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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services And Housing Funding Board - Minutes - 01/10/2024 Human Services & Housing Funding Board REGULAR MEETING January 10, 2024 at 5:30 PM Remote/ZOOM 1/10/2024 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER • At 5:31 PM the meeting was called to order by Olga Duvall. 2. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present o Olga Duvall, Vice Chair o Christine Koepnick o Erma Woodfin o Lori Kempter o Michaela Ruppert o Mike Kulisheck o Mike Nielsen o Pat Hastings (joined in progress) • Staff Members Present o Adam Molzer, Staff Liaison, Social Sustainability – City of Fort Collins o Beth Rosen, Social Sustainability – City of Fort Collins o Hannah Tinklenberg, Social Sustainability – City of Fort Collins o Tamra Leavenworth, Social Sustainability – City of Fort Collins • Guests Present o Councilmember Julie Pignataro For further information, details and insight, and audio recording, resources are available by contacting the HSHF-Board staff liaison. 3. AGENDA REVIEW Olga Duvall read remote session instructions for the Human Services & Housing Funding Board and public attendees. Adam Molzer reviewed the agenda. Beth Rosen requested that the Habitat for Humanity Funding Cancellation request be discussed prior to HOME-ARP Supportive Services so that Councilmember Pignataro could listen to the request and ask any questions before the request is taken to all of City Council. 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 8, 2023 Regular Meeting Pat Hastings motioned to approve the November 8, 2023 meeting minutes as presented. Michaela Ruppert seconded. Mike Kulisheck abstained because he was not a member in November. Approved 7-0. 6. COUNCIL LIAISON DIALOGUE – COUNCILMEMBER JULIE PIGNATARO Councilmember and HSHF-Board Council Liaison, Julie Pignataro, joined the HSHF-Board for discussion. Human Services & Housing Funding Board REGULAR BOARD MEETING 1 /10/2024 – MINUTES Page 2 Councilmember Pignataro shared that she may not continue to be the HSHF Board’s council liaison throughout 2024 because council liaisons will be determined at the Council Retreat on January 27. Councilmember Pignataro shared that every two years, City Council establishes a list of priorities they would like the City to focus on and that this is the primary purpose of the Council Retreat. Councilmember Pignataro shared some of her ideas for council priorities, which included addressing food insecurity, housing affordability, and prioritizing Vision Plan Zero, which addresses safety on roads for all types of commuters. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 8. NEW BUSINESS a. Habitat for Humanity 2022 Funding Cancellation – Beth Rosen • Beth Rosen explained that Habitat for Humanity is asking for a release from a contract and the accompanying release of restrictive covenants. In 2022, Habitat for Humanity was approved for a request of $80,000 to build a home. Part of the contract included a promissory note and an agreement of restrictive covenants that requires the home stay in the affordable housing inventory for 20 years. Habitat for Humanity is nearing completion of the home, and although the chosen homeowner has completed all the sweat equity over the last 2 years, their income has increased, and they no longer meet the eligibility requirements. Since there is an agreement of restrictive covenants, Beth must take the request to City Council. Beth explained that she is asking for a recommendation from the Board to support Habitat for Humanity’s request to be released from their contract with the City. If supported, the $80,000 will go back into this year’s spring competitive process for allocation to a new affordable housing project. • The Board asked Beth if the chosen homeowner still qualifies for Habitat for Humanity services, despite their income having increased. Beth explained that this is a question of affordability, so it gets tricky. In Fort Collins, the affordability crisis goes up to 120% AMI (Area Median Income) based on purchase prices. Thus, there are several community members whose income goes beyond low- income, so they don’t qualify for federal subsidy, but their income is as high as 120% AMI, so they also don’t qualify to move into home ownership affordably. It’s a business decision that Habitat for Humanity commits to their homebuyer at the beginning of the build process, and they believe the chosen homebuyer should still benefit from the sweat equity put into the home, as well as the lending model of 0% interest that Habitat for Humanity provides. • The Board asked Beth if Habitat for Humanity has homes that are not deed restricted. Beth explained that not all Habitat for Humanity homes are City-funded. However, starting in 2014, the City required that any new Habitat for Humanity builds that use City funds must have a 20-year restrictive covenant. • Councilmember Pignataro asked if the City were to release Habitat for Humanity from the contract, would the home go back into the affordable inventory when the selected homebuyer sells. Beth explained that it would not, but that Habitat for Humanity would have the first right of refusal. Mike Kulisheck motioned that the Board support Habitat for Humanity’s request for a cancellation of the contract and a release of the restrictive covenants. Erma Woodfin seconded. Approved 8-0. Human Services & Housing Funding Board REGULAR BOARD MEETING 1 /10/2024 – MINUTES Page 3 b. HOME-ARP Supportive Services – Hannah Tinklenberg & Beth Rosen • Hannah Tinklenberg joined the meeting to provide an overview of the HOME-ARP Supportive Services funding. The City received a $2.6 million federal allocation through the Home Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The board has recommended $2 million in Affordable Rental Housing for CARE Housing’s Heartside Hill Project and $400,000 remains to be allocated for Supportive Services. The purpose of supportive service funds is to assist persons currently experiencing homelessness and to prevent those precariously housed from becoming homeless. • The HOME-ARP Supportive Services application ran from December 1, 2023-January 5, 2024. Funding will be awarded to eligible organizations whose primary mission and services focus on homeless prevention and long-term housing stabilization. Priority will be given to organizations that work collaboratively across the Fort Collins community to provide supportive services to all HUD- targeted qualifying populations. Hannah provided an overview of qualifying activities, eligible program costs, and the criteria with which applications will be evaluated on. • Four applications were received – Neighbor to Neighbor for Housing Navigation, Homeward Alliance for Housing Navigation, Crossroads Safe House Road to Home, and Catholic Charities Samaritan House Homelessness Assistance. The total request amount is currently $618,233.35. • City staff are currently reviewing applications and preparing a summary that Board members will receive by January 26. Board members will make a funding recommendation at the next HSHF- Board meeting on February 14. c. 2024 Officers Nominations • Adam Molzer explained that the HSHF Board would need to vote for an Interim Board Chair since Josh Johnson resigned from the Board in December. With the recruitment timeframe for Boards and Commissions changing and HSHF Board members’ terms expiring in June/July, Adam explained that there will be a 12-month Chair and Vice Chair nomination and selection process sometime between July-September 2024 after new board members are onboarded. Olga Duvall made the motion for the Board to vote on filling the position of an Interim Board Chair today. Michaela Ruppert motioned to nominate Pat Hastings as Interim Board Chair. Mike Nielsen seconded. Pat Hastings abstained. Approved 7-0. The Vice Chair position remains filled by Olga Duvall. d. 2023 Annual Report • Adam Molzer presented an overview of the 2023 Annual Report, which included (but is not limited to) the following: • The Board held eight regular meetings and three special meetings related to the Competitive Funding Process. • The Board participated in one cycle of affordable housing and human service grants. There was also one special HOME-ARP housing project discussion in September. • The Board hosted guest speakers such as Councilmember Julie Pignataro, Beth Rosen Human Services & Housing Funding Board REGULAR BOARD MEETING 1 /10/2024 – MINUTES Page 4 who spoke about housing priorities, and Ingrid Decker who spoke about legal issues. • The Board helped to recommend $5.8 million toward human services, public service, and different housing projects. The Board requested an amendment to the 2023 Annual Report that a footnote be included with the asterisks in the ‘Number of Applications’ column to explain that the money was reallocated. Olga Duvall motioned to approve the 2023 Annual Report with the requested amendment. Mike Kulisheck seconded. Approved 8-0. e. Competitive Process Update & Schedule of Activities • January 9 – Funding process began for Housing and Human Service organizations to submit their Intent to Apply (by January 24). • February 13 – Deadline for funding proposals, after which City staff will create a summary for both Housing and Human Services. • In early March, Board members will be provided workbooks and have the opportunity to review applications. • In early March, a special grant renewal process for the four programs that are receiving the multi- year CDBG Public Service dollars will open. • March 27 – The HSHF Board will host a joint board meeting with the Affordable Housing Board. Local affordable housing developers will offer live presentations for funding proposals. • April 10 – Board members will meet to evaluate and discuss proposals, but not funding. A preliminary housing discussion to create a draft ranking of proposals will be conducted. • April 30 & May 1 – Final funding recommendations will be made. 9. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS None. 10. STAFF REPORTS a. Human Services Priorities Platform Update • Adam Molzer shared that he presented to City Council at a Work Session on the Human Services Priorities Platform on December 12, 2023. The presentation included an overview of current priorities and a project timeline. • Adam shared that he will be seeking feedback and endorsement from the HSHF Board and hopes to roll out the updated platform at the end of 2024, meaning it will change the 2025 competitive funding process. 11. OTHER BUSINESS Grantee Client Story: Adam Molzer shared a brief impact story submitted by Easterseals in a recent report. 12. NEXT MEETING Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | 5:30pm | 222 Laporte Avenue – Colorado River Room Human Services & Housing Funding Board REGULAR BOARD MEETING 1 /10/2024 – MINUTES Page 5 13. ADJOURNMENT Olga Duvall adjourned meeting at 7:08 PM. Minutes were finalized and approved by the Human Services & Housing Funding Board on February 14, 2024.