Atlanta Housing Authority's Fiscal Year 2006 Implementationn Plan
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AAttllaannttaa HHoouussiinngg AAuutthhoorriittyy’’ss FFiissccaall YYeeaarr 22000066 IImmpplleemmeennttaattiioonn PPllaann Board Approved April 25, 2005 Atlanta Housing Authority i Fiscal Year 2006 Implementation Plan April 26, 2005 ` Table of Contents Introduction: AHA’s Vision and Guiding Principles Page 1 Executive Summary: Overview of AHA’s FY 2006 Implementation Plan Page 2 Part I: Asset and Property Management Page 17 Part II: Housing Choice Administration Page 23 Part III: Real Estate Development & Acquisitions Page 26 Part IV: Fee Based Contract Administration Page 29 Part V: Corporate Support Page 31 Conclusion: Measuring Success – MTW Benchmarking Page 33 Appendices Appendix A: AHA’s FY 2006 Corporate Roadmap and Project Chart Appendix B: AHA Conventional Public Housing Communities Appendix C: Mixed-Income Communities Appendix D: Statement of Corporate Policies Atlanta Housing Authority ii Fiscal Year 2006 Implementation Plan April 26, 2005 ` Appendix E: Candidate Communities or Properties for Demolition, Disposition, Voluntary Conversion, Subsidy Conversion and/or Other Repositioning Appendix F: Candidate Communities for Percentage-Based or Elderly Designation Appendix G: Housing Choice Administrative Plan Appendix H: Boston Study Working Paper Appendix I: Households Served Appendix J: Changes in the Housing Stock Appendix K: Source and Amounts of Funding/Uses of Funds Appendix L: Capital Planning Appendix M: Management Information for Owned/Managed Units Appendix N: Management Information for Leased Housing Appendix O: Resident Programs Appendix P: Board Resolution Appendix Q: Certifications Appendix R: Submissions Required for Receipt of Funds Appendix S: HUD Project Numbers for AHA Properties and Communities Atlanta Housing Authority iii Fiscal Year 2006 Implementation Plan April 26, 2005 ` INTRODUCTION Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) determined with the initiation of the revitalization of Techwood/Clark Howell in the fall of 1994 that warehousing poor families in isolated barrack-style buildings was detrimental and perpetuated the cycle of poverty. Through its strategic revitalization program (Olympic Legacy Program), AHA’s approach has demonstrated that families fare better economically and socially when they are given an opportunity to move away from concentrated poverty and into healthy mixed-income communities. Over the past decade, AHA has committed itself to creating environments where Atlanta’s residents, regardless of current income status, can thrive and achieve the American dream. AHA believes that every person has unlimited potential and promise, but the quality of his or her living environment dictates the outcome. AHA’s vision is “Healthy Mixed-Income Communities.” AHA’s vision will be implemented within the framework of five guiding principles. These guiding principles will govern all of AHA’s policies and programs regardless of the funding source. These guiding principles are: 1. End the practice of concentrating the poor in distressed, isolated neighborhoods. 2. Create healthy communities using a holistic and comprehensive approach to assure long-term marketability and sustainability of the community and to support excellent outcomes for families especially the children – emphasis on excellent, high performing neighborhood schools and excellent quality of life amenities, such as first class retail and green space. 3. Create mixed-income communities with the goal of creating market rate communities with a seamless affordable component. 4. Develop communities through public/private partnerships using public and private sources of funding and market principles. 5. Residents should be supported with adequate resources to assist them to achieve their life goals, focusing on self- sufficiency and educational advancement of the children. Expectations and standards for personal responsibility should be benchmarked for success. 1 Atlanta Housing Authority Fiscal Year 2006 Implementation Plan April 26, 2005 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: OVERVIEW OF AHA’S FY 2006 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AHA is an affordable housing provider with a public mission and purpose, for the betterment of low income citizens of Atlanta. AHA has four business lines: (1) Asset and Property Management, (2) Housing Choice Administration (3) Real Estate Development & Acquisitions and (4) Fee Based Contract Administration. Asset and Property Management is responsible for the asset and property management of AHA’s real estate portfolio, and other real estate investments once the properties reach stabilization. Housing Choice Administration consists of providing rental assistance through the use of tenant-based Housing Choice vouchers and associated program administration. Real Estate Development and Acquisitions is responsible for the management of AHA’s development, revitalization and acquisition activity. The Fee Based Contract Administration business line provides administration and project oversight for subsidized multifamily properties on a fee-for- service basis. In June 2004, AHA prepared and submitted its FY 2005 MTW Plan (Base Plan or CATALYST) to HUD. The Base Plan is the strategic plan that sets AHA’s direction during the seven year demonstration period, based on “Best Practices” implemented and “Lessons Learned” by AHA during the past 10 years. Since 1994, AHA has implemented a number of sweeping policy and program changes. During this transformation, AHA learned a number of important lessons. To the extent that the changes achieved positive outcomes and results, AHA intends to do more of the same. To the extent that we observed operational and policy weaknesses, we are reviewing and revisiting our policies and approaches to achieve desired outcomes. The deregulation afforded by the MTW Agreement creates an environment for AHA to solve long- standing problems using private sector approaches. The most important lesson is that “Environment Matters” and that concentrating families in poverty always leads to bad outcomes. The scope and breadth of the Base Plan is more ambitious than a typical annual plan, and is intended to provide a broad foundation for the realignment of AHA. CATALYST was approved by HUD on September 10, 2004. While CATALYST sets forth AHA’s direction for the entire demonstration period, the FY 2006 Implementation Plan identifies AHA’s priorities and programs to be implemented during FY 2006. AHA’s major projects for FY 2006 will fall under one of AHA’s four business lines: Asset and Property Management, Housing Choice Program, Real Estate Development & Acquisitions and Fee Based Contract Administration. During FY 2006, AHA will also continue to re-align and strengthen its corporate infrastructure, financial and reporting systems, information technology environment and human resources. These activities are described as Corporate Support. Each project or policy change identified in the FY 2006 Implementation Plan supports one of AHA’s three goals: (1) economic viability, (2) quality living environments and (3) self-sufficiency. 2 Atlanta Housing Authority Fiscal Year 2006 Implementation Plan April 26, 2005 Economic Viability (EV) During FY 2006, AHA will implement specific projects which are intended to maximize AHA’s economic viability and sustainability. Many of these projects involve the use of technology to provide cost effective solutions for labor and paper intensive activity. Other projects will result in a more efficient corporate operation or the effective management and deployment of the subsidy received by AHA. Quality Living Environments (QLE) Other activities and policy changes directly support AHA’s conclusion that it is critical to end the practice of concentrating families in poverty and bad neighborhoods. AHA believes that the better plan is to provide market rate mixed-income communities, with a seamless affordable component and with access to excellent quality of life services. AHA also believes that seniors and the mentally disabled should be able to live in quality affordable service-enriched housing that meets their special needs. Self-Sufficiency (SS) Finally, some of AHA’s activities and policy changes will be focused on self-sufficiency by facilitating opportunities for families and individuals to build wealth and reduce their dependency on subsidy, ultimately becoming financially independent. AHA’s client services delivery strategy is based on three principles: (1) access to mainstream programs and services, (2) appropriate levels of support to connect families to mainstream society and new opportunities and (3) access to a network of service providers. AHA’s Corporate Roadmap The relationship between (1) AHA’s goals and strategies and (2) the activities, projects and policy changes for FY 2006 is set forth in AHA’s Corporate Roadmap and Project Chart in Appendix A. The following table is a summary of the activities, projects or policy changes that AHA will implement during FY 2006. Each activity, project or policy change supports AHA’s strategies and goals and is coded to identify the related goals. This table sets forth (1) the project or policy change, (2) the problem that AHA is addressing, (3) the target completion date and (4) the desired outcome. Each activity, project or policy change identified in the table is described in more detail in Parts I – V of this plan. 3 Atlanta Housing Authority Fiscal Year 2006 Implementation Plan April 26, 2005 Asset and Property Management AHA Activity/Policy Target Date for Problem AHA is Addressing Desired Outcome Goal Change/Project Completion EV Enhanced