fund for an additional nine years. That seems to have alleviated concerns re: the Clean Water Fund. The amount of surcharge needed to raise the $1M for VHCB is extended for the full 20 years the bond is repayable. The proposal had broad support, evidenced by many positive statements on the House and Senate floor. We are dismayed that the budget will be vetoed because it meets the Governor s goal of no new taxes, and includes the Governor s housing bond. The legislature will reconvene June 21 for a veto session. Jen also thanked everyone for their support and advocacy. The coalition s help advocating for the Occupancy Fee was great, but we moved off that approach because of the environment of no new taxes. If the budget and bond become final, VHCB will be holding a series of regional meetings to prioritize projects. Thanks also to legislators, all of whom were supportive, but especially: Senators Sirotkin, Balint and Mullin, and Pro Tem Ashe Representatives Head, Stevens, Baser and Young, and Speaker Johnson DHCD Commissioner Katie Buckley and Ted Brady were also fierce advocates. The broad support is remarkable, we would likely never have the opportunity to do this again. Jen also explained VHCB s allocation for FY18, a total of $16.3M: $11.3M for VHCB from the Property Transfer Tax - $1.5M of which will go towards debt service on the Bond. 4 P a g e

5 VHCB was funded at $5M in the capital bill, which includes an additional $1M that will go directly to farmers for water quality improvements. Compared to previous years this represents $1M more than VHCB received last year, and $2.5M more than two years ago. Erhard summarized the Bond targeting: No less than 25% of units funded by Bond <50% of AMI No less than 25% of units % Erhard reviewed other items in the AHS budget: The Cold Weather Exception House proposed elimination, Senate restored. The Senate also restored $200K of House $344K cuts. The Senate made one time increases dedicated to temporary shelters in two regions that are hot in the motel budget - $600K for Barre/Montpelier and Rutland areas. The Cold Weather Exception is now called GA Temporary Housing Adverse Weather Conditions. AHS grants were restored. The VT Rental subsidy, Family Supportive Housing, and Housing Opportunity grants are all level funded. The VT Department of Corrections Transitional Housing program was cut by $300K. Salaries to line workers in mental health Designated Agencies and Specialized Service Agencies were increased: a step increase to $14/hr the first year, then an increase to $15/hr the year after. Matt Levin from Vermont Early Childhood Alliance added that the Alliance had been pushing for support for the childcare system as a whole. Instead, $2.2M will be put into the system but targeted to childcare providers who provide infant and toddler care to a high number of kids who get subsidy. It is structured as an automatic award to providers that qualify under scoring rubric to be developed. $300K increase went to bring eligibility to 2017 federal poverty guidelines. Next meeting June 14 th, 9:30am Adjourned at 3:00 PM Minutes taken by Miranda Lescaze 5 P a g e