HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 12/29/2020 - Memorandum From Housing Strategic Plan Core Team Re: December Housing Update
Social Sustainability
222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6758
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 23, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Council
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Affordable Housing Executive Team1
FROM: Housing Strategic Plan Core Team2
RE: December Housing Update
Bottom Line: This memo provides monthly updates regarding the Housing Strategic Plan and the
work of the Ad Hoc Housing Committee. It also includes updates on Housing Catalyst’s
homelessness and emergency rent assistance efforts, the off-cycle appropriation to initiate the
update to the Land Use Code, and an update on the land bank agreement with Montava.
Housing Strategic Plan
Plan Progress. The Housing Strategic Plan’s development is on track with an adoption hearing
scheduled for February 16, 2021 and is currently in Step 5: Evaluate Strategies. More specifically,
the plan’s development included the following actions in December:
Reviewing progress with City Council at the December 8 Work Session;
Evaluating the strategies identified by the community, staff, Ad Hoc Committee, and the
consultant against the criteria reviewed by City Council at the Work Session; and
Releasing the first three sections of the Draft Housing Strategic Plan for community review,
including the Introduction, Greatest Challenges, and Vision sections; remaining sections will
be released for community review on January 7, 2021.
Community Engagement. The primary focus for engagement from December through plan
adoption in February is inviting input on the draft Housing Strategic Plan.
Overall engagement: Plan drafts, an adoption timeline, and other key information has been
posted to fcgov.com/housing (English page) and will soon be posted at fcgov.com/vivienda
(Spanish page) when translation is complete.
1 Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer; Theresa Connor, Utilities Executive Director; Caryn Champine,
Planning, Development, and Transportation (PDT) Director; Julie Brewen, Housing Catalyst CEO; Josh Birks, Economic
Health Director; Dave Lenz, Finance Planning and Analysis Director; Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Director
2 Lindsay Ex, Interim Housing Manager; Meaghan Overton, Sr City Planner ; Clay Frickey, Redevelopment Program
Manager; Marcy Yoder, Neighborhood Services Manager; Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Social Policy and Housing Programs
Manager; Maren Bzdek, Sr City Planner; Victoria Shaw; Sr Financial Analyst; Leo Escalante, Public Engagement
specialist; Sylvia Tatman-Burruss, City Planner; Shawna VanZee, Associate City Planner; DeAngelo Bowden, Social
Sustainability Specialist; Megan DeMasters, Environmental Sustainability Specialist
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The page includes an online comment form seeking input on the first three sections of the
plan document. When the entire draft plan is available in January, additional questions and
opportunities to share feedback will be added to the plan website.
“Policy 101” materials are currently in development to help guide the community through
the plan adoption and policy prioritization process.
Stakeholder engagement this past month:
o Boards and Commissions: Affordable Housing Board; Planning and Zoning Board;
Economic Advisory Commission, Landmark Preservation Committee.
o Community: Housing Providers Panel (Housing Catalyst, Neighbor to Neighbor,
CARE Housing, Habitat for Humanity, Elevations Community Land Trust); Chamber
of Commerce Local Legislative Affairs Committee.
Ad Hoc Housing Committee
The December meeting focused on three topics:
1. Review of anti-displacement and housing stability quick(er) wins: At the November meeting,
Councilmembers asked for additional information on three potential quick(er) wins. Of these
two were identified to move forward and one needs additional exploration:
o Quick(er) Win to Move Forward: Initiating GIS mapping and analysis to assess
displacement and gentrification risk citywide; this project requires no additional
financial resources to complete; a draft can be developed by the end of Q1 2021.
o Quick(er) Win to Move Forward: Continuing the Legal Defense Fund funded by
CARES-CVRF into 2021; staff members are exploring the best funding mechanisms
and will bring forward potential solutions in the January Council memo.
o Quick(er) Win to continue exploring: Increasing financial literacy resources was also
discussed, and committee members indicated an interest in further exploring the
need for this strategy, e.g., is it limited to housing or is the need broader? More
information will be forthcoming via the Community Impact Ad Hoc Committee.
2. Exploration of funding and financing strategies: Committee members explored a range of
potential financing and funding solutions to address the estimated $8.8M annual funding
gap needed to achieve the City’s current goal of 10% of units being affordable by 2040 (as
outlined in the Existing Conditions Assessment). Committee members identified one
quick(er) win and numerous strategies to evaluate via the Housing Strategic Plan
o Quick(er) win: Committee members supported bringing forward a Resolution to the
full Council to join the Metro DPA program, which expands down payment
assistance support for community members earning up to $150,000; there is no cost
or risk for the City to participate. Staff will bring this Resolution to the Affordable
Housing Board for their recommendation in January and then to the full Council in
January (on consent).
o Explore via the plan: Councilmembers expressed support for the following:
Exploring how we can partner with employers, stakeholders, and others to
consider how we can advance various funding and financing strategies;
Include the demolition tax, linkage fees, and increasing the Affordable
Housing general fund in the plan’s evaluation process.
Committee members also expressed interest in exploring a sales tax
increase specifically for affordable housing, and they indicated this
conversation should occur within the context of a broader tax conversation,
e.g., transit, parks operations and maintenance, etc.
Finally, interest was expressed in how financing and funding tools could
align with the Land Use Code audit work to encourage smaller home sizes.
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3. Exploration of occupancy and renter regulations: Committee members heard an overview of
the City’s existing occupancy regulations and a presentation from Shelby Sommer, a CU
Master’s Student, that included her research of 20 peer communities approaches to rental
regulations and occupancy. Based on this information, Committee members had a rich
discussion that offered the following feedback for this work’s next steps:
o Staff should explore opportunities to increase rental regulations that include the
following considerations:
Programs and policies that inspect for health and safety, support energy
efficiency while being cognizant of program costs.
Where these regulations could be tested, e.g., in particular areas of Fort
Collins and whether they should apply to areas that have covenants or not.
Identifying flexible and adaptive solutions to meeting renters’ needs and how
this work could lead to solutions for right-sizing housing to community
members’ needs, and
Exploring relationships with anti-displacement efforts, e.g., understanding
rental ownership patterns and supporting landlords and tenants.
o For the existing occupancy ordinance (referred to as U+2), support was expressed
for the following:
Revisit what is the best definition for managing occupancy levels, e.g.,
family, other options
Explore mechanism to streamline the current extra occupancy process; and
Occupancy – range of perspectives
o Staff next steps: An internal task force will be established in Q1 of 2021 to begin
The initial phase will begin with a deeper analysis and discussion about how current
regulations are working, are we meeting the intent, and what are the key challenges
and problems requiring solutions. Then, we can consider the right portfolio of renter
regulations and programs to deliver on the Housing Strategic Plan. We will bring a
broader discussion with the entire Council as part of this process.
The Committee’s January meeting will include an exploration of Innovative Partnerships to
advance the Housing Strategic Plan’s vision as well as a deeper dive into the strategies identified
to date for inclusion in the Plan.
Additional Updates & Accomplishments
Housing Catalyst’s 2020 Homelessness and Emergency Assistance Efforts.
Our organizations, businesses, and community members have stepped up to support our residents
in unprecedented ways in 2020, e.g., Neighbor 2 Neighbor has supported the community with
nearly 6 years’ worth of rental assistance in 9 months. In addition, Housing Catalyst significantly
increased its assistance to people experiencing (or at risk of) homelessness (PEH). The attached
documents illustrate these efforts, including the following highlights:
535 vouchers and apartments dedicated to PEH
In 2020, Housing Catalyst provided Housing Choice Vouchers assistance for 446 new
people (232 new households); of these 185 people (122 households) were experiencing
homelessness prior to this assistance.
Mason Place, Housing Catalyst’s second Permanent Supportive Housing community, will
open in December. 14 people from the City’s non-congregate shelter program have been
referred to Mason Place for residency.
Housing Catalyst has distributed over $116,000 in emergency rental assistance to 134
families in 2020.
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Off-Cycle Land Use Code Appropriation. Staff has begun scoping and coordination across
several City departments that will play a key role in LUC updates (e.g. City Attorney’s Office,
Building Services, Development Review). The outcomes of the Housing Strategic Plan strategy
evaluation and prioritization will help finalize the scope and sequence of key LUC changes. At the
January 26 Work Session, staff will provide additional information about the off-cycle LUC
appropriation, including a more refined budget, scope, and target date for first reading of an off-
cycle appropriation.
Land Bank option at Montava - The Land Bank Program holds an option for 5 acres at the
proposed Montava development for future affordable housing. This option was renewed through
2022 to allow for additional time needed for the development review process for this complex
development proposal. All terms of the option remain the same except for the expiration date.
Next Steps
Plan Steps
o January 7, 2021: Draft Plan released
o January 7-21: Community review of the plan and outreach focused on prioritization,
including outreach to neighborhood groups per the December Work Session
o January 26: Council Work Session – Strategy Prioritization, Plan Indicators, &
Guiding Principles
o February 16: Council Adoption Hearing (First Reading)
o March 2: Council Adoption Hearing (Second Reading)
Quick(er) Win Actions in Q1 that will be brought forward to City Council (Dates TBD)
o Metro DPA Resolution (per Ad Hoc Committee direction above)
o Off-cycle Appropriation for the first phase of the Land Use Code work
Attachment: Housing Catalyst’s 2020 Efforts to Support PEH & Provide Emergency Rent
Assistance
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Resident
SNAPSHOT
REPORT
MAR 2015-
NOV 2020
Redtail Ponds
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
Built in 2015, Redtail Ponds was Northern Colorado’s first Permanent
Supportive Housing community. Developed and managed by Housing
Catalyst, Redtail offers 60 apartments for people with disabilities who have
experienced homelessness. Multiple support services located onsite help
people gain stability in their lives and develop a community of healing.
88%
Remain stably
housed
27%
Moved to other housing
5080 Fossil Boulevard, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 970.225.8210
126 RESIDENTS since opening
50VETERANS 20 WOMEN
21%
Gained
employment
99%
Engaged in
service plan
Helping people live with stability, autonomy and dignity
Prior Living Situation
43% Outside, street, car, etc.
40% Emergency shelter
15% Unaffordable/inadequate housing
2% Detention or medical facility
62% lived over one year in homelessness
prior to Redtail
51% have 3 or more disabilities
18% have a developmental disability
100% have at least one disability
70% have a physical disability
69% have a mental health condition
28% have a substance use disorder
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Housing Catalyst Homelessness and Emergency Assistance Report
December 2020
In 2020, Housing Catalyst significantly increased assistance to people experiencing homelessness
through development of new Permanent Supportive Housing and successfully competing nationally for
additional housing assistance. In total, Housing Catalyst now has 535 vouchers and apartments
dedicated to people who had been homelessness. Housing Catalyst also negotiated emergency rent
assistance for families affected by COVID 19 residing in properties owned by public housing authorities.
Housing Catalyst provides a variety of housing assistance programs for people who have been
experiencing homelessness, including Permanent Supportive Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers.
Housing Choice Vouchers provide rental assistance towards the cost of rent in the private rental market.
The voucher is used to pay a portion of the resident's rent, based on their income.
In 2020, Housing Catalyst provided Housing Choice Voucher assistance for 446 new people (232 new
households). Of those, 185 people (122 households) were experiencing homelessness prior to moving
into a home with HCV assistance.
Housing Catalyst was awarded 103 additional housing vouchers in 2020 to provide assistance to people
experiencing homelessness.
Housing Voucher Assistance for People Experiencing Homelessness
Type of Voucher Eligibility Total
Mainstream Vouchers Non-elderly (under age of 62), disabled household member;
preference for homelessness
178
Family Unification Program
Vouchers
Families and youth identified as lacking adequate housing by
the Larimer County Department of Human Services
50
Foster Youth to
Independence Vouchers
Youth 18-25 aging out of foster care and who are homeless
or at extreme risk of experiencing homelessness
6
Veterans Programs VA healthcare eligible veterans who are homeless and have
a high level of vulnerability
152
Total Vouchers Specifically Targeting People Experiencing Homelessness 386
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
Redtail Ponds is a 60-apartment community built for people with a disability who have been
experiencing homelessness. It was the first PSH community built in Fort Collins. PSH communities
provide independent living in apartments along with onsite support services for residents. (See attached
for more information.)
Housing Catalyst will soon open its second PSH community, Mason Place, providing 60 additional
apartments for people with a disability who have been experiencing homelessness. So far, 14 people
from the City’s non-congregate shelter have been referred to Mason Place for residency.
Emergency Rental Assistance
Housing Catalyst worked with the Colorado Division of Housing during 2020 to assist Housing Catalyst
and CARE Housing residents impacted by COVID-19. Housing Catalyst distributed over $116,000 in
emergency rental assistance to 134 families.
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